The Sabarmati report, released on November 15, 2024, has been much in the spotlight lately. Firstly, because of the controversial subject matter, and then because of the buzz surrounding its cast, the film endorsed “MUST WATCH” by the censor board depicts a very real tragedy of the Godhra train incident that had ignited riots in Gujarat.
Directed by Dheeraj Sarna, the story is based on journalist Samar Kumar, played by Vikrant Massey, as he digs out the truth behind the incident amidst murky media manipulation waters. The bold, sensitive take on an incident has already provoked a lot of debates, making it one of the most important cinematic explorations of sidelined historical narratives in mainstream discourse.
But the question is does it live up to this status, or does it fall short in execution despite good intentions?
The public reaction towards the performances of Vikrant Massey and Riddhi Dogra has been on the whole very positive. Massey, known for his versatility and depth, was excellent as a hard-hitting journalist. His portrayal was heart-touching, and he earned widespread acclaim for a nuanced approach to a very challenging character.
Riddhi Dogra also outshone with her display of the stern character loaded with deep emotional elements in the film. The film thus had one person wowing the audience, although it should be noted that Raashii Khanna’s competence did not elevate her performance to the same heights.
The public opinion over the writing and direction have been divided. Some felt it was a fresh narration of a historical event while others felt the direction was not experienced enough and lacked finesse.
The screenplay was trying to be bold but sometimes failed with the execution. Critics stated that some scenes were hastily shot and the very narrative required more polish and coherence to be delivered.
From a critical perspective, it is a film with nice intentions that has failed in execution. It talks nicely of the sensibility of a subject with sincerity but still fails where direction and writing are more debatable.
Many a times scenes seem too underdeveloped and take away from the general impact. Massey and Dogra save the film though; they cannot fully make up for the mistakes of the film.
https://x.com/vikramaweekly/status/1857119487721349435
https://x.com/Surajkumarrevi1/status/1857306099252097332
https://x.com/KiranKS/status/1857112632064372874
https://x.com/nishitTiwari16/status/1857323513511592038
https://x.com/Its_CineHub/status/1857324122562515388
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