In a few days, it will be Women’s Day worldwide. Keeping the occasion in mind, Royal Star Barrel Select Large Short Film has come up with a new title Devi. It is a poignant tale about women in India headed by Kajol and many other prominent faces.
Devi is a thirteen minutes length short, and it deals with the topical issue of rapes and abuses related to females. Priyanka Banerjee, writer and director of the short, has come up with a unique idea that is both intriguing (while watching) and heart-wrenching at the same time.
The selection of each artist, as diverse as Shruti Haasan, Mukta Barve, Neena Kulkarni, Rama Joshi, Neh Dhupia, Sandhya Mhatre, Shivani Raghuvanshi, and Yashaswini Dayama, serves a purpose. They represent different female perspective, background, ages, and bias.
Everyone has done their parts well. Each actor manages to stand out for the ‘incident’ and highlight it, rather than the being singled out for their performances. It is because they set easily slip into the role given to them. Do they also come across as stereotyping? Yes, they do, but that is doesn’t come as an issue and seems to be designed that way.
Within the short run-time, a lot was happening and conveyed. The opening creates suspense, and it is maintained that way until the middle. By that time, we get an idea where it is headed. And still, the end, makes one shed tears. The way the whole cast comes together towards the end is also well done.
Do check out the short for its simplicity in thought and execution. The ultimate message Devi gives is done subtly without any preaching, and that’s the highlight.