Movie: Sherni
Cast: Vidya Balan, Vijay Raaz, Neeraj Kabi, Sharat Saxena, Brijendra Kala, Ila Arun, Mukul Chadda
Writer: Amit V Masurkar, Aastha Tiku
Director: Amit Masurkar
Our rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Three and a half stars)
Official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2wg-11MWFU&t=5s
Sherni takes you into the deep jungles but the bad starts happening. Directed by Amit V Masurkar – the same director gave us Newton (starring Rajkummar Rao).
In the deep jungles of Madhya Pradesh – we come across Shernis, named T12, who is also known as the man-hunter is disturbing the villagers. Vidya (Vidya Balan) is posted as the area’s new Divisional Forest Officer. She is a much reserved and yet very efficient at her job. The young lady assigned in the case to find and restrict movements of T12 to prevent her from hunting down humans.
Vidya is a very honest and passionate to carry out her role in the deep jungles of MP, Vidya finds it difficult to deal with the political scenario favouring the patriarch system around her. She is working with men who are not good at what they do, she is able to connect and work along with her worthy colleague Mansoor (Vijay Raaz) who helps her find a midway in dealing with the tigress.
Sherni is presented by Amit Masurkar – take is through the dense jungles of Madhya Pradesh with Sherni. The distinguished film starring Vidya has her as a devoted worker fighting for a cause that ultimately helps the villagers. Masurkar along with a new writer Aastha Tiku present all he has done well with Newton. Unfortunately, Aastha’s story lags a bit. The sub-plot of tigress causing danger to the villagers is common to give anything new to connect with the characters. Cinematographer Rakesh Haridas has given his best with very beautiful Hellaro under DOP Tribhuvan Babu Sadineni. Rakesh’s camerawork is impressive, it won’t feel artificial, he has consciously decided to go minimalistic instead of playing with technical drone shots.
Vidya is playing a reserved person and the actor gives an extremely good performance. Vidya Balan is deeply set in her role and restrained act as a good and informed forest officer who is trying to do her duty despite numerous roadblocks is very difficult. With great character-writing – Vijay Raaz supports the lead character and is underplaying his character to an all new level. Raaz’s intense and simplistic dealing in his act coupled with Masurkar’s vision of real characters is good for the veteran actor. The talented actors in the film also includes Neeraj Kabi, Sharat Saxena, Brijendra Kala. All are playing different and characters impressive to the roles. Mukul Chadda is seen playing Vidya’s husband, but his character suffers the burns unnoticed in a sea of gifted masters.
Director Amit Masurkar ends the film on a melancholic metaphor using a taxidermy (an art of preserving animals’ body via stuffing) museum conveying the message.
The film has just a single song (Nucleya’s former musical group), Bandish Projekt’s Bandar Baant and it fits well. With Hussain Haidry’s lyrics, this track is good. Benedict Taylor & Naren Chadavarkar’s minimalistic BGM scores is full of spunk.
Sherni starring Vidya Balan is an action-adventure film.
Sherni releases on 18 June 2021.