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#NH10: For some India thrives in
its dichotomy; for many India is a land of hypocrisy. We take pride in mouthing
anecdotes from a rich cultural past
where women were the centre of the universe ; our news papers every morning
bring us innumerable stories of honour killing , female foeticide and brutal
rape. We preach non violence and practice hatred of all sorts – religious to
gender based. We are caught in a flux where the urban – rural divide has become
both symbolic and shambolic. So you see a bunch of uneducated yet well to do
powerful villagers brutally butchered a couple, in the name of “Honour” – yes
you heard it right!
On the other hand a man, who is well educated, grew up in a
world surrounded by malls & multiplexes, ignores his wife’s sensible advice
to jump into a mess. To do what? To teach a lesson to the villagers who had
punched him. A number of onlookers stand in helplessly as few barbaric goons
kidnap the couple. The police who is supposed to protect the honour and dignity
of individual decides to be an accomplice to the killing in the name of
honouring Manu Samhita .
A village where democracy & law and order are
farce celebrating Republic day with much fan fare. A mother becomes the
architect of her daughter’s murder. Deep inside all are same. The dichotomy is just
a facade. The barren National Highway that passes through cities and villages
and the dark night are mute witness to this human travesty.
Navdeep Singh who in 2007
captured the barren land of Rajasthan so beautifully in his debut noir film
“Manorama – Six feet under” paints a terrifying picture of the dark underbelly
of the Khap heartland. In spite of small glitches in script NH10 is chilling
and brutally realistic in its approach. It paints a picture of a world we know exists,
but petrified to accept. At 115 minutes it is super crisp and forces you to sit
on the edge and cringe in anticipation almost for the entire duration. Anushka
Sharma gives her best performance till date. She throws away her conventional
bollywood heroine gait to take up a role which is very challenging, and buoy
she delivers it with such impact. Her transformation from fragile to a fierce
woman out there to avenge is marvellous.
Watch out for that last scene where an
emotionless Anushka’s Meera waits for her injured perpetrator to stand up so
that she can she can pin him down with force. Neel Bhoopalam‘s Arjun could have
added little more depth to his character.
I will go out with 3.5 out of 5
for this drive on NH10. It is scary, very very scary.. Yet if you are one of
those who love their share of adventure, this ride is worth taking. Remember
truth is scarier than fiction. And if you decide to live in your mollycoddled world,
stay put in and say three cheers for director Navdeep, Editor Jabeen Merchant
and a fiery & feisty Anushka.
