Sherni shines right through

One thing that remains clear after watching Sherni (it streams on Prime Video); never judge a film by the trailer. I remember a Srijit Mukherjee film (not a big fan anyways of his film) Zulfiqar released in 2016 and it had a promising trailer to boot. The trailer had created so much anticipation about the film and eventually the film turned a big Dud. With Sherni, the trailer did not hold, and I was only hoping to sit for a couple of minutes to see through the proceedings. However, the film just took off. Amit Masurkar took his own time after his debut, Newton launch his second outing and he continues to hold his mettle. Sherni is an important film not just for the context of the plot but also for understanding what happens when mankind and animal kingdom clash. This has been a phenomena affecting the animal kingdom globally. A brilliant documentary on Apple TV, The year the earth changed showcases when the humans where locked up at home in 2020, nature started reclaiming it's rightful place. The brilliant David Attenborough takes us through countries like Kenya, Japan, India and many other to showcase how nature is healing. The documentary is a stark reminder about the rightful owners of the planet earth. The earlier, docu-series Chernobyl is also a grim reminder of the destruction that we did and how after mankind abandoned the place, slowly nature and its accompaniment started converging back. And this is why, a special shoutout to Amit Masurkar for choosing to wait and have a great story to tell. A special shout out to Aastha Tiku for the story and the screenplay. The film is set in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat) and is captured beautifully by Rakesh Haridas.    

Sherni works for an amazing casting, the plot and the context of the plot. First thing first, is about the casting. Vidya Balan remains the biggest among the entire cast but the other are such rock solid actors and it was a joy to see their names right at the top in the casting credits. Brijendra Kala, Vijay Raaz, and Sharat Saxena hold the fort along with Vidya. Each one of them are amazing and especially Kala needs to be lauded for his act. It is just the right bit of nuances needed for the role as reporting officer of Vidya Vincent (the DFO). Vidya is amazing in a subdued role with very few lines. She is frustrated and almost choked at her workplace. Virtually on the brink of resigning from her position, she also seems to be sharing an uneasy relation with her beau (though, this part seemed to be the least developed in the film). Considering the role of DFO played by Vidya, it demanded her to be having her ears close to the ground and she plays it to the tee. Vijay Raaz as the zoologist from the nearby college and Sharat Saxena as the poacher (turned conservationist or a hotel owner) are the other two who hold fort in the proceedings. In addition, there is an ensemble cast of local artists, first time actors taken from the nearby villages and a slew of forest officials as a part of the troupe work well. It brings in a sense of realism in the characters and to the plot too. 

Sherni does seem to dip in between as the plot starts building up. In about 20 minutes from the start, we are now being given to understand that the biggest culprit in the plot remains humans and especially the ones in power. The hapless villagers who are often left to fend for themselves are at the receiving end (of the Tiger). And the Tiger (read tigress in this case) are unable to understand how could someone simply own up their piece of land. The plot could have had more intensity and a sense of urgency. We all understand at the end it will be the hapless and helpless animals who shall be at the receiving end along with the villagers. Yet, it could have done in with a lot more intensity and drama. I remember in Masurkar's Newton, the protagonist was clear from the beginning on the moral ground he has to take. And all the characters who comes close to him, has a friction in some form or the other. That generates enough heat till the end. In Sherni, the tigress remains the one who is elusive, holds her ground, knows her prey and has to also protect her kids. It is then the humans lay a trap. One set wants to kill her and the other wants to trap her and release in the nearby national park (Kanha). The friction here is reduced and nuanced. And, the human to human friction seems enough for us to fathom, it seems. And somewhere metaphorically, Vidya Vincent, the Sherni in human form is also losing her battle with mankind or the system perhaps. Wish they could have played that a little more; cinema gives that license I guess.  

Yet, Sherni is amazing for the end, where both T12 (the tigress) and Vidya Vincent meet the same fate. It is sad and presents a sorry state of affair. In a seminar of the DFO, Gopal Mittal's character says to Vidya Vincent, keep getting the department revenue and simply go through the mundane chores. And you shall remain happy. It is a reflection of what is truly happening to our forest cover. It is the passion of people like Vidya Vincent and Hassan Noorani (Vijay Raaz) that only can help save the forest and the animals.  

Sherni deserves all the praise for the efforts and for believing in such an important concern that is now a global problem across countries. The 1988 masterpiece, Gorillas in the mist starring the wonderful Sigourney Weaver is a telling tale of how politics, power and people are doing more harm in the process of unsettling the animals from their habitat. And Sherni is an encore in that direction. 

It stream on Prime Video. Go watch.