Bastar: The Naxal Story

Amazing cinematic film based on the true reality of naxal movement and it's horrific crimes committed against common Indians and our army which is based on political propaganda and vested interest of foreign powers that kept India backward and away from development.

I would seriously urge the young artistic generation to watch this and encourage others to do the same as this film might get banned across states for reasons known to everyone .

I also like Adal Sharma's acting , she has come a long way from 1929 and her acting skills have been getting better and better with each passing film . Her last film Kerala story was as amazing as this one and I wish her and the full team of Bastar a great box office success.

"Bastar: The Naxal Story" is not for the faint-hearted. Director Sudipto Sen, known for his bold storytelling, delivers yet another hard-hitting narrative in Bastar. Following the success of his previous venture, "The Kerala Story," this time Sudipto didn't deliver his best but managed to dive deep into the complex and brutal world of Maoism in the Bastar region. The film grips you with its unflinching portrayal of terrorism, nationalism, and communism.

The first half opens with a chilling sequence depicting the Maoist leader Lanka's merciless act of chopping a man into pieces for hoisting the Indian flag. This sets the tone for the relentless brutality that unfolds throughout the narrative. The use of intense visuals ensures that sensitive viewers are left disturbed. The script is taut, the dialogue delivery is sharp, and the cinematography & editing work seamlessly to create a gripping narrative. From the harrowing depiction of the 2010 massacre of 76 CRPF Jawans in Dantewada to the chilling portrayal of Indian university students celebrating the atrocity, every frame is meticulously crafted to evoke a visceral response from the audience.

It is coupled with stellar performances, particularly from Adah Sharma, who showcases remarkable growth as a performer, and Vijay Krishna, whose portrayal of the menacing Maoist leader Lanka Reddy leaves a lasting impact. Supporting performances from Shilpa Shukla, Yashpal Sharma, and Indira Tiwari further elevate the film, with each actor delivering praise-worthy performances. Indira Tiwari, in particular, shines as she effortlessly navigates through a range of emotions, showcasing her versatility as a performer.

Direction 3/5 Acting 3.5/5 Dialogues 3.5/5 Story 3.5/5 Screenplay 3/5.

The film is beautifully made with good acting. However many atrocities of the terrorists have not been revealed (maybe they were worried about the time constraints). They could have increased the length maybe by 15-30 minutes and would have included the beginning of this so called "rebellion" and how they brainwash the youth into joining it. That's why a 9/10.

Don't read those nonsensical reviews by these self proclaimed reviewers because their truth has also been revealed in this movie.

A must watch for all. It will clear all your doubts about how these self proclaimed (and to be honest bought by money) professors justify atrocities to common people like us. And if not for some honest officers how we could all end up destroying our motherland.

The movie dwells through the ground level issues of Maoism in Chattisgarh. It sheds light on how the nexus between the ruling government and Maoist leaders actually disrupted the working of SPOs and CRPF. It stays focused with the plot. However it may seem like a one sided story. The movie would have been better if it would have maintained balance by also showing why there are comrades with Maoists.

IG of Bastar is charged with suppression of Maoism which is apparently prevalent in the area in the period of 2010. A nexus between writers , educationists, universities and ruling party then in India creates hurdles for the system devised by the IG along with SPOs and camps. The brutalities of maoists is shown crisply with also mention of how international Mao movement funds this movement. The move is onesided. The critical viewpoint of Maoist is India is forgotten! If not for this last point , I recommended the movie completely.

Unlike the terrorism in Kashmir, the Left Wing extremism (LWE) prevalent in the Indian Heartland, especially in Chattisgarh, doesn't have the same intensity of resonance and revulsion, as it seems to be generally localised and is not, overtly driven by religion.

This film tries to educate by condensing the events of a decade in a coherent narrative, in less than 2 hours.

It was poignant for me as CG sits abutting my home state of MP and growing up, I used to read about these happenings in the dailies.

It contains, possibly, the most graphic sequence of dismemberment of the human body, that has been showcased in Indian cinema. It also reminds us of the 2013 massacre of the entire Congress state leadership in an attack on its convoy in Jheeram valley. Then there are visuals of CRPF soldiers set afire and the celebrations that this had triggered in JNU .

It succeeds because it is generally engaging as it keeps the narrative very simplistic. There are clearly demarcated good and evil characters, who are monochromatic, with no shades of grey.

There is an Arundhati Roy like figure (Raima Sen, again cast in the role of an anti Indian, after Vaccine War) whose role is a caricature of a conniving journalist, who exists at the intersection of NGOs, industrialists, anti- mining lobbies and politicians.

It fails because there are only cursory references to the rise of Naxalism and the reason why many tribals in CG embraced this violent way of retribution against Indian state.

More effort should have been invested in creating believable characters, with solid background and motivation rather than just relying on a chat GPT generated good and evil persons.