Bastar: The Naxal Story

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.

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.

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.

Many viewers tend to approach this film through a political lens, yet it encompasses much more than that. With a compelling storyline that captivates the audience and delivers both intense action and thrilling moments, it offers a multifaceted experience. Adah Sharma's performance once again shines brilliantly, adding depth to the film.

The director Sudipto Sen's ingenious approach in presenting facts through the storyline is truly remarkable .A movie with gripping action sequences and a satirical edge that guarantees value for money entertainment.

Even if one isn't deeply involved in politics, they can still find enjoyment in this movie.

An absolute must watch film for the today's youth. It's a gut wrenching display of an ugly, violent agenda at work, smack dab in the middle of the country. Whether arts, media or educational institutions, this movie shows the depth of the rot, having been infested with their people and ideology.

Some parts of the movie are hard to watch. But they must be shown in its entirety to showcase the hardships citizens of such areas face on a daily basis. Their lives have been stolen by a cabal of maniacal people with a rabid ideology. The lead actress has again given a stellar performance, with a script worthy of her talent. This movie is dedicated to all the soldiers who have been fighting this war and have helped keep the country safe.