Bhakshak

Bhakshak, is streaming on Netflix and stars Bhumi Pednekar as a local journalist on a quest for justice against child abuse. The film boasts great performances and a potent, relevant message, but feels derivative and unoriginal in its execution.

Let's start with the positives. There are multiple stomach-churning sequences of child abuse throughout the film that successfully evoke feelings of disgust towards the vile, twisted villains. In particular, the display of sheer brutality during the opening sequence made my blood boil. All these elements culminate in a sense of satisfaction when justice is served in the final moments of the film.

The entire cast delivers top-notch performances. Bhumi Pednekar continues to show her versatility as an actor, Sanjay Mishra is a welcome comedic relief and Aditya Srivastava is the embodiment of true evil as the film's primary antagonist.

The primary shortcomings of the film lie in the overly preachy script that isn't as nuanced as the film requires it to be, and is fixated on reciting its underlying themes. Multiple scenes involve characters saying "Yahi to problem hai samaj mein....". The film's impact would have been greater had its message been delivered with more subtlety.

The motivations of characters in the film are also not quite clear. Certain character have abrupt changes of heart throughout the film that do not make much sense and merely serve to advance the plot.

Overall, Bhakshak is a well-acted film with a pertinent themes and is certainly recommended for your watchlist, but is not without its fair share of flaws.

My god! This was heavy, both in subject material and execution. But, despite being disturbing, these are the stories are meant to be told, not because this sort of stuff happened, but because we shouldn't have to be a mere spectator, rather we should demand answers from the authority. This film is a compelling tale of the importance and power of media, and if used correctly, it truly can act as a balance against the unchecked authority of the government. Loved it! This is a labour of love and everyone gave his heart and soul to this project. Extremely well written, superbly directed and brilliantly performed, this film about an investigative journalist sifting a case of sexual assault in an orphanage is a winner on all fronts. Films like these strengthen my belief in the fact that the Hindi film industry is still going strong, and isn't as toothless as claimed by some so-called elites (people who watch only 2 Bollywood films each year, that too of mostly terrible quality is deliberately selected).

This is one among the many movies on investigative journalism of social ills .It shows how hapless girls in a shelter home in Bihar are subjected to molestation and assault by cruel males both within the organisation and outside it. It is upto a brave and dedicated journalist Vaishali Singh ( Bhumi Pednekar ) to investigate the issue at the peril of her life and those of her relatives. Very naturally her husband/ relatives do not encourage her in her mission considering it unnecessary, foolhardy and dangerous. She however carries on with grit and determination with the help of her associate/ cameraperson Bhaskar Sinha( Sanjay Mishra).

The movie is definitely gripping with an inspired performance by Bhumi Pednekar as the lady journalist overcoming all odds through sheer grit to expose the perpetrators of child abuse and bring them to justice. She gets the support of the local police chief in her crusade. Sanjay Mishra is good as usual as her associate giving her moral support too.

Director Pulkit presents a taut narrative and some sequences have a raw intensity which is disturbing but then the subject probably demanded this degree of frankness in order to send the message across. As the ruthless oppressor Bansi babu, Aditya Srivastav of CID fame puts in a chilling performance. He has no remorse for his cruel actions. As the helpful police chief, Sai Tamhankar puts in a spirited performance.

Positive: The dialogues pack a powerful punch, delivering a strong message for society. Viewers can take away valuable lessons for their daily lives. The negative characters are portrayed excellently, with special commendation to Red Chillies for presenting such impactful content. The director has executed their role effectively, and Sanjay Mishra delivers a solid performance as always. Overall, it's a must-watch movie.

Negative: Unfortunately, the acting, particularly by the lead actress Bhumi, falls short and feels mismatched for the roles. Her performance comes across as dull and doesn't meet expectations. Additionally, the emotional aspect of the movie lacks depth, failing to connect with the audience as effectively as movies like Article 15 by Anubhav Sinha.

With the recent leave your brains at home escapism Hindi movies breaking box office records by mostly glorifying violence, sadomasochism and misogyny, I felt that we are heading back to the stone age times on sonic the hedgehog or flash gordon breakneck pace with no much scope now for any kind of mind progression, empathy or human compasion.

Thats why seeing this movie Bhakshak (Predator) felt like there is still a ray of hope for compasion and social awareness for mankind.

It's a movie well made that is difficult to watch for sure but it is necessary similar to the movie Gargi it stays with you long after you have finished watching it.

Kudos to the entire team and production house backing this project so that more movies on social awareness, helping mankind, being the change are made. These type are definitely not the leave your brains at home and watch stuff but they certainly are the use your brains and compasion and work towards being the chnage type movies.