Language : Hindi.
Director : Amit Masurkar.
Writers : Amit Masurkar.
Cast : Vidya Balan, Mukul Chadda, Vijay Raaz.
Genre : Drama
Streaming on Amazon Prime.
“If we keep depriving them of their habitats, then what will we do when they come to ours? We will kill them, stuff them, and put them up for display”
In a country where politicians are ready to pounce on anything and everything for votes, a tigress that accidentally wanders into the land of man looking for greener pastures is the perfect ingredient. A tiger is a symbol of fear for the villagers. A beast that arrives to take away their cattle, their livelihood. Enter local leaders who claim to be the saviors but little do the villagers know that they are paying the price for the actions of these power-hungry manipulators.
Sherni from Amit V Masurkar (known for Newton) tells the story of a village tormented by a man-eating a tiger. Vidya the District Forest Office tries her level best to solve the situation peacefully. However, neither the villagers nor the officials support her. The former wants it to end as soon as possible while the latter is determined to kill the problem in a grandiose fashion. To add fuel to the fire, politicians offer their 2 cents keeping in mind the elections. They go as far as reporting a death due to a bear attack in the name of the tiger.
The film stands out with its realistic take on the issue. It is absolutely free from any over-the-top elements that usually accompany tiger hunting. No heroism, no thrills, and chills, just the practical story of politics and environmental destruction.
Verdict – 5/7 stars
Excellent.
Trivia
Vidya Balan’s second OTT release on Prime Video after Shakuntala Devi 2020.
