Release Date: March 01, 2019
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey, Ashutosh Rana
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Duration: 2 hours 23 minutes
We have seen quite a few movies about the dangerous dacoits of Chambal that once roamed the land’s vast ravines in the 1970s. Sonchiriya uses the same theme as background, but the movie is a bit different, as it tries to showcase the human side of the dacoits and their everyday struggles.
Dacoits are often branded as cunning and ruthless, and that may not be wrong, but hardly anyone ever tries to uncover the circumstances that led them to become such monsters. And what if there’s still some good left in these people, which may prompt them to seek redemption for their bad karma in life. The movie also attempts to expose the seemingly righteous people, who may actually be worse than the dacoits in terms of morality and ethics.
The movie is about a gang of dacoits in Chambal, headed by their leader Man Singh (Manoj Bajpayee). Prominent members of the gang include Vakil (Ranvir Shorey) and Lakhna (Sushant Singh Rajput). The gang is feared across Chambal, but their reality is that they are afraid of god. They are constantly hounded not just by unforgiving cops such as Gujjar (Ashutosh Rana), but also by their own conscience that constantly demands them to explain their purpose and existence. Deep down they know that laws of nature applies to them also and sooner or later, they will have to pay the price of their bad actions. The movie also highlights the social evils present in the society such as stubborn patriarchy, superstition, caste divide, and gender discrimination.
Sonchiriya has some of the most accomplished actors in the industry and each one of them has delivered excellent performances. The film’s cinematography is one of the best and it captures the gloomy and dreary essence of the dreaded Chambal ravines. Credit also goes to director Abhishek Chaubey for showing a different perspective on the once feared dacoits of Chambal.
Sonchiriya is essentially a slow-burn Western with added dose of unpredictability and shock. If you like to understand the harsh realities of the so-called bad guys, this one is just the thing you need.