Anurag Kashyap-Bobby Deol’s Bandar Starts with Good Word of Mouth
Bobby Deol plays an ageing actor trapped by a false rape case as the film turns into a bleak critique of MeToo and Indian prison conditions.
- Director Anurag Kashyap's 136-minute film Bandar stars Bobby Deol as Samar, an aging actor accused of rape by Gayatri. The grim drama examines the MeToo movement and Indian prison conditions.
- Samar faces systemic debasement in prison, encountering cramped conditions, menacing inmates like prison overlord Indrajith Sukumaran, and corruption. Although not primarily a prison drama, the film captures these realities through intense production design.
- Supporting performances ground the narrative: Sanya Malhotra as Samar's frustrated sister, Riddhi Sen as his lawyer, and Saba Azad as his girlfriend. Sapna Pabbi portrays Gayatri, the catalyst driving the protagonist's descent.
- Kashyap's work attempts to challenge ingrained gender dynamics, though it occasionally loses focus by prioritizing shock value over MeToo commentary. The film forces viewers to confront difficult ethical boundaries within the Indian film industry.
- Rated three stars, Bandar offers a conflicting experience of empathy and rage. While the narrative occasionally struggles with balance, Deol delivers an admirable performance as an actor clearly out of his depth.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Bandar Movie Review: Bobby Deol delivers his career best in Anurag Kashyap's hard-hitting drama
Anurag Kashyap Bandar, featuring Bobby Deol, has released in theatres amid several releases. But this one is made to stand out, due to its thought provoking writing and earnest performances. Scroll further to read the full review.
Bandar movie review: Bobby Deol anchors Anurag Kashyap’s strongest film in years
Bandar review: This is Anurag Kashyap’s strongest film in a while, its spare, scrappy style working in tandem with the story which chooses to show us a man who may not be as black as he’s painted out to be, but is not all white either.
Anurag Kashyap's direction and Bobby Deol's acting combine to create a dark and unsettling blend of two distinct worlds in Hindi cinema that may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, the powerful performances from Bobby and the other actors make it a strong film.
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