Disturbingly mirrors society

• Tittle :Naa Bangaaru Talli
• Cast :Siddique and Anjali Patil
• Direction :Rajesh Touchriver
• Genre :Drama
• Rating :***
• Like :Script, Anjali and Shatanu Moitra’s music
• Unlike :Too real

Sex trafficking is on the rise in the country and this even includes young children, besides girls and women. Dr Sunitha Krishnan, who started Prajwala (along with the late Brother Jose Vetticatil), an anti-trafficking organisation to rescue and save girls from this crime has been battling with this problem for close to two decades. Prajwala has not just rescued the victims but has also been instrumental in their rehabilitation, reintegration and community-based prevention.

Dr Sunitha has come across numerous cases in her relentless struggle against sex trafficking but one particular case was shocking and she felt it was a compelling story which had to be told, and therefore, she produced the film (for want of any producer taking up such a project) titled ‘Naa Bangaaru Talli’, which was directed by Rajesh Touchriver.

On the face of it, one may think there have been movies on human and sex trafficking in the recent past like Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘Lakshmi’ and Pradeep Sarkar’s ‘Mardaani’ (where Rani Mukerji was the main protagonist). However, Dr Sunitha and Touchriver’s film is based on a true story which happened in front of their eyes and is perhaps one which will shock the senses. For, the film is as realistic as can be with few cinematic liberties taken and, therefore, a heart-wrenching one.

One need not think that since ‘Naa Bangaaru Talli’ is about sex trafficking it is art-house cinema or a non-commercial film sans any of the elements like songs. The director Touchriver has made it in a thriller format which is gripping to view.

The story, primarily, is of a father and daughter living in Amalapuram. Srinivasan (Siddique) and Durga (Anjali Patil) play this father and daughter who share a loving bond, who dote on each other and have their share of arguments too. Durga is the apple of her father’s eye and she also secures a high rank in the 10th standard exam because of which she is honoured with a trophy in school.

Durga is like any girl who wants to study, who rides a scooty – a happy girl with friends. At her friend Chandini’s wedding she is noticed by Chandini’s brother Vijay (Ratna Shekhar Reddy), a software engineer who wants to marry her. So Durga gets engaged to Vijay on the condition that she would be able to study. The marriage is to be held a few months later. Meanwhile Durga who applies to a college in Hyderabad for further education much against her father’s wishes gets a call for the interview.

Her father Srinivasan periodically visits Hyderabad on work. So, Durga boards the train one day to Hyderabad to visit her father and attend the interview.

Once in Hyderabad her father receives her at the station as he gets the message from his wife. And he brings Durga to the hotel and leaves her on the pretext of some urgent work. It is then that Durga’s ordeal starts. Someone in the guise of taking her to the father takes her and then the nightmare begins for Durga. A shocking twist awaits her...

Making a clean film dealing with such a subject minus nudity and obscenity and even less violence is tough. But Rajesh Touchriver scores high points here as he has crafted a film on a difficult subject and made it immensely watchable given its thriller format. The film has a kaleidoscope of emotions which are heart-warming and heart-wrenching. As the story unfolds on screen one wonders if this is really a true story as it certainly alarming and shakes one up, especially in the second half. Yet it is like an edge-of-the-seat thriller.

On the technical front the film should be given brownie points. Rama Thulasi’s cinematography is top notch, soothing and edgy (when it needs to be). The art by Rajeev Nair, particularly the locations are good. The highlight of the film is Shantanu Moitra’s first-rate background score which goes with the story.

At the heart of the film is the superb performance by Anjali Patil. Such a serious role commanded a gamut of expressions and since the character Durga goes through so much it’s not easy to portray something which Anjali did with felicity. She gets into the skin of the character so much so that one empathises with her plight and pain.

Surely she is a talent to watch out for and it is no wonder that she bagged the National Award (Special Jury Mention) this year. Siddique carries off his role with élan while Ratna Shekhar Reddy packs a punch. The many others who were part of the cast do justice to their roles.

‘Naa Bangaaru Talli’ is intense, shocking and disturbing to watch but it gives a glimpse of what is happening in society today. Hence it is important to watch it.