In “Sherni,” Vidya Vincent, a newly appointed DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) makes it her top priority to safely track down a man-eating tigress and thus protect both the villagers and the wildlife surrounding them from harm. But as more and more predatory humans climb onboard with their own malicious agendas and unnecessarily meddle in with the forest department’s rescue mission, Vidya begins to face obstacles in her mission. As she attempts to rehabilitate the tigress to a safer part of the forest and/or release her into a national park, her crucial work is hindered by reckless environmental endangerment. The situation quickly escalates into a fireball of dirty politics, corporate greed, and eventually a media circus in which the lives of both man and animal hang in the balance.
Another Official Oscar Entry for Amit Masurkar?
Filmmaker Amit Masurkar is back in top form here too, doing what he does best—tackling important sociopolitical issues on the big screen in an authentic, no-nonsense, sans frills manner. This is just as he had done with “Newton,” the 2017 black comedy/satire. There, his depiction of the ever-escalating bloody clash between Naxalites, locals, and the government was highly appreciated and which even made its way to the 90th Academy Awards as the official entry in the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category. And it also comes as no surprise that this movie, too, manages to be one of the few currently on the shortlist as India’s official entry to the 2022 Oscars.
While the conflict in “Newton” was solely between humans, in the latter the conflict is between humans and animals. Like “Newton,” “Sherni” is a movie that will leave you gutted by how vicious and traitorous humans can be; this is especially towards animals whom they share their land with and whom they must learn to coexist. I’ve never been more revolted with my own kind than I was after watching this movie.
“Sherni” lovingly showcases the bond between the forest officials and the animals they’ve sworn to protect (to the extent that the officials have even assigned them their own nicknames). However, the film simultaneously mirrors the sad and harsh reality of greed for land, money, and power. These have led to the displacement of countless people and innocent creatures who call the forest home.
Touching on Themes of Real Environmental Harm in India
I hail from Goa, and our state was in the news recently due to the disruption of flora-fauna and lives of locals in Mollem village due to a reckless development project (the joint brainchild of corrupt politicians and businessmen). Goa has also been in the news in the past due to illegal mining activities wreaking havoc on our environment; as such, the themes the film addresses really hit home for me. It perfectly captures the plight of those who fall prey to corporate greed carried out under the guise of ‘development.’
Vidya Balan delivers a terrific performance as Vidya Vincent, who is no less of a metaphorical Sherni (brave tigress) herself. She commands each scene; especially where she must face up to prevalent sexism and to men such as the greedy, cunning, and ruthless Pintu. He’s only ‘aiding’ the forest department to capture the man-eater in order to add to his collection of kills. Additionally, Vidya must battle a superior who turns out to be quite the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Even when her pleas to retrieve the tigress safely as is the initial plans fall on deaf ears, she is still determined, law-abiding, and resilient; she progresses no matter the consequences from the higher-ups.
A Bankable Cast, but Some Questionable CGI
Sharat Saxena is also believable as the obnoxious and stubborn poacher Pintu; his performance will make your blood boil with rage. The highly-underrated Vijay Raaz delivers a fine performance as zoology professor and moth researcher Hassan Noorani. He remains Vidya’s confidante until the end; he’s also one of the few good guys who shares her vision of Nature and Man coexisting in harmony.
The rest of the cast lends ample support. These include veterans of their craft such as the bankable Neeraj Kabi, Brijendra Kala, and Ila Arun. Additionally, I liked the natural interaction of the cast members since it lent authenticity to the proceedings. The only drawback is some lacklustre CGI in some scenes; but apart from that, this one’s a winner in my books.
“Sherni” will definitely leave you pondering over whether the people in power are actually human beings or just power/money-hungry beasts baying for the blood of innocents. I highly recommend giving it a watch and of course, recommending it to as many people as you can.
“Sherni” is available to watch via subscription on Amazon Prime Video.
