The first half of this movie opens on a bus full of people from all different paths of life and mixed religions—from a peaceful elderly Muslim couple to a young, Jewish man, to the Tamil Brahmin Mrs. Meenaxi Iyer who’s traveling with her new born, a Muslim wildlife photographer, and many more. However, when their path is waylaid and the bus is hijacked by an angry Hindu mob who lay waste to anyone who is Muslim, some of the passengers begin turning on each other, while others must think on their feet and somehow find a way out of this dangerous situation.
The movie also focuses on the blossoming friendship between Mrs. Iyer and a Muslim passenger, whom she promises to shield from harm. But how long will their friendship and their ordeal last? And will everyone escape unscathed?
This movie makes one think on how all Muslims have been branded terrorists and thus discriminated and even murdered due to only their religious beliefs. And this practice continues. Islamaphobia and tyranny still reigns in a country like India that prides itself on being ‘democratic.’ Citizens are turning on each other even in a modern civilized world on the basis of religion, and this movie opens our eyes to all of it.
Among the highly underrated cast, Konkona Sen Sharma as Mrs. Iyer and Rahul Bose as ‘Raja,’ the Muslim wildlife photographer, play their roles to perfection. The supporting cast too deserves applause for doing justice to their roles and the story is as heart-wrenching as it is gripping and laden with emotionally charged dialogues. It fills one with fear, shame, and is, of course, hard-hitting. The movie isn’t too reliant on songs, but the music is soulful and befitting the bittersweet journey that this movie takes you on.
So, do take some time out and tune in to this movie as it delivers a great message as and food for thought—as well as a gut-wrenching perspective on a brainwashed, corrupted society and on what it means to be humane in a crumbling world. Not to be missed.
