The Sabarmati Report Review: Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra and Raashi Khanna led thriller-drama plays out well as a movie trying to propagate the idea of fearless journalism

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Plot:

As a seasoned journalist with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that “The Sabarmati Report” resonated deeply with me. The story’s core theme – the power of truth and the struggle of journalists to uncover it – is something I’ve seen unfold in real life more times than I care to remember.

Samar Kumar, played by Vikrant Massey, is a reporter for small-scale Hindi films. His girlfriend, Shloka (Barkha Singh), is by his side. An incredible chance arises when Samar lands a job at EBT News, a major television company, as a cameraman and gets to work alongside well-known news anchor, Manika Rajpurohit (Ridhi Dogra). Together, they travel to Godhra, Gujarat to report on the tragic 2002 Sabarmati Express Train incident.

Samar finds it astonishing that Manika rewrites the entire account of the Godhra Incident. Originally, Samar reported on the spot about the harrowing experiences of those injured in the Godhra Incident, but his independent Hindi report was suppressed by the news firm since it didn’t align with their interests. In secret, he requests the video archivist to safeguard his report and pass it along to a journalist at EBT News who is committed to exposing the truth.

Samar was let go from his job due to a tarnished image, and no media companies are willing to hire him. As a result, he’s had to resort to taking on various freelance voice-over projects just to make ends meet. His admiration for journalism has hit an all-time low.

Five years post the Godhra Incident, an aspiring journalist at EBT News, named Amrita Gill (portrayed by Raashi Khanna), is given a chance to re-examine the Sabarmati case. She comes across Samar’s report, which leaves her taken aback. Samar, initially reluctant due to his disdain for journalism, feels compelled to uncover the truth. However, he questions Amrita’s true intentions, as she might still be infatuated with Manika, who inspired her to pursue journalism in the first place.

Is the truth behind the Godhra Incident revealed, or is EBT News so influential that it suppresses such news? To uncover the answer, check out The Sabarmati Report.

What works for The Sabarmati Report:

The Sabarmati Report makes for an engaging watch, primarily for its interesting newsroom drama. More than the incident that is said to be the spotlight, it is the fictional story built around it which is really fun to follow. Vikrant Massey, Ridhi Dogra and Raashi Khanna deliver strong acts. The movie, despite seeming like a heavy watch, keeps things fairly light and breezy. 

The Sabarmati Report emphasizes courage to journalists, as during its time, there were no self-governing media platforms or outlets for them to significantly impact. Thankfully, those days are past.

It is a shame and it is extremely terrifiying that the reason for the Godhra Fire Mishap is still disputed. 

What doesn’t work for The Sabarmati Report:

The Sabarmati Report strives to be definitive but falls short. Throughout the movie, each conflict is constructed with a particular storyline in mind, making its intentions crystal clear. However, some seemingly unrelated scenes are included without any apparent connection to the central topic.

As someone unfamiliar with the event depicted in the movie, I found it challenging to fully grasp the context due to its lack of initial exposition. However, disregarding the obvious references to The Sabarmati Report, the film presents itself as an engaging thriller-drama that aims to champion journalistic values, instill fearless journalistic beliefs, and give due recognition to reporters who speak in Hindi, a commendable effort indeed.

Watch The Sabarmati Report Trailer:

Performances in The Sabarmati Report:

In this film, Vikrant Massey skillfully carries the narrative as Samar Kumar, a strong-willed character. Ridhi Dogra, portraying Manika Rajpurohit, exudes a captivating presence and delivers a convincing performance. Raashi Khanna brings vibrancy to her role as Amrita Gill, adding a refreshing sparkle to the screen. The remaining actors in the movie offer solid support.

Final Verdict of The Sabarmati Report:

The Sabarmati Report isn’t just a politically biased movie; instead, it shines due to the compelling fictional narrative woven around the actual Godhra Train Burning Incident.

The Sabarmati Report plays in theatres now. You can book your tickets for the movie.

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2024-11-15 12:22