MELBOURNE, 13 February 2024: ‘Bhakshak’ in Hindi means ‘predator’. Director Pulkit’s (Maroon, Bose Dead/Alive, Dedh Bigha Zamin) ‘Bhakshak’ a You Tube channel ‘Koshish News’ (Patna, Bihar) where Vishali (Bhumi Pednekar) and Bhaskar (Pankaj Mishra) investigate a story of predator Bansi Sahu (Aditya Srivastava) using female orphans in the sex trade, from a orphan shelter home he is running in ‘Munnawwarpur’. The area is Bihar and the Hindi dialect used is typical Bihari style.
The 2 hours and 14 minutes movie, is gripping as the two journalists use simple digital technology, at times just a mobile phone, and telecasting through the internet reflects the times we live in. How much the digital media (also called the alternative media) in contrast to the mainstream media is a highly democratic and people oriented. Grass-root stories which the mainstream media may not touch, are the one’s which come up often. And, ‘Bhakshak’ is one of the program with updates on a criminal-politician-police nexus story, which unsettles the powers that be.
Vishali faces the anger of her neglected husband and his family, who long for a traditional woman. She is determined and the activist-journalist in her confronts the husband. The husband-wife diatribes reflect the gender stereotypes in Indian society. For Vishali there is no going back. Her channel is all out to expose the non-investigation of a crime by the state government. The step by step investigation and reports makes the predator and collaborators shudder. He retaliates, but Vishali being a journalist and a woman scares those in power. The search for evidence (a witness) to pin down the predator comes slowly. The stage is set for a showdown as a new female police officer takes charge in ‘Munnawwarpur’.
With a witness and a sympathetic new female officer and hard media investigation makes the law enforcers take action. A PIL is filed to force the government to investigate. At this stage, the hubby has a change of heart, and supports Vishali (looks a bit odd for his sudden change). A secret source informs Vishali and Bhaskar of latest happenings on the predator’s side. The role of a viable source, even if one has to pay him, is highlighted. The channel updates are strong and the predator is nabbed and the hapless orphan girls rescued. The movie ends with a report by Vishali, where she also talks about how TV channels telecast stories just to increase TRPs and so on.
The movie’s rustic dialogues are realistic, laced with swearing language at times. Three songs ‘Ganga’, ‘Shamil Hi’, and ‘Chanda’ are well placed. Bhumi, Pankaj and Aditya give towering performances. The others with their presence add to the excellence of the movie.
The best part of the movie is the rather sober handling of a delicate subject. ‘Bhakshak’ is a reflection of degraded society in alliance with those in power. The duty of a journalist is also to scrutinise those in power. Silence is not an option. If one section of the media does not do it, then modern technology has given others the way to do it. This is what Vishali and Bhaskar successfully do.
Director Pulkit and Red Chillies Entertainment, well done.
Credits
Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Aditya Srivastava, Sai Tamhankar, Sanjay Mishra
Director: Pulkit
Written by: Pulkit and Jyotsana Nath
Producers: Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma
Banner: Red Chillies Entertainment
Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes
Streaming at: Netflix
I give this movie 4 and half stars out of five.
