Kavishala Review
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass migration of workers from cities to villages highlighted the inseparable connection between our identity and our place of origin. As borders were drawn within the country, the virus exposed the weak social immunity of society, resulting in crowded highways and railway tracks. Director Anubhav Sinha's latest film, Bheed, masterfully weaves the infection of the novel coronavirus with insidious social discrimination to create a thought-provoking statement that stands out among pandemic films.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass migration of workers from cities to villages highlighted the inseparable connection between our identity and our place of origin. As borders were drawn within the country, the virus exposed the weak social immunity of society, resulting in crowded highways and railway tracks. Director Anubhav Sinha's latest film, Bheed, masterfully weaves the infection of the novel coronavirus with insidious social discrimination to create a thought-provoking statement that stands out among pandemic films. Bheed tells the story of a diverse group of migrants who are stopped at a state border by a police officer dealing with his own demons. The film is deeply political, provocative, and humane, holding up a mirror to society that was taken down once the pandemic receded. The incisive dialogues propel the story, highlighting the plight of migrant workers who were neglected in both cities and villages. Shot in black and white, the film captures the stark image of a severely injured person beaten up for drinking water from a place of worship during the pandemic. Sinha addresses the caste matrix well, as he did in Article 15, without romanticizing social justice. The film highlights how the market has turned migrant workers into cheap labor and how they would return at the first opportunity. Bheed is an engaging and important watch, with one of the most stirring strands being how the specter of caste has scarred the soul of the protagonist, Surya. The film also takes on the skewed sense of a section of the media and the decision-making apparatus that had gone into a hang during the lockdown. The performances are persuasive, backed by folksy tunes that blend with the visuals. While the screenplay feels a little scattered at times, Sinha ensures that the film doesn't earn the tag of 'anti-national' while still maintaining its bite. Bheed is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of social justice and the pandemic.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mass migration of workers from cities to villages highlighted the inseparable connection between our identity and our place of origin. As borders were drawn within the country, the virus exposed the weak social immu