Film: Saavat: A hunt for closure
Cast: Smita Tambe, Saurabh Sinha, Milind Shirole, Sanjivani JShwetambari, Shitanshiu Sharadadhav,
Director: Saurabh Sinha
Rating: * * *
Runtime: 114 mins
Saurabh Sinha’s debut feature as writer, director, co-producer and actor is a distinctive piece of work – more so because it amalgamates Agatha Christie’s instinctive and intelligent detective skills with sharp plotting and no-nonsense thrills.
Set in interior Maharashtra in the backdrop of regressive, ostracised practices like ‘witch’ hunts, the multi-layered narrative sets out to explore the linkages between uncivilised criminal behaviour and pecuniary greed. The initial sequences are suggestive of a paranormal occurrence that chooses its victims among the male population of the village. Seven influential men in the village apparently committed suicides with exactly one eye witness each –each of whom wears a brand on either their back or forearm. The villagers, along with the widow of the sarpanch, are convinced that these deaths have something to do with witchcraft. It’s only when an ace Police detective, Aditi Deshmukh(Smita Tambe) who heads the cold cases division of the crime branch, enters the scene and gets cracking, that we realise there’s something more tangible affecting those murders that show up as suicides. And part of the intrigue lies in unravelling the story of the two beautiful twins Aashni and Adhira( Shwetambari) declared as witches and ostracised from the village because their mother Nandini was caught using human bones ostensibly to cast a spell on the villagers.
The set-up may seem bizarre but Aditi approaches the issue with logic and science as her bedfellows. She doesn’t get flustered either by the seemingly paranormal nature of the occurrences, or the stone-walling and diabolical feints of the villagers. The narrative is racy and quick-witted allowing for intelligent repartee and quirky asides. The intrigue piles up as Aditi digs deeper and finds peculiarities that lead her to clues eventually exposing the criminals. The multiple plot threads are handled beautifully, the narrative stays tight and crackling throughout and the final discovery is shocking. The film touches on various issues that plague rural India including patriarchy, land grab, sex slavery, regressive practices etc. The cinematography and direction allow for strong engagement even when tacky CGI inserts affect the telling. Ultimately it’s Smita Tambe’s arresting demeanour and resolute performance that lifts this film to a higher level of engrossment!
