Devi Aur Hero

"Devi aur Hero" a movie about real life issues which is often looked as a controversial topics to talk about. It has been handled very carefully and crafted beautifully without any screen violence and brutality. Excellently captures - struggles, emotional and physical turmoil, angst of two people who help each other to heal. Actors have done impeccable work and lived the characters so beautifully that it left me wanting to know more about them, DEVI and HERO. More realistic than we usually "want" to acknowledge.

Some actions as a woman you would want to take in order to take revenge. Stories that may be real in some parts of the world, truth nothing but truth.

There is now a certain expectation when you watch a film made by Aditya Kripalani. That he is going to bring up front, close and personal real issues. Stark and unfiltered. To the point of deglamourising them that they hurt and connect with you. That is not intentional, that is just the way the director, Aditya Kripalani deals with his subjects. Devi and the Hero, is on the face, Kaali Ghosh, a sex slave who not only has to manage her traumatic past and reality but has a mental condition of multiple personality disorder. Enacted by the endearing and pretty Chitrangada Chakraborty, who has grown in her acting prowess since we last saw her in her debut Aditya Kripalani's film, Tikli and Laxmi Bomb. This film sees her straddle her past, her dreams and nightmares and her desires with a whimsical innocence and a hidden hunger. The film is a telling of her journey and how she achieves clarity and confidence and finally an acceptance of her truth. How she unbundles all of them through conversations with her near messed-up psychiatrist. So, while the film is the unravelling of Kaali and her many minds, it twists to lead up into the head of her shrink, too! A sexual addiction that he is grappling with and how Kaali, as his patient becomes a compatriot in his struggle. This is a very interesting turn in the story. How do professionals who help others, in this case, the psychiatrist, Vikrant Saraswat, played by Vinay Sharma whom you might grow to get comfortable with, what happens to the likes of them? How do they un-box their struggles and manage them? With this narrative, Aditya Kripalani has, in his version of being true to real, layered his film with multiple themes. The whole gender piece with Kaali and her empowerment asked me the question, "Is the Devi or the Hero? Or, both?" And this. While the psychiatrist whose addiction for his patient turns to form a relationship of friendship, of protection, of empathy. The ability to bring to screen topics on sexual abuse, mental health, addictions; with a female lead as a Devi and Hero, reflects the ability of a director who is willing for his viewers to question and dialogue and in the process bring to the mainstream hitherto many insofar, undiscussable societal truths. The highpoint of the film is the end which allowed me to make peace and is the very reason why you should see this film - emerging from oppression, a vibrant, pulsating and evocative dance drama that beckons hope and optimism.

A surreal experience that hits the core of the world that we live in. The film beautifully and very starkly exposes us into the complicated nuanced layered lives of people and emotions that we feel and often want to avoid. Every film by Aditya Kriplani and the team stands as a space to embrace and talk about a more complicated understanding of feminism and situations around it. This film bases itself on our need to confront and take up the role of our responsibility to support not just for ourselves but for the people around us. How, the very loneliness of our pasts and struggles binds us together and the only way through is together. The two protagonists meet at a complicated threshold. Hero is a broken human everyday falling deeper into his despair and addiction. Devi on the other hand unaware of her condition is suffering and running away from the life she has lived. In my understanding, the feminist movement is based on the communication of the two genders understanding and communication with each other. Accepting the hurt and together empowering the feminine. And by that logic stands as a strongly feminist film. The film stands at the heart of the nuanced and difficult context, demanding from them to embrace the feminine within them. Through their characters and their stories. The film runs us through the emotions, pain, hurt and the bipolarity of the world we live in. Once again questioning the notions of the society and of your own self. It is a story of courage, support and connecting to our kernel and fundamental selves through each other. A detail oriented film, the title itself makes one wonder who is the hero, keeping it open for the audience to experience. This is an important quality that every Aditya Kriplani film stands by to initiate discussion both within the society and within oneself. The film through the the story and the direction opens one to the mental health issues, addiction and very sensitively brings up questions of ethics, longing for freedom from existing connection to our demons by wanting to build a real world connection and yet being scared of it. It is a story of fear, trust, pain and diving into our darkest caves and embracing them through strength and courage welcoming wisdom. It truly displays the 'the cage we fear the most to enter holds the gem that we seek'. A fantastic, important and a cathartic experience where I found myself also confronting some darker spaces. In the end it feels a weight is lifted and brings oneself to a space of closure.

This movie has some amazing performances. Direction keeps you engaged through out the movie. Emotion is carried so well. Some scenes reminded me of theatre and those silences in between scenes felt real. Special mention to costumes. While the hero and heroine gave extraordinary performances.. other characters like juvenile return boy.. helper in the hero house did great acting. In the end in one of the scene I got to see first time a super hero kind of woman in saree and sparrow eye makeup.. it's fantastic!