mmc-57832

Many films claim sexual assault is a grey area but eventually end up settling for a narrative that's convenient. But this film doesn't yield to that temptation till the last frame.

If 12 angry men was a trilogy with each part conjoined to make a film it would be Aattam (it plays out like a theatre play with 3 acts). Am I comparing this with 12 angry men? No,I am saying Aatam is far better. There are some many beautiful conceits set up in the first half paying off towards the end.

2 main themes that stuck out to me were that the film throws light on why asking questions does not automatically indicate that the survivor is being doubted. Secondly, if a survivor does not want to confront the perpetrator, forcing them to do actually just makes things worse. They are allowed take decisions that may not make sense but they are still entitled to do so. I don't know if I am overthinking or if the director thought through these themes.

It is very rare that a film about sexual assault will not have complaints either from MRAs or feminists. And to do that is no ordinary achievement.

Bottom line: How you respond to sexual assault (survivors/ friends of survivors/ perpetrators) reveals so much about you more than the act itself.

The documentary is pretty good ngl. Did not get the impression that it was trying to show her in positive light against popular perception. Just laid out the facts as it were to the maximum extent possible. Wish Sanjeev Khanna was explored more though, like wow, what a man, what a simp.

Should encourage more such grey characters to come on screen. People complaining about it are limited in perspective. Exactly the type who would probably be conned by Indriana if you think about it lol.

Whether or not you think she did it, you'll come out with an intense hatred for the rich which is most important.

Konkana segment-8.5 : layered/ great use of visuals and sound/ true to the theme Last segment -6/10 : Nothing unusual. Soapy melodramatic dialogues but the ending made sense to me.

Balki segment - 1.5/10 : preachy cliched and overacted. I legit sided with the trad parents on this one.

Sujoy Ghosh segment - 2/10 : adding cleavage and sex scenes does not make it a lust story. Not sure what the choice of shooting in a studio setting was meant to convey. Some ode to bollywood bcoz the protagonist was named Vijay Chauhan i guess. Not sure if his choices were dictated by greed or lust. Overall confused bit.