Bhakshak

Bhumi Pednekar has proven herself to be one of the most consistent performers of this generation, along with the Taapsee Pannu's and the Alia Bhatt's. And much like them, she has the ability to deliver such a well crafted act that feels effortless - but hard to imagine that it is anything but that. In 2022 she gave us the award-winning Badhaai Do, and in 2023 we were gifted such electrifying yet subdued outings in Afwaah and Bheed. This is along those lines and it doesn't disappoint. Although time is taken in the beginning setting the scene of the film, once it gets going, it's non-stop. And the chemistry between Sanjay Mishra and Bhumi is very enjoyable. This will be one of the front runners of the best films of 2024 - and the message of the film deserves that you watch it and tell your friends and family to do the same. This is cinema.

With the recent leave your brains at home escapism Hindi movies breaking box office records by mostly glorifying violence, sadomasochism and misogyny, I felt that we are heading back to the stone age times on sonic the hedgehog or flash gordon breakneck pace with no much scope now for any kind of mind progression, empathy or human compasion.

Thats why seeing this movie Bhakshak (Predator) felt like there is still a ray of hope for compasion and social awareness for mankind.

It's a movie well made that is difficult to watch for sure but it is necessary similar to the movie Gargi it stays with you long after you have finished watching it.

Kudos to the entire team and production house backing this project so that more movies on social awareness, helping mankind, being the change are made. These type are definitely not the leave your brains at home and watch stuff but they certainly are the use your brains and compasion and work towards being the chnage type movies.

Pulkit is a director of a different genre, we can understand by watching his "Bose: Death/Alive". He is a very brave director. In this film too, he showed that deadly brave direction.

He tried to find solutions to the burning problems in several parts of India. The director shook the society and the Indian system very hard.

The best part of the movie is the content and the script. Bhumi pednekar and Sanjay Mishra's acting has taken the movie to perfection. But streaming the movie was possible.

I highly recommend everyone to watch this movie based on the exploitation of poor and helpless girls.

Bhakshak, is streaming on Netflix and stars Bhumi Pednekar as a local journalist on a quest for justice against child abuse. The film boasts great performances and a potent, relevant message, but feels derivative and unoriginal in its execution.

Let's start with the positives. There are multiple stomach-churning sequences of child abuse throughout the film that successfully evoke feelings of disgust towards the vile, twisted villains. In particular, the display of sheer brutality during the opening sequence made my blood boil. All these elements culminate in a sense of satisfaction when justice is served in the final moments of the film.

The entire cast delivers top-notch performances. Bhumi Pednekar continues to show her versatility as an actor, Sanjay Mishra is a welcome comedic relief and Aditya Srivastava is the embodiment of true evil as the film's primary antagonist.

The primary shortcomings of the film lie in the overly preachy script that isn't as nuanced as the film requires it to be, and is fixated on reciting its underlying themes. Multiple scenes involve characters saying "Yahi to problem hai samaj mein....". The film's impact would have been greater had its message been delivered with more subtlety.

The motivations of characters in the film are also not quite clear. Certain character have abrupt changes of heart throughout the film that do not make much sense and merely serve to advance the plot.

Overall, Bhakshak is a well-acted film with a pertinent themes and is certainly recommended for your watchlist, but is not without its fair share of flaws.

Positive: The dialogues pack a powerful punch, delivering a strong message for society. Viewers can take away valuable lessons for their daily lives. The negative characters are portrayed excellently, with special commendation to Red Chillies for presenting such impactful content. The director has executed their role effectively, and Sanjay Mishra delivers a solid performance as always. Overall, it's a must-watch movie.

Negative: Unfortunately, the acting, particularly by the lead actress Bhumi, falls short and feels mismatched for the roles. Her performance comes across as dull and doesn't meet expectations. Additionally, the emotional aspect of the movie lacks depth, failing to connect with the audience as effectively as movies like Article 15 by Anubhav Sinha.