Pink [2016]

Language - Hindi
Director - Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury
Run Time - 2 hours, 16 minutes
Genre - Drama
Starring - Amitabh Bachchan

Shoojit Sircar's PINK is a hard-hitting film which brings up the topic of sexual abuse in the country and how the well connected people almost always get away scot-free. Pink is a dark courtroom drama where three women, Minal, Falak, and Andrea are defending their actions which are made in lieu of self-defence.

Amitabh Bachchan plays a bi-polar retired lawyer who offers help to these girls when everyone deserts them, and he does pull off the role with utmost ease and flair, almost typical of him. Kudos to the three newcomers also, all of them have given powerful performances.

This gritty drama showcases the disgusting patriarchal society we live in and how women are judged and subjected to various accusations depending on the way they dress, whether they drink or not amongst other habits. It is so easy to point fingers towards a woman if she drinks or has friends visiting her at night, but do we look at it the same way when it comes to a man? The film delivers a bold message which says that instead of teaching girls to be careful, teach your boys to behave properly.

It is perhaps why I like Shoojit Sircar as a filmmaker because he makes films based on real issues, be it a Vicky Donor, a Madras Cafe or a Piku. Although the movie does feel slow in the first half, the latter half makes up for it. Personally, I feel the movie could have been a little more enthralling than it was. There was an addition of unnecessary characters like Amitabh's dying wife, and I believe the whole political element could have been exploited more.

The best part was that the actual incidence was not even shown until the end credits, the movie works entirely on hearsay of the event.

In all, a good movie, with a brilliant message. To more such films over mindless comedy.

My Rating - 7.2/10