A stark truth that emerges from reality, which is beyond the imagination of urban people. Pilibhit is located in the extreme northeast of Uttar Pradesh. According to government estimates, 45 percent of the population is below the poverty line. The condition of the people of the village adjacent to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Forest is such that they are willing to go into the belly of a tiger. In that case, at least government money will help, the family members will survive by eating … Such an incident that happened in 2017 shocked the countrymen. Srijit Mukherji has made his Hindi movie ‘Sherdil’ based on that incident. The director mixed imagination with reality. But the shock that the real events created, where did ‘Sherdil’ get it?
Plot
The story of the film is set in the fictional village of Jhundao. There, due to the force of animals, the crops of the field are constantly destroyed, people have to die due to not being able to eat. Village head Gangaram (Pankaj Tripathi) knocks on the government door for help. But the results are not obtained. One day he noticed if a villager died at the hands of a tiger inside the reserve forest area, the government would pay him Rs 10 lakh as compensation. Hence, Gangaram decides he will be martyred by sacrifice. Wife Lajo (Sayani Gupta) becomes very angry, but is unable to bring back the adamant Gangaram. Leaving the elderly mother (Sohag Sen), two children at home, he crossed the forest. The story of the first half is based on Gangaram’s monologue and flashbacks. Jim Ahmed (Neeraj Kabi), a poacher, entered the second half. Srijit always hides a story in the names of the characters in his movies. Needless to say, the reference to Jim Corbett’s name came here. Gangaram’s monologue now takes the form of a dialogue, but the story only gains momentum, there was no more profit than that.
Tripathi’s magic
But there was a possibility in the film. There are also some good moments. Gangaram’s conversation with a government worker at the very beginning, moments with Lajo, part of Gangaram and Jim’s toilet in the dark of night … the actors have covered a lot of flaws in the film. Pankaj Tripathi carried the whole picture on his shoulder. He is an actor who can cover many shortcomings of the story with his own charisma. At the beginning of the film, sitting in the forest, the parts of the monologue could not be performed by anyone but him. Sayani Gupta has adapted to the character. Neeraj Kabi is also very good along with managing his own make-up. In one film, Pankaj Tripathi and Neeraj Kabi, a deadly combination. It was Srijit’s big stroke. But boring screenplay could not make the profit in a major way.
Another highlight of ‘Sherdil’ is music. ‘Dhoop Paani’ with Srijit’s Aranyak, ‘Aadmi Bhutia Hai’, ‘Moko Kahan’ were in a perfect suit.