Daily Archives: November 15, 2024

‘The Sabarmati Report’ Movie Review: To No One’s Surprise, Vikrant Massey’s Film Is Undisguised Propaganda Masquerading As ‘Investigative’ Drama (LatestLY Exclusive)

The Sabarmati Report Movie Review: I would be foolish to expect The Sabarmati Report to hold up a mirror to society or uncover any hidden truths. The Godhra train burning and the ensuing riots in Gujarat in 2002 mark one of the darkest chapters in Indian history. Like many propaganda films churned out by Bollywood in recent years, The Sabarmati Report claims to seek justice for the victims but instead sets out to find a scapegoat, and then conveniently settles on one – the media. This is accomplished through convoluted ‘investigations’ and copious sermonising, all while absolving the ruling dispensation at the time. ‘The Sabarmati Report’ Song ‘Tere Mere Darmiyan’: Vikrant Massey Is a Lovesick Man in This Soulful Track Crooned by Akhil Sachdeva.
The film centres around the burning of four railway coaches on the Sabarmati Express, which was carrying pilgrims from Ayodhya. This tragic event, which claimed 59 lives, was attributed to a nearby Muslim mob and used as a catalyst for widespread violence across the state, resulting in thousands of deaths and reports of mass rapes and massacres. The story is told through Samar Kumar (Vikrant Massey), a cameraman for EBT News (a not-so-hidden dig at NDTV, then led by Prannoy Roy), a channel that initially covered the alleged violence, which was first reported as an accident. His footage of victim interviews is suppressed by the network, and he is fired for objecting.
Watch the Trailer of ‘The Sabarmati Report’:
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The other main characters include Manika (Ridhi Dogra), a senior journalist complicit in hiding the ‘tape’ and the ‘truth’, and Amrita (Raashii Khanna), a rookie journalist tasked with re-investigating the incident in 2007 to appease political powers. She enlists Samar – who has turned into a ‘Kabir Singh’ without the swagger – to aid in her investigation.
‘The Sabarmati Report’ Movie Review – Biased Through and Through
I do not claim to be an expert on the Godhra tragedy and the subsequent carnage; my understanding comes from newspapers, news channels, and reports by seasoned journalists. Even within my limited knowledge, it’s evident that The Sabarmati Report makes no genuine attempt to be impartial.
Fictionalising real-life incidents allows for creative liberties, but The Sabarmati Report’s narrative is flimsy and absurd. The film expects viewers to believe that a single news channel was solely responsible for concealing the ‘truth’ about the Godhra train burning, ignoring the presence of other media outlets at the time. Unsurprisingly, the movie goes out of its way to exonerate the BJP government, which held power both in Gujarat and at the Centre, shifting the blame instead to the opposition, whose leader bears a striking resemblance to Sonia Gandhi.
A Still From The Sabarmati Report
Even more comical is the almost complete omission of the Gujarat riots, aside from a single scene in which the vehicle Samar is travelling in is attacked. Perhaps this is because portraying those events would be difficult without straining credibility. To underline its biases, the film features numerous mentions of India’s rise post-riots, beginning with real footage of Narendra Modi being sworn in as Chief Minister of Gujarat (despite the fact that he was already in power during the riots), followed by a few token clips of the UPA government and then more footage of Modi. The movie even has time to play an old advertisement extolling Gujarat’s development under new leadership, while Samar seizes every chance to praise the state. And that’s the tip of the iceberg here.
‘The Sabarmati Report’ Movie Review –  Badly Disguised Religious Propaganda
When not championing a particular political party or state, The Sabarmati Report turns to vilifying the Muslim community. The ‘investigations’ by Samar and Amrita align closely with the findings of the Nanavati Commission, providing the film with some cover, but the religious bias is evident in other scenarios. For instance, one scene shows Samar and Amrita walking through a Muslim-majority area where residents are depicted celebrating the fall of Indian wickets during an India vs Pakistan match, and Samar exclaims this is usual here. ‘Koi Khatre Me Nahi Hain’: ‘The Sabarmati Report’ Actor Vikrant Massey Feels Muslims Are Not in Danger in India, Says ‘Everything Is Going Fine’ (Watch Video).
A Still From The Sabarmati Report
In an attempt to mitigate this bias, the film falls back on the familiar trope of the ‘good Muslim vs bad Muslim’, featuring a Muslim female lawyer who aids the protagonists in uncovering the mastermind. Apart from that, there is enough Hindu appeasement that begins with completely ignoring the Hindu angle in the riots to ending the movie with a glimpse of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir.
As if this weren’t enough, The Sabarmati Report also delves into the question of linguistic identity, with Samar dramatically asserting that Hindi will become the country’s defining language, unchallenged and that India has become ‘Bharat’ (someone, show him the constitution please). The writing and treatment are lacklustre, but this isn’t the kind of film one watches for compelling storytelling or technical finesse – it’s for those seeking confirmation of their existing biases. In that sense, The Sabarmati Report might resonate with certain audiences.
A Still From The Sabarmati Report
The most ludicrous element of the film, aside from its blatant propaganda, is the courtroom sequence framing the story. Samar is accused of something, though it’s never made clear what, serving only as a platform for a grand, preachy monologue near the film’s conclusion.
PS: For all its criticisms of the media, the film has little understanding of how a news channel operates. No news outlet would allow a rookie journalist to air unvetted content without reviewing it beforehand.
‘The Sabarmati Report’ Movie Review – Final Thoughts
The Sabarmati Report is yet another prime example of Bollywood wielding cinema as a blunt tool for agenda-pushing rather than art or meaningful commentary. While it masquerades as an investigative thriller, the film’s real motive is thinly veiled, with its lopsided narrative and selective outrage that sacrifices nuance and logic for the sake of propaganda. To push the nail deeper into the wound, it also serves heart-breaks seeing the fall of certain actors you have grown to respect over the years. Rating:1.0 (The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2024 04:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

Why Kes is Britain’s greatest coming-of-age film

AlamyFirst released in November 1969, Ken Loach’s social-realist tale of a boy who adopts a kestrel still resonates and has become a timeless classic of British cinema.

Abigail Hawk Talks ‘Blue Bloods’ Goodbye & New Film ‘Daruma’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Abigail Hawk is instantly recognizable as Blue Bloods Detective Abigail Baker, the right-hand woman to Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). But as the actress says goodbye to the television show she’s worked on for nearly a decade and a half after its season 14 ending, Hawk gears up for new projects, like her upcoming indie film Daruma, which is set to release on November 15.
Daruma follows a bitter man, Patrick, who discovers he has a four-year-old daughter, but decides he isn’t equipped to take care of her, so he asks grouchy neighbor Robert to help them go cross-country for his daughter to live with her maternal grandparents. 
Starring two leads — Tobias Forrest and John W. Lawson — authentically cast as disabled in a story not focused on that, Daruma is breaking the mold as one of the only films to do so. Hawk will portray Anna, the love interest of Forrest’s Patrick, a character very dissimilar from her Blue Bloods persona. 

If you only recognize Hawk as the stoic and put-together detective often seen going in and out of the police commissioner’s office, you might not know much about the star herself. As she prepares to embark on a new phase of her career, Hawk is figuring out what kinds of projects she wants to throw herself into, while also experimenting in new areas such as producing and writing.
Woman’s World had a chance to catch up with Hawk and discuss Daruma and the reason behind her decision to join the project, as well as what it’s been like to close the Blue Bloods chapter of her story. The actress shared about the film’s deeper meaning, what it was like stepping into the shoes of a very different character and what interesting item she chose to take home from the set of Blue Bloods.
WW: What about Daruma made you want to say yes to the project?

AH: Alexander Yellen, who directed the film, he and I have been friends for almost a decade. We did a Christmas film together (Christmas in Vermont) in Buffalo, New York that had Chevy Chase and David O’Donnell in it. It was super fun. 
I kept seeing fundraising happening for Kelli (Yellen’s wife) and Alex’s film Daruma, and I was, like, “Oh, what is this?” They’ve never done anything together. I looked into it and was just immediately taken by the premise, by the charisma that John Lawson (Robert)) and Tobias Forest (Patrick) were emitting through my phone.
I dove a little deeper and I realized that it featured two disabled leads who were authentically cast as disabled, but the movie’s not about their disabilities at all.

My husband and I had a niece named Catherine, and Catherine passed away when she was 16…But she was born very disabled, physically and mentally, but she was an amazing little girl… I just felt like I needed to do it for her. I wanted there to be people like her on the screen. And I loved that these characters were real people. They were not necessarily inspirational characters. They were just real [and] flawed.
WW: When it comes to your character Anna, was there anything about her that drew you in?
AH: I think most of us have been in at least one relationship that has not gone according to plan… you can’t really ever find someone who checks off every single box, but you want to find somebody who’s going to drop you off at your closest destination, find someone who compliments you, who can grow with you. And Anna, you see her at the beginning of the film and it’s obvious that she’s got a huge heart, but she’s hiding and has created this protective shell around herself.
I think we meet her at a point where her heart’s been broken every which way, multiple times, and she’s still getting back up, which I think feeds back into Daruma’s overarching theme, which is fall down seven times, get up eight. 
For her to come out of these relationships instead of being completely dark, just being careful, but keeping the door cracked, I thought was lovely… of course I could tell that story and put that aspect of my past into her present. 
Anna’s a very polarizing character. People either love her or hate her, and that, as an actor, is honestly the greatest feeling in the world, to know that you’ve lit a match and you don’t know who’s going to be the one to put out the fire or stoke it.
WW: What was it like transitioning from your Blue Bloods character Abigail Baker to a completely different role? Has it been exciting or has it been a bit scary?
Abigail Hawk in ‘Blue Bloods’moviestillsdb.com/CBSProductions
AH: We filmed Daruma in the beginning of 2022, so I actually had no time in between them at all, because I was still actively filming Blue Bloods. In fact, I had to beg for time off, and they worked the schedule around the film. I flew out to LA,  shot for two days and then I was right back in New York to film Blue Bloods. It was basically just me on the plane making sure that I had my lines memorized for both [projects].
At this point, Baker, I can slip her on so easily and it’s second nature. She is me; I am her. We spent 14 years getting to know each other and growing together. So, it was really just a little vacation.

WW This was your first time being credited as an associate producer, so how has that journey been different?
AH: I had no idea what I was doing, but that’s again why Kelli and Alex are so lovely as humans. And seeing my name up there was so cool…seeing it up there was, honestly, very surreal.
But what was even more important to me was seeing Catherine’s name in the credits, because one of the perks that I wanted was to have her mentioned as “this is in honor of her,” because it is. And that choked me up way more than seeing my name as a producer on the film. 
WW: Do you have plans to produce any other projects?
AH: I am a very impulsive person when it comes to things like that… I really think it depends on the project, and if I feel that urge, I will. But right now, my focus is on continuing to be in front of the camera, and I’m working on a novel which is a slog of epic proportions…. I also think when my boys are older, I would very much enjoy possibly directing, possibly producing more.
I did a theater production called Jasper off-Broadway at the end of 2022, and I realized that it was just almost impossible, especially working a full-time job with Blue Bloods. I never saw my kids, I was getting three hours of sleep a night and I just went, “Yeah, not yet.” I can put it away for now.
I’m 42, I have time. I’m not in a rush. I’m enjoying the wisdom that comes with aging, but still feeling like I have no idea what I’m doing, so I’ll be an adult sometimes, but I’m also trying to enjoy the ride.
I’m trying to not bite off more than I can chew, but the desire is there. I love telling stories, and however I am called upon to tell them, I’m going to say yes.
WW: How does it feel that Blue Bloods is coming to an end after 14 years?
Cast of ‘Blue Bloods’ at the Empire State Building (2024)John Nacion / Stringer
AH: If you’d asked me this two weeks ago, I would’ve answered a little bit differently. I had a nice hit of my people. I got to see all of them and hug people and tell them in person how much they meant to me. We had a big wrap party and we also had an event at the Paley Center in Manhattan, and then a couple of us from the cast got the amazing honor of lighting the Empire State Building blue — I’m still pinching myself that I got to participate in that. It was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life.
Getting to see them all again in the moment was such a wonderful adrenaline rush and brought me unspeakable joy. And then Sunday hit and I came down so hard, because the reality set in that this was the last time this group of people would all be together in a room in this capacity, and it’s a great group of people.
Abigail Hawk, Tom Selleck, Gregory Jbara and Robert Clohessy in behind-the-scenes photo from ‘Blue Bloods’Via Instagram @hawkabigail
I have talked about how amazing the cast is and how they are some of my nearest and dearest friends, because, of course, it’s 14 years of knowing the ins and outs of each other’s lives very intimately. But what I don’t talk about enough is how incredible our crew is. These are people that have been here the whole time and have grown with us behind the cameras, and they are the beating hearts of the show… bittersweet is a cliche word, but it’s an apt word, and I’m just grateful that it happened.
What an incredible experience for all of us. I feel mostly good. It happened. It’s the biggest blessing of my life and I’m excited to see where it leads me next.
WW: What was it like saying goodbye to your character, Baker?
Abigail Hawk in ‘Blue Bloods’moviestillsdb.com/CBSProductions
AH: Saying goodbye to her is difficult, because she’s the woman that I want to be. She’s confident, she’s smart, she’s observant, she’s capable, she’s a problem solver, and she can come at any situation calmly and with grace… And that’s what I will miss, is just that confidence. 

And I think if anything, she definitely taught me to relax and to stop circling the drain with my imposter syndrome that I deserve to be here. I do bear responsibility for being here for 14 years. I always thank Tom [Selleck] because he kept bringing me back and bringing me around, but I also contributed. The reason that he kept bringing me around was because I had something valuable to offer. So I have learned that from her, and I’m trying desperately to channel that as I enter this next unknown phase of my life, that it’s okay to not know what the next step is…I am trying to take her with me and have her be a back-pocket Baker.
I just always thought it was so neat that she was such a young leader, and I think she will continue to live on and help young women know that they can also be leaders. I think the reruns will still be going, you’ll still see it streaming on a random airplane going to Ireland. So I think I will continue having these young girls reach out to me and say, “Hey, because of Detective Baker, I also took the exam.” 
Also, I got to take the [One Police Plaza Headquarters] office door. It’s in my basement. Everybody was, like, “What do you want from the set?” And I said the door and they’re , like, “The one PP door?” And I was, like, “Yeah, that’s what I want… My fingerprints are on that door” … I have other things, too, but that’s clearly the coolest thing.

Hugh Grant hates his character from the movie “Notting Hill”

Actor Hugh Grant has admitted he hated his character in the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill. He called bookshop owner William Tucker “despicable” because of the way he treated Hollywood star Julia Roberts’ character in the film.
Speaking as part of Vanity Fair’s “Scene Selection,” Grant explained, “Every time I change the channels at home after a few drinks and this comes up, I just think, ‘Why doesn’t my character have balls? There’s a scene in the movie where she’s at my house and the paparazzi come to the front door and ring the doorbell, and I think I just let her walk past me and open the door. It’s horrible.”
The actor insisted that all of his romantic partners in real life had the same opinion of the character, “I’ve never had a girlfriend, and now a wife, who hasn’t said, ‘Why the hell didn’t you stop her? What’s wrong with you? And I don’t really have an answer to that – that’s how it’s written. And I think he’s mean, I really do.”
“Probably all the time with Julia, like with any brilliant actress, you’re thinking, ‘God, she’s really good. I’m not going to be as good as her. And she’s good at emotions and has this quality where it seems like her skin is thin. You can see her soul,” he elaborated.
Previously, Grant dispelled claims that he hates all his movie roles. He stressed that he was just looking for cracks in his previous performances.
“I’ve read that I hate all your movies. That’s not true, the movies are often great. I’m just the one I hate. You’re never comfortable with your own stuff. It’s like the old days of answering machine messages, when you always felt nauseous when you heard your own voice. And when you’re watching a movie, it’s 50 times worse,” the Hollywood actor told Hollywood Reporter. | BGNES