"SHERNI" (2021) Movie Review

By Vani P Nair -

 

                                    SHERNI (2021)

The title “Sherni” is applicable both to the predator in question as well as to the protagonist. Vidya Balan seamlessly plays the role of a rookie officer trying to combat corruption and inefficiency in the government system while simultaneously attempting to hold on against the slighting remarks and gender bias within her sphere of work. The lopsided power dynamics become apparent in several scenes, where the hands of the conscientious officers are tied and are further made to made to feel feckless. Unlike many other movies with female leads, the character played by Vidya Balan doesn’t dominate the narrative. The viewer is offered a fulfilling viewing experience without a wasted scene or dialogue.

The movie begins with a seemingly insignificant scene indicating the lack of subject knowledge among the officials of the forest department. When Vidya’s character asks another senior official about the significance of dried up water holes, he is as flustered as a deer caught in headlights. Every character Vidya interacts with from then on indicates how the system is steeped in corruption and inefficiency. Vidya is prevented from discharging her duties by cocky politicians and their loyal senior government officials. Being conscientious, she is indignant due to the venal administrative setup and also because of her own stunted career. It is interesting to note how the film maker has very subtly brought forth a major problem plaguing the present day government officials. Despite putting in the best of efforts, they are not being incentivised properly. There is no appreciation for good and honest work. In addition, the spirit of the youngsters is being broken by depriving them of promotions and career growth. Vidya’s anger and decision to resign from the thankless job can be relatable to at least a section of the youngsters in government service.

The visuals complement the narrative efficiently. When the driver mentions about the strangeness of the geography of that region, where jungles and fields alternate, the viewers are given a precise idea of landscape using an extreme long shot. The contentious issue that has been taken up in this film is the blurring of the boundaries between the wilderness and the human settlements. Depending on whose side you are taking, the other appears to be the encroacher. The credulous villagers are further mislead by the empty promises served by the politicians who are motivated by vested interests. A case in point is where an educational event organised by the forest department, to warn the public about the possible attack by a predator, quickly getting converted into a platform for political campaigning. Vidya is left helpless and piqued when the mike is forcefully taken from her hand and given to the politician to toot his own horn.

As deaths from the tiger attacks begin to shake the village and the surrounding areas, the delicate balance in the life of the villagers are shown to be shaken to the core.  As Vidya slowly gets closer to the lives of the locals, she also becomes aware of the conflict of interests among the residents of the locality. The predicament of the villagers begins to surface through the bitter words and resentment expressed by the neighbours of the victims of the tiger attacks. The scene where she takes the compensation cheque to the widow of one of the victims is especially poignant. One can feel her shame and guilt as she hands over the check to one of the women consoling the victim’s wife. It is a young woman Jyothi who confronts Vidya and tells her how they were forced to take their animals to graze in the forests ever since the pasturelands were converted to teak plantations.

The idiocy of a politician and his henchmen, who spoil an almost successful attempt at nabbing the predator, is conveyed through a very realistic and relatable scene. The resultant casuality and powerlessness of the villagers translates into violence projected against the forest officials. Using the riled up villagers as a façade, competing electoral candidates begin to take advantage of the wobbly state of affairs. To the equation between man and animal comes a third factor in the form of a mine. The plot is structured such that the threats to nature in general and animals in particular are brought forth one after the other in a purposeful continuation. By placing the mine in the middle of T12’s way to the national park, we cannot but take cognizance of this very weighty concern.

On a lighter note, the film also takes a dig at the scandal mongering news channels who tend to blow every issue out of proportion and warp the reality simply to keep the viewers hooked to the channel.  Also, the lyrics of the song towards the second half of the movie is very insightful and apposite to the turn of the plot. The movie ends showing Vidya continuing her job with the same enthusiasm and commitment, even if this time she has been put in charge of stuffed animals instead of live ones.

 

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