Inspired by the horrific and monstrous real-life events that occurred in the nation\’s capital, \’Sector 36\’ releases on Netflix today and stars Vikrant Massey and Deepak Dobriyal. The film is directed by debutant director Aditya Nimbalkar. Read on…
Runtime : 124 minutes
Overall Rating : 4/5
While re-releases are soon becoming a trend and some brilliant movies like ‘Tumbbad’ & ‘Veer Zaara’ re-release today, a masterstroke of a movie, inspired by true events (though using the term ‘inspired’ doesn’t feel right), ‘Sector 36‘ is the shining hope in the overflowing flood of mediocre movies packaged with only star-power and zero substance.
Plot : When several children disappear at the hands of a serial killer in Sector 36, a corrupt cop is forced to pursue the chilling case at all costs. In Rajiv Colony, a large and densely populated migrant slum in Delhi, numerous children and young women have gone missing. Because the victims come from poor backgrounds, the police often ignore these cases, including Sub-Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal), a firm believer in the established system who idolizes Newton\’s principles. However, when his own daughter, Vedu, narrowly escapes being kidnapped by a man wearing a Ravana mask named Prem (Vikrant Massey), Ram is jolted into action. His sudden transformation feels abrupt and convenient, but perhaps that’s intentional, highlighting a common Indian mindset where people only take decisive action when a crisis hits close to home.
What We Loved : The fact that film is made from a place filled with honesty and utmost sincerity elevated the watching experience. Being gritty, edgy but at the most real made \’Sector 36\’ a one of kind thriller which is derived only from real life incidents. We absolutely loved how it did not glorify the menacing Prem and made us think about the conflicted & otherwise unperturbed Ram Charan Pandey’s way of looking into things so non-seriously until it happens to himself. We also were taken aback a particular scene where Pandey interrogates Prem in a room where shades of having no shame or guilt are performed to the T by Massey while Dobriyal’s reactions seem utmost real.
What We Liked : The film stayed with me and as I type this, I still can’t stop thinking of the horrific incidents shown in ‘Sector 36’. When a film which is made to make you think hard on the state of affairs in our country and if it lingers around you, half of the job is done. After seeing the film, I immediately called my peers to show my concern for their kids and asked them to stay vigilant always. Such was the effect of the film and it must reach every corner of our country and beyond. We also liked how the misery of parents despite their shortcomings & mistakes is shown because ultimately at the end of the day, their child was missing.
The Always Victorious Vikrant : There is a reason I use the term \’victorious\’ for Vikrant because he never fails to me amaze me each time every time with every passing film. Enjoying a great form, the supremely able actor made me forget the Manoj Kumar Sharma from ’12th Fail’ which had a huge impact on me as a cinephile and that is exactly where the actor wins! The way how Vikrant portrayed a disturbed Prem who has had a traumatic past, a loving family, a cunning attribute, a menacing mind, and a very casual attitude to even the grimmest of things in life made it both precious yet disturbing. He makes sure that at no instance, we feel for the character’s greys and sympathize with his social standing and that is where Massey scores a slam-dunk as an artist.
The Return Of Deepak Dobriyal : After being severely type casted in comic roles, Deepak Dobriyal comes back with full force in ‘Sector 36’ playing a character of a sub-inspector in a way that he has made it his own. While we feel the character’s guilt when he realizes he has been casual with his approach to kidnappings of children around him, we also tend to feel his urge & anger when he is jolted back into action to find the kidnappers. Dobriyal is utmost sincere and honest in delivering one of his career’s best performances and we wish to see him more in such roles. Hope the writers and the makers are reading this!
Conclusion : As the whole cinema hall erupted with unending round of applauses, ‘Sector 36’ is simply unmissable to say the least. A film like this comes very rarely where you can see what is actually happening in our country and surroundings and not just what is happening in our individual lives. We highly recommend you to watch “Sector 36” especially with your family if you have children and even if you don’t.