Sanchita
Hurdang tries to make meaningful social commentary but still is a painfully one-sided watch…..
Read Full Hurdang Movie Review –
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Cast: Sunny Kaushal, Nushrat Bharucha, Vijay Varma
Rating: 2.5/5
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes
Storyline:
Hurdang is a love story set against the backdrop of the 1990s student agitation in Allahabad against caste-based reservation.
The story follows Daddu Thakur (Sunny) who is an IAS aspirant and his romance with Jhulan (Nushrat). The duo are in an on-off relationship and they can’t get married until one of them becomes an IAS officer.
Now, Daddu is a total lafanga and just the right sort to stir trouble. Instead of focusing on cracking the exam, he gets brainwashed into leading the anti-reservation fight by the shrewd and manipulative student leader Loha Singh (Vijay Varma).
Loha convinces him that after the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s report, Daddu would be in danger of losing his seat to caste reservation and hence, should mobilise the student body against it.
Meanwhile, Jhulan is on the verge of getting married off to someone else – leaving Daddu torn between his love story and his priority toward the student rebellion!
Watch Hurdang to see how Daddu’s journey pans out….
What Do We Think?
Hurdang is filled with quotes like – “The problem doesn’t lie in reservation, but in caste-based reservation”, “Reservation should be on basis of economic status”, “A Brahmin’s son can also be poor, so can someone belonging to other castes. That’s why it’s important to protest against caste-based reservation.”
While advocating for economy-based reservation, it fails to take into account the socio-economic dynamic affecting the opportunities. Yes, take poverty into the factor but also consider the issue of social exclusion! If caste-based reservation is to be removed, first caste-based discrimination must go!
Though Hurdang tries to remain balanced on the issue, it still flows like a problematic and privileged upper-caste rant. It is quite one-track in its vision and the other part of the narrative is not explored at all; why the Mandal Commission was established, or the ground realities of caste-based violence and exploitation.
Hurdang only attacks caste-based reservation without making any attempt to address caste-based discrimination at all.
Excusing the one-sided narrative, the actors have done a commendable job though. Like his brother Vicky, Sunny Kaushal is also an actor to watch out for. He is quite natural and effortless in his performance and plays his role with an aggressive conviction.
Vijay Varma also aces his role with a sly charm. Nushrat Bharucha-Sunny’s chemistry is nice but still feels superficial.
Hit Or Miss?
It is a one-time watch, see it for Sunny Kaushal’s performance! It is currently out in theatres.
