The official entry for OSCARS this year, announcement of which came just on the day of its release as a blessing (like a well-planned PR work), NEWTON actually needs to be seen as a good enlightening film revealing the ground realities. But at the same time, it isn’t any lighthearted comic drama as you might be assuming watching its interesting trailer.
The film has a worth watching realistic depiction of how elections are held in extreme remote areas having a strong Maoist or Naxal influence and how different officials deal with it in their own chosen ways. A fine political satire with brilliant performances of Rajkummar Rao and Pankaj Tripathi along with Raghuvir Yadav and Anjali Patil, this deserves to be seen as an informative off-beat film exploring a never-before kind of subject talking about democracy, the right to vote and our Indian electoral system. Interestingly Anjali was earlier also seen in a film based on Naxalites titled CHAKRAVYUH released in 2012.
Yes, NEWTON has an interesting and unusual premise but it also has a slow, less engrossing and indecisive narrative too that might not be liked by the viewers opting for it just because it has been nominated for the OSCARS or others assuming it to be a comedy keeping in mind its witty trailer. The makers might have taken their inspiration from a similar Iranian film titled SECRET BALLOT (2001) having an almost identical subject, but that doesn’t allow you to demean the effort made in terms of realistic adaptation by the writer/director and all praiseworthy performances given by the talented cast.
Having its own share of downers of dragging and ending on an unclear open note, diluting the overall impact on the audience, NEWTON is a good, well-intentioned attempt in terms of the rare and brave subject chosen. But I personally still felt like watching something especially made keeping in mind the festival audience in particular.
In short, do try to watch it considering it a courageous Indian experimental film demanding your support and applause. But please don’t insult the effort, calling it a COMEDY.
Rating : 3 / 5
(An edited form of the article also got featured in UC-News mobile app in September 2017)
Tags :
NEWTON Review by Bobby Sing at bobbytalkscinema.com, New Hindi Films Reviews by Bobby Sing, New Bollywood Movies Reviews by Bobby Sing at BTC
