Durgamati

Durgamati
Image source: Google

Ratings: 1.8/5

Duration: 155 Minutes

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama, Horror

Director: G Ashok

Writer: Dakshesh Chawla, G. Ashok, Ravinder Randhawa

Based On:  Bhaagamathie, a Telugu movie

Producer: Vikram Malhotra, Bhushan Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Krishan Kumar

Music: Score - Jakes Bejoy; Songs - Tanishk Bagchi, Naman Adhikari, Abhinav Sharma, Malini Awasthi

Cinematography: Kuldeep Mamania

Editing: Unnikrishnan P. P.

Released On: 11 December 2020

Star Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Arshad Warsi, Jisshu Sengupta, Mahie Gill

Plot: A particular state in India is in the middle of a religious crisis. The state witnesses several robberies of priceless idols from various temples. In amidst of such crises, the head of the ruling party, Ishwar Prasad (played by Arshad Warsi), makes a very promising yet out-of-league statement. He declares that if the government fails to retrieve the idols within 15 days, he will quit politics forever. The general public is pleased by his promise at the same time his party members are stunned.

Just like in any political game, his own people try to backstab him. His party members decide to bring him down by framing him in a corruption case. CBI officer Satakshi Ganguly (played by Mahie Gill) is assigned for the said job. She decides on taking help from Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhay Singh (played by Jisshu Sengupta) to get her job done.

As a part of her operation, Satakshi decides to interrogate Chanchal Chauhan (played by Bhumi Pednekar). Why Chanchal? Because as per records, she is an IAS officer who had worked with Ishwar for close to a decade, and so she is the best bet for Satakshi. Chanchal is serving a jail sentence as she has been charged guilty for murdering her fiancé Shakti (played by Karan Kapadia). Also, Shakti was Abhay’s brother and needless to say, the latter has not forgiven Chanchal for her act.

In order to keep this whole conspiracy a secret the interrogation of Chanchal is planned as a top-secret mission. And so, it could not be done in the prison or anywhere else. Following which Abhay decides to shift Chanchal to a remote location – the Durgamati Haveli. But this is no ordinary haveli. There are rumours of this Haveli being a haunted location for years. Everyone related to the operation is frightened. In fact, they even tell Abhay and Satakshi to shift Chanchal somewhere else. However, both the officers refuse to budge as they don’t believe in spirits.

Thereafter, begins the interrogation. Satakshi efforts seem to fail as she is unable to get any credible information from Chanchal that can help her nail Ishwar. Chanchal, on the other hand, maintains her stance that Ishwar is a man with a clean man.

As a process, the interrogation was conducted during the day and at night Chanchal would be kept at the Haveli all alone with officers stationed at the site. This is when eerie things start happening inside. Chanchal complains but the cops are commanded not to help her. This goes on for some time.

A few days later, the spirit of Queen Durgamati finally takes control of Chanchal. At first, Satakshi and other officers assume she is faking it to escape the interrogation. But then the reality strikes them hard. They finally accept the fact that there might be some things beyond the understanding of science. What happens next forms the rest of the film. How the ghost of Durgamati is related to all this is what the movie is all about.

Review: This movie is a good mix of horror and drama, wherein the ghost of a Goddess is shown as a messenger to put things straight in the otherwise crooked world. For many in a world where politics is often synonymous to hooliganism and egalitarianism is an alien concept (again, to some), ‘Durgamati’ does have a few lessons to impart. But sadly, the storytelling technique and its narrative are so bland that it slips through the cracks. A dialogue around strong ideologies including women empowerment is always welcome, but it could be delivered better.

The running time of the movie is stretched beyond two and a half hours all because of that additional political melodrama, expanded upon in flashbacks. The horror elements are common like - standard power cuts, hefty soundtrack parps and sinister-like film reels. This all put together creates a creepy and not a horror atmosphere. To add to all, are the camera lunges that sways and heaves in all directions. Pared down or sent up, it might have held the interest.

Bhumi Pednekar has played her role with full sincerity. She is seen banging her head on walls, screaming and glaring, punishing herself with full grit. But this gap in the storyline makes it a logic-free movie and no one could make it palatable. Director Ashok, who also directed the Telugu version, creates an almost frame-by-frame replica of the earlier film. But with no offence, Bhumi Pednekar’s performance is no way close to Anushka Shetty’s memorable act in BHAAGMATHIE.

On the whole, the only highlight of the movie is its interesting plot and is replete with some interesting scenes and an unpredictable twist in the second half. But the cinematic liberties are aplenty which hamper the impact. It is highly doubtful that the movie will be able to generate a required buzz in the audience. Especially, for horror movie lovers!