Godhra: Film Review – A Fiery Verdict on a Historical Tragedy, or Just Smoke and Mirrors?

👎🌟🌟🌠🌠 – 2.5 out of 5, much like my interest in watching paint dry.

🎬 : "A film is like a battleground, love, hate, action, violence, death… in one word: EMOTIONS." – Samuel Fuller. Well, it seems like our dear director M K Shivaaksh forgot about this advice while creating his latest courtroom drama, which has as much emotional depth as a teaspoon.

📚 : The story of the film, ladies and gentlemen, is based on the 2002 Sabarmati Express fire in Godhra, Gujarat. It tries to navigate the murky waters of the Nanavati Commission’s investigation into the cause of the fire, and whether it was a tragic accident or a deliberate conspiracy. But honestly, the real tragedy was sitting through the whole thing.

🎥 : The movie tries to juggle the courtroom drama and the human cost of the tragedy. While our two lawyers, Qureshi (Ranvir Shorey) and Pandya (Manoj Joshi), duke it out with their theories, we also get a glimpse of the aftermath of the incident on the people involved. Deshpande (Hitu Kanodia), a railway employee loses his wife, Devki (Denisha Ghumra), and son, Mannu in the fire and decides to ditch his job for a teaching gig.

Meanwhile, we also have a student, who conveniently chooses the Godhra incident for his project and meets a cop, a victim, and a social worker. It’s a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, but one where the pieces don’t quite fit.

📸 : The cinematography contrasts the peaceful Ganga ghat in Ayodhya and the Ram Leela with the bleak reality of the tragedy, which is sadly one of the few impressive elements of the film.

🎭 : While Shorey and Joshi do their best to deliver their courtroom speeches with conviction, the rest of the cast just seems to be going through the motions. Kanodia and Ghumra offer a serviceable portrayal of a married couple, but it’s as bland as a bowl of plain oatmeal.

🎞 : The movie attempts to walk the tightrope of objectivity but ends up falling flat on its face. Its pace is as steady as a tortoise, making the whole experience a test of your patience. The film’s impact is as soft as a feather, which is surprising given the intense subject matter.

Ultimately, the film is like a lukewarm cup of tea, it’s not bad but it’s not particularly good either. It’s a one-sided narrative, that leaves you with more questions than answers.

⭐ Rani’s Wrap-Up: If you’ve got nothing better to do and feel like spending a few hours watching a monotonous courtroom drama, this movie is just right for you. But if you’re like me and value your time, you might want to give this one a miss.

Remember folks, a film should be more than just moving pictures on a screen. It should make you feel something. Unfortunately, this one just made me feel bored. 😴