In one scene in Bandar, Sanya Malhotra’s character, who plays Samar’s (Bobby Deol’s) sister, breaks down while visiting him in jail. The unfiltered intensity of her frustration, combined with Sanya’s compelling performance, gives the moment real impact and pulls you in entirely. It’s the kind of scene where the emotions feel so genuine that you stop seeing performers and instead see real people. This Anurag Kashyap film is filled with such moments, making Bandar an engaging and compelling watch.
What is the plot of Bandar?
The narrative, inspired by a real-life incident involving a well-known actor, centers on Samar, a singer and actor whose career is waning. His world is upended when he is abruptly taken into custody after a woman named Gayatri (Sapna Pabbi) lodges a rape complaint against him. What ensues is a chaotic legal spectacle, with Samar, the so-called 'bandar', compelled to overcome one obstacle after another, even as he maintains that the encounter was consensual. As the case gains traction, his personal life starts to crumble, leaving him ensnared in a system that seems to have already reached its verdict.
The film's subject feels especially relevant today, given the growing conversation around false accusations and the devastating impact they can have on the accused. The first half is tightly constructed, with each scene contributing meaningfully. Anurag keeps the narrative rooted in reality, avoiding any urge to overdramatize. His scenes are meticulously crafted. Consider, for example, an exchange between Samar and a police officer, where Samar repeatedly begs them not to use abusive language. The moment plays as humorous at first, until it hits you that you are laughing at someone caught in a nightmare. Anurag conveys his points through brief, impactful scenes.
The latter half turns its attention to Samar’s life in prison, and this is where the film starts to falter. Writers Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee peel back the layers of the jail ecosystem, revealing the gang culture that thrives behind bars. While these segments are engaging on their own, they eventually become somewhat repetitive, which slows the film’s overall pace.
Performance report card
The performances are uniformly excellent. Bobby is perfectly cast for this role; his eyes reflect deep anguish. Anurag draws a powerful performance from him, particularly in the prison scenes, where he expresses fear and frustration without relying on overtly dramatic outbursts.Sanya Malhotra delivers an impeccable performance. Despite having limited screen time, she makes a strong impression and adds significant emotional depth to Bandar. Sapna Pabbi is highly impactful as Gayatri, portraying the role with conviction that keeps viewers invested. Pay special attention to her in the breakdown scene.
The music by Amit Trivedi, Vishal Mishra, and Shivahari Varma is good.
Overall, even though it loses some steam in the second half, Bandar is still a compelling film to watch. Its strength lies in its unwavering focus on the human toll of an accusation and the spectacle that ensues. In a time when public judgment often precedes verified facts, the movie comes across as both timely and pertinent.
