An impactful movie that jolts you
for several reasons, not just gets you thinking but also feeling. So what is
NH10 about? Is it a movie about one social issue -honor killing? Not really!!
This crime thriller doesn’t just highlight that one social issue that it is
made out to be. It is an intelligent amalgam of the current socio cultural reality
of the two extreme strata of society (Urban/ rural) within the modern India we
live in.
The story begins with Mira, who
represents the very corporate, plush and modern Indian woman who has to
rush back to work from a party, unfortunately her flamboyant sociopath husband(Arjun)
is reluctant to drive her and she decides to ride herself. She meets with
miscreants on the road, who try to knock her and she narrowly escapes with
injuries. To her absolute dismay Arjun decides that she must keep a gun with
her always. To cheer her up and get her mind off this traumatic event, Arjun plans a vacation on Mira’s Birthday to a
destination which is on the National Highway (NH10).
While on their way they happen to take a break at the Dhaba where Mira has a chance encounter in the restroom with a woman who pleads to help her and her boyfriend from abductors. Mira decides to overlook the plea, with enough drama and trouble that she had faced recently. However, later the couple does get involved, when Arjun tries to show his heroism but has to back off, however his ego is hurt and he decides to teach a lesson to the abductors. Arjun’s intervention fires back and the couple become witnesses to an honor killing and the abductors all are all out to kill them. The gun that Mira owns comes to good use in the process of saving themselves. Arjun is badly injured in the process and Mira decides to get some help, while she manages to hide him safely. The gruesome killing spree goes further intense when she runs to the police and finally to the Sarpanch (Deepti Naval) of the Village to help her. This is the part where the audience will be at absolute shock, which is perhaps the real truth about that part of the Indian rural society where castism, domestic violence on women and honor killings are still prevalent, yet carefully masked by so called protectors and governors of the law themselves.
While on their way they happen to take a break at the Dhaba where Mira has a chance encounter in the restroom with a woman who pleads to help her and her boyfriend from abductors. Mira decides to overlook the plea, with enough drama and trouble that she had faced recently. However, later the couple does get involved, when Arjun tries to show his heroism but has to back off, however his ego is hurt and he decides to teach a lesson to the abductors. Arjun’s intervention fires back and the couple become witnesses to an honor killing and the abductors all are all out to kill them. The gun that Mira owns comes to good use in the process of saving themselves. Arjun is badly injured in the process and Mira decides to get some help, while she manages to hide him safely. The gruesome killing spree goes further intense when she runs to the police and finally to the Sarpanch (Deepti Naval) of the Village to help her. This is the part where the audience will be at absolute shock, which is perhaps the real truth about that part of the Indian rural society where castism, domestic violence on women and honor killings are still prevalent, yet carefully masked by so called protectors and governors of the law themselves.
I absolutely love the character
sketch of Mira- a confluence of both feminine and masculine characteristics,
which is where the modern Indian woman is at, perhaps today –running on higher testosterone
levels with the survival instincts of a hunter, yet it is the man in her life
who will make key decisions alone, on owning a gun or jumping in to an
unnecessary brawl. Her character has a certain maturity and class where you see
how she handles slandering remarks from male colleagues and the absolute
disregard from her husband with utmost dignity, which depict her true feminine
side
The plot of the story is
definitely seems inspired by facts, resembling actual occurrences, one would have read
in the papers at some point in time. To me this movie was not just about social, political and economic imbalances in the two distinct strata, but also the imbalances
that we see in personal relationships in the current Indian society. Including roles of a man and a woman which are so severely confused and the modern woman is not any more
liberated than the woman in a village. When I think deeper, I realize that liberation cannot mean having to ride
alone in the middle of the night or owning a gun or smoking a cigarette/ having
a drink. True liberation means having the right to think for yourself and
perhaps make an intelligent choice of not driving alone at an odd hour, above all liberation is never real without the feeling of security and safety. Simply put, the movie is more about basic human rights to women and not so much about feminism. Anushka
Sharma was just perfect and I must say a very smart choice of story
and director for her first production
The movie is a must watch, keeps
you on the edge of your seat, not just thought provoking but also for
the nerve racking thrills in the plot and Also, I haven't really revealed the suspense either;). The theme of the movie doesn't override the entertainment factor, its a good mix. The gruesome climax has some real
blatant ugly yet heart touching moments, including my favorite line from the movie- jo karna tha so
karna tha….
