Brutally Honest But A Little Too Clinical

Manish
Mundra’s
directorial
debut

Siya
is
based
largely
on
the
Unnao
and
Hathras
rape
cases
and
subsequent
tragedies
that
befell
the
victims
all
through
their
efforts
to
find
justice
that
remained
stubbornly
elusive.
The
film
exposes
the
craters
in
the
justice
delivery
system
corruptly
influenced
by
political
heavyweights
–
but
the
rather
clinical
mode
of
representation
here
doesn’t
allow
for
a
strong
emotional
connect.

A
17-year-old
teen
from
Devganj
village,
Uttar
Pradesh
is
repeatedly
raped
and
brutalized
while
in
captivity
for
more
than
a
week
by
a
group
of
men
with
strong
political
connections.

Once
the
disinterested
cops
are
forced
to
take
note
of
her
disappearance,
she
is
rescued
and
her
trials
and
tribulations
begin
all
over
again
while
she
fights
for
justice
within
a
system
that
makes
the
victim
its
prisoner.

Pooja
Pandey,
as
the
victim/protagonist
and
Vineet
Kumar
Singh
as
a
notary
lawyer
who
becomes
her
gallant
knight
against
all
odds
make
it
all
real
and
palpable
with
their
sincere
performances.
Manish
Mundra,
producer
of
some
of
the
most
feted
films
(Aankhon
Dekhi,
Masaan,
Newton)
in
recent
Indian
film
history,
delivers
a
fairly
engrossing
narrative
that
plays
against
stereotype.

While
the
brutal
act
is
against
the
weakest
section
of
society,
we
see
here
a
refreshing
change
in
representation
that
has
the
family
supporting
the
young
girl
all
through
her
harrowing
ordeal
despite
being
at
risk
all
along.
Manish’s
sensitivity
or
sensibility
is
not
in
question
but
a
little
emotion
would
have
gone
a
long
way
in
making
this
film
an
unforgettable
experience.

And
we
are
not
talking
melodrama
–
just
some
visible
signs
that
trauma
has
a
destabilising
effect
on
life
after
rape,
especially
when
the
emotional
and
psychological
remains
unaddressed.
Mundra
eschews
graphic
details
of
the
barbaric
acts
and
even
the
victim’s
emotions
are
largely
cauterized.

Siya
is
not
exactly
a
hard-hitting
film
but
it
does
well
to
expose
the
vagaries
of
the
criminal
justice
system
that
depends
entirely
on
the
evidence
gathered
by
a
disinclined
and
corrupt
police
force.

Mundra’s
film
essentially
shows
us
how
rape
and
its
aftermath
becomes
the
focus
for
the
victim
and
her
family
even
though
she
wants
to
move
on
–
while
the
perpetrators
have
the
leeway
of
using
every
trick
in
the
book
to
stay
free
of
all
stigma
and
criminal
responsibility.
If
you
are
looking
for
redemption
and
catharsis
you
won’t
get
it
here.
This
is
a
straightforward
depiction
of
a
crime
and
what
follows.

The
production
design
by
Rashmi
Somvanshi
is
rustic
and
well
in
keeping
with
the
milieu,
music
by
Neel
Adhikari
is
unobtrusive
and
rather
underwhelming
and
cinematography
is
rather
objective
and
aloof.

Siya
is
a
sincere
effort,
no
doubt.
But
the
tension
and
emotion
is
not
strong
enough
to
curry
mass
affect.

For
women
in
distress
help
available
at:

Central
Social
Welfare
Board
-Police
Helpline:
1091/
1291,
(011)
23317004;
Shakti
Shalini-
women’s
shelter:
(011)
24373736/
24373737;
All
India
Women’s
Conference:
10921/
(011)
23389680;
Joint
Women’s
Programme:
(011)
24619821;
Sakshi-
violence
intervention
center:
(0124)
2562336/
5018873;
Nirmal
Niketan
(011)
27859158;
JAGORI
(011)
26692700;
Nari
Raksha
Samiti:
(011)
23973949;
RAHI
Recovering
and
Healing
from
Incest.
A
support
centre
for
women
survivors
of
child
sexual
abuse:
(011)
26238466/
26224042,
26227647.