PremiumBhumi Pednekar's Bhakshak — the movie you must be streaming right now!
Set in Bihar, Bhakshak, which translates to the animal, tells the story of rampant human rights abuse that takes place at a state-funded orphanage home.
Promotional still for Bhakshak. Netflix
Last Updated: 11.28 AM, Feb 13, 2024
In Bhakshak, a female journalist, Vaishali (Bhumi Pednekar), with little real influence, and an elderly man, Baskar (Sanjay Mishra), likely past the conventional retirement age, team up to shine a light on the government and political nexus that allows a free reign of terror in one of the darkest corners of the country.
Set in Bihar, Bhakshak, which translates to the animal , tells the story of rampant human rights abuse that takes place at a state-funded orphanage home. The shelter home is located at the end of a very secluded lane, away from the immediate visibility of a bustling urban crowd. Individuals are so overwhelmed by their own problems, that they don't have time to pause and pay attention to what's happening on the sidelines and in their backyard.
Bhakshak emphasizes the importance of loving thy neighbour
Taking advantage of the anonymity granted by a citizenry that's obsessed with self-preservation and a corrupt power system, a bunch of hooligans indulge in the vilest of their fantasies by exploiting orphan children at the shelter home under their care. Bansi Sahu (Aditya Srivastava) and his men have so little disregard for the lives of young orphan girls. So much so that they would kill their victims and burn their bead bodies at a cemetery under the garb of darkness if they feel that getting medical help to one of the sexually assaulted girls is too much of a struggle for them. These men seem to think they are invincible and their illusion of being untouchable is powered by their deep faith in society's eroding ability to feel for their neighbours and fight for their rights.
ALSO READ: Liked Bhakshak on Netflix? Delve into the real story that shaped Bhumi Pednekar's gripping tale
"This is not happening to our girls, no. Then why are you getting emotional," asks a fearful Arvind to his wife Vaishali, who is determined to expose the child abuse and human trafficking that's happening at the shelter. "Why do you wish to commit suicide?" Bansi Sahu asks Vaishali, threatening her to stop reporting on the story. "Why do you want to risk your job by taking a proactive action in this case?" a top cop asks SSP Jasmeet Kaur (Sai Tamhankar).
No one will ever be truly safe until everyone is safe
Director Pulkit, who has co-written the film with Jyotsana Nath, effectively puts the spotlight on the contour of our society that enables the creation of such dark coroners, where innocence is exploited, maimed, and slaughtered. We may all think that turning a blind eye to such horrors will keep the bhakshaks at bay and they will remain on the fringes, this film argues that it's only a matter of time before they spill over into our society and start haunting us.
Bhakshak is more than a story about a small-time journalist taking on forces beyond her ken. Watching this film brings to mind Hillary Clinton's famous quote, "You can't expect to keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours."
Bhakshak is not an easy watch, but it's a necessary pill to swallow, so we can remain wakeful and remember there is a real world beyond our Instagram reels and it's not all beautiful.
Bhakshak is streaming on Netflix.