From Mulk to IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, times Anubhav Sinha's cinema confronted hard truths

Anubhav Sinha, a filmmaker renowned for his gripping narratives and socially relevant themes, has consistently delivered hard-hitting films that delve into the complexities of Indian society. From the intense action thriller Dus to the legal drama Mulk, and from the caste-based exploration in Article 15 to the introspective Thappad, Sinha's body of work reflects a deep engagement with pressing issues. The filmmaker continues to captivate audiences with his latest venture, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, now streaming on Netflix. The series is no exception, bringing together an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and Vijay Varma, among others, to unravel the gripping tale of the infamous hijacking incident.

Here's a look at Anubhav Sinha's films that established him as a director unafraid to tackle controversial and uncomfortable subjects.

Dus (JioCinema; Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium]; Lionsgate Play [OTTplay Premium])

The 2005 Anubhav Sinha action thriller Dus follows the lives of seven made-up members of the Indian Special Investigation Team (SIT). The film features the acting talents of Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Zayed Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Raima Sen, Esha Deol, and Dia Mirza. Commercially and critically, it was a smashing success.

International terrorist and criminal Jamwaal plots a murderous terrorist strike, and the film follows the fictional Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) chief (Dutt) and his crew as they attempt to foil his plot. They have a deadline of seven days. The title of the film references the scheduled assault on May 10. Siddhant Dheer (Dutt) and his siblings, Shashank (Bachchan) and Anu (Mirza), enjoy a lavish lifestyle. Siddhant, Shashank, Aditya (Khan), and Aditi (Shetty) all work for the Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) in India. Terrorists are plotting a massive attack in Canada in May, threatening 25,000 lives, according to information they glean from questioning a suspect named Altaf. According to Altaf, the terrorist Jamwaal, who is in touch with Himmat Mehndi, is the one planning this attack. Himmat protests the accusation vehemently, but Shashank and Aditya nevertheless proceed to kidnap him after meeting with ATC Agent Neha (Deol) in Canada. The two join forces with Danish "Dan (Suniel Shetty)," a Canadian police officer, and try to decipher the information they have retrieved from Himmat. However, they soon discover that no one is who they claim to be, and they find themselves entangled in a web of lies and deceit, unsure of who is causing the danger, with time running out.

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Tathastu (Prime Video; ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium])

Anubhav Sinha directed the drama film Tathastu (2006), which featured Sanjay Dutt. The American film John Q. (1902) served as its inspiration. In the film, a heart condition strikes a low-income family's sole kid. A life-saving heart transplant is his sole hope, but the process is lengthy and fraught with expense. A tough sacrifice will be required of his parents.

Mulk (ZEE5 [OTTplay Premium])

Anubhav Sinha wrote, produced, and directed the 2018 legal drama Mulk. Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu star in the film, which takes place against the backdrop of a Muslim family. The story centres around the life of a Muslim family that tries to reclaim its lost honour after its patriarch, Murad Ali Mohammed (Kapoor), gets involved in terrorism. The supporting cast of the film includes Rajat Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Prateik Babbar, Ashutosh Rana, Neena Gupta, Prachee Shah Paandya, and Indraneil Sengupta.

Article 15 (Netflix)

In 2019, Anubhav Sinha helmed and produced the crime drama film Article 15, which he co-wrote with Gaurav Solanki. As he looks into the abduction of three girls from a tiny town, the film's protagonist, Ayushmann Khurrana, a police detective, finds a web of caste-based persecution. In addition to the main actors, the supporting cast consists of Kumud Mishra, Sayani Gupta, Kumud Pahwa, Kumud Isha Talwar, Veen Harsh, Sumbul Touqeer, Sushil Pandey, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Sardar.

Article 15 of the Indian Constitution forbids discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth; this provision is the inspiration for the film's title. The allegations of gang rape in Badaun in 2014 and the Una flogging incident in 2016 are two of the real-life events that served as inspiration for the film, but it is not based on any one occurrence in particular.

Lalgoan is the name of the tehsil where the events of Article 15 take place in Uttar Pradesh, India. Combating what he calls "India's caste system," this is the narrative of Ayan Ranjan, an IPS officer. Ayan has a very naive and exotic view of India due to his upbringing in a multicultural European environment. Unbeknownst to him, a minor tehsil would completely alter the course of his life. Ayan sees a terrible crime committed against three Dalit teenage girls from a lower-caste community in Harimanpur on his inaugural day of duty. At this point, he finds himself caught between his most fundamental human inclinations and the conventional wisdom about how to handle the situation. Ayan, who is already having a hard time focussing on his marriage to Aditi, also sees how the rule of law and justice are slipping away, and he knows full well that he must not try to disrupt this well-oiled system and its psychology, or else the consequences will be disastrous. Ayan faces a difficult choice: either mature into a responsible adult or take the easy way out—the one most of us would choose—because one of the three girls is still missing and there is the possibility to let this case go through inertly.

Thappad (Prime Video)

In 2020, Anubhav Sinha directed and Taapsee Pannu led the drama film Thappad. Both critics and moviegoers thought highly of this production. According to Thappad, the protagonist, Amrita, has her idyllic life upended in the party scene when her husband smacks her. Is it enough to shake up a relationship with only one slap?

Anek (Netflix)

Anubhav Sinha produced, wrote, and directed the action thriller Anek in 2022. Ayushmann Khurrana, J. D. Chakravarthy, Kumud Mishra, Andrea Kevichüsa, and Manoj Pahwa are among the stars. Anek's plot centers on a police officer who is assigned as a covert operative to travel to Northeast India in order to mediate a peace accord between the Indian government and separatist factions in the region. Critics were divided when Anek came out; some praised the performances and themes, while others panned the film for being too thick, poorly directed, and including too many plot points.

In his quest to bring the nation together, Joshua (Ayushmann Khurrana) is a fearless covert agent. The film follows Joshua as he travels through a conflict-ridden area of Northeast India to mediate a peace deal between the biggest militant group and its rebel leader, Tiger Sanga. Befriending Aido, the daughter of a separatist, is one of Joshua's missions as he seeks to enter the group. Joshua, a fierce boxer, aspires to assist India in securing a medal. Aido persists in her pursuit of a national team berth despite incessant harassment and bullying in the hopes of fitting in as an Indian and bringing honour to her homeland. Can Joshua bring the nation together as he has sworn to do? Do you think Aido will have an opportunity to show what she can do? Tragic yet ultimately uplifting, Anek asks the tough questions of Indian identity and the will to overcome the divisions that have divided the nation.

Bheed (Netflix)

In 2023, Anubhav Sinha directed, co-wrote, and produced the social drama film Bheed. The film is based on a fictional scenario that takes place during the COVID-19 lockdown in India in 2020. The film features Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, Kritika Kamra, and Ashutosh Rana. In 2020, during the quarantine, the biggest migration in Indian history (after the 1947 partition) takes place in the fictional account Bheed. The narrative follows multiple characters as they navigate the lockdown and seek refuge.

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