Sherni movie review: Vidya Balan spearheads a sarcastically biting conservationist cry

OTT movie review Sherni

“Sher hain to jungle hai, jungle hain to baarish hain, baarish hain to paani hain aur paani hai toh hum hain.” This dialogue by a forest friend sums up the crux of Amit Masurkar’s Sherni. A biting cry for survival and protection of green land and endangered species. Amit Masurkar again wanders in the Jungle of Madhya Pradesh but this time its for T12 Tiger. Vidya Vincet (Vidya Balan) an honest forest officer has finally bagged a field job after sitting on desk for six years. Her new position in the forests of Bijaspur comes with its own challenges powered by typical corrupt mindset. Vidya’s boss Bansilal Bansal (Bijendra Kala) is comfortable ‘oiling’ the MLA’s legs, the election is around and he just wants the problem (Tiger) to disappear anyhow. So, a hunter heartless hunter like Pintu Bhaiya (Sharat Saxena) is his most trusted allay then talented and concerned officers in his own department like Vidya, Hassan Noorani (Vijay Raaz) and her staff. The politicians GK (Amar Singh Parihar) yellow brigade party and PK (Satyakam Anand) the pink brigade wants to make this prowling Tiger issue their election issue.

Amit Masurkar maintains his flavour in the constantly probing script by Aastha Tiku. Election, jungle, villages, conflict, politics so a déjà vu of Newton is felt but Sherni is more layered in its dark humour and is subtle in its wit.

Performance

Vidya Balan delivers an ace.

Vijay Raaz as Hassan Noorani is brilliant.

Bijendra Kala as Bansilal Bansal – the Boss of Vidya Balan is outstanding.

Amar Singh Parihar as GK Singh is fantastic.

Satyakam Anand as PK Singh makes his mark.

Sharat Saxena as the hunter Pintu bhaiya is perfect.

Neeraj Kabi as the successful and respected senior Forest department officer is fine.

Noteworthy support comes from Pratik Panchori as Babbal, Anoop Trivedi as Pyarelal, Mukesh Prajapati as Mukesh, Mukul Chadda as Pawan, Sampa Mandal as Jyoti and Balram Ojha as Jyoti’s husband.

Veterans Ila Arun and Suma Mukundan are competent. Gopal Dutt as Saiprasad comes for one scene but makes a good impact.

Bottom line

Sherni sees Vidya Balan in a controlled subtle de glam avatar fighting for the green land and endangered species in a gripping, biting and sarcastic thriller drama. Don,t Miss the beginning and you will never forget the end.