A Docudrama on Modern India's Democracy. Review on Newton (2017)

India's constitution defines voting as a basic right. However, there are those who are deprived of an opportunity to vote. Amit V Masurkar directs "Newton" with the feel of a docudrama. Starring Rajukmar Rao as a studious election commissioner among a slew of tribal cast, Newton centers its plot on a bypoll set in a Maoist-hit jungle in Chattisgarh. The movie is at its best when the narrative strolls along on a subversive path.

For instance, a reference to Ramayana is casually made while Newton and his deputy cum a Hindi professor Loknath(Raghubir Yadav) reflects on the state of the Indian democracy. While the former remains hopeful and idealistic of better things to come, the latter spreads pessimmism in the ranks.

In fact, by setting Newton in'Dandakaranya' a jungle featuring in Ramayana its director misses an opportunity to take a jibe on the voting machine malfunctions. In fact, Loknath does make a pun on the Pushpaka Viman but one wonders whether that is in reference to the Indian diaspora settled abroad having postal votes or the outcome of a set of strong religious believes and stigmas.

This film is perhaps five years slow in terms of'satirical progression', of what would have been the satire on the status quo. It is said religion often slows growth because the insistence is on the future. Poor countries reap the rewards of religious beliefs for granted. India is certainly developing but religion also makes one to be intrinsically reactive not proactive a point which Newton metaphorically suggests.

The movie shows how tribals vote, how the authorities tries to force the issue and how the police mirror the face of the commoner. Pankaj Tripathi plays Aatma Singh a cop who helps Newton conduct the poll albeit tentatively. He says going to the jungle is risky just for 71 votes, whereas the election commissioner insists on performing full poll. Both are right in one way or the other. As Newton takes a new turn by the end I suspect I am with the cop.

No wonder he walks in to a grocery shop with his family because common man has the power to buy what he wants. Newton perhaps would have ended there, the movie is at times too clever for its own good. Clever in this economy is always welcome, and entertainment mostly deemed. I certainly enjoyed Newton for many other things too like that song "Chal Tu Apna Kaam Kar". Kudos team Newton and wish luck for the Oscars.