Bastar

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*Bastar: The Naxal Story* follows Neerja Madhavan (Adah Sharma), a CRPF officer tasked with tackling the Naxal rebellion in Chhattisgarh, alongside Ratna (Indira Tiwari), a tribal woman seeking revenge against a notorious Naxalite. The film portrays the Naxalites as anti-national elements and uses government-backed groups like Salwa Judum as part of its narrative.

However, the film oversimplifies the complexities of Naxalism, framing left-wing ideologies, intellectuals, and universities as inherently anti-national. It controversially compares the Maoist rebellion to terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram, and alleges links to organizations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba. This portrayal leans heavily into sensationalism, presenting a biased and one-dimensional perspective, while ignoring the socio-economic and political roots of the conflict.

Adah Sharma’s performance as a determined officer is intense but occasionally over-the-top. The film’s reliance on graphic violence, like the opening decapitation scene, risks alienating viewers and detracting from its intended message. Additionally, its attribution of post-2010 improvements solely to the current government oversimplifies the broader efforts involved.

Ultimately, *Bastar: The Naxal Story* fails to provide a balanced or nuanced depiction of its subject, opting for a polarizing narrative that simplifies a deeply complex issue.