Dedh Bigha Zameen Review : A gritty and engaging drama, but lacks resolution

Story: A simple, middle-class man takes on a powerful MLA who grabs the land he owns and wants to sell to raise money for his sister's wedding. Will he get his property back, as he faces threats, injustice, and betrayal?

Review: The setting is Uttar Pradesh. A humble food grains shop owner, Anil Singh (Pratik Gandhi), is keen to marry his sister, Neha (Prasanna Bist), but the greedy would-be in-laws demand a hefty dowry. To raise the money, Anil is forced to sell of a land his late father bought. However, he is in for a shock when the broker tells him the local MLA has grabbed his land and advises him to let go of the matter. With no avenue to get the money, Anil does all he can, goes to the police and court, and even manages to meet the MLA to get his land back. When all the attempts fail, he decides to stop being a pushover and fight for justice and his rights. Whether he succeeds forms the rest of the story.

Corrupt politicians and cops oppressing commoners and the latter rising against them is not a novel concept per se. However, director-writer Pulkit’s simple yet gritty offering is an interesting watch that keeps you engaged. From police station runarounds to courtroom drama, meeting the politician’s henchman and the MLA himself, Anil confronts a system rigged against him. How the culprits try to indirectly warn him (by lodging a fabricated case against him and more) adds to his woes and the film’s drama.

Although the premise is gritty, the narrative struggles to embrace its thriller potential fully. The ending leaves viewers wanting more as Anil's fight reaches a tense turning point. A deeper exploration of broker collusion in seizing the land and a more satisfying conclusion could have elevated the film.

Pratik Gandhi delivers a stellar performance and is convincing as both a common and then an agitated man. He shines in the scenes he has outbursts at the police station or when his lawyer brother-in-law, Bablu Bhaiyya (Mukesh Chhabra), unravels the scam to him. Khushaali Kumar is also impactful in her role as his wife. The actress gets the mannerisms and twang of a housewife from UP well and shows her calibre in each scene; she especially gets the nuances of an obedient and supportive wife who still puts forth her opinion and is a voice of reason. Prasanna Bist, as Neha, is good in her role, too.

The movie is worth watching for Pratik Gandhi's performance and the gritty portrayal of a common man's struggle against corruption and injustice. However, be prepared for an unresolved ending.