Two years ago, Anurag Kashyap’s film Kennedy was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Now, he returns to the festival with his latest project Bandar, which is already sparking mixed reactions among audiences.
Film critic Sucharita Tyagi shared her experience of watching Bandar, leaving Kashyap’s fans both intrigued and confused. The film stars Bobby Deol as Raj Malhotra, a fading TV star who is content with his new relationship until his ex, Gayatri, reappears.
Raj chooses to block her instead of confronting her, but things spiral when Gayatri accuses him of rape. The film explores how such allegations can disrupt lives while also touching on other issues like women’s struggles and jail brutality.
Sucharita said the film takes several tangents and addresses complex themes, refusing to stick to simple moral binaries. While she called it a bold attempt, she admitted it didn’t fully meet her expectations.
The film ends by showing statistics on false rape cases, making its message clear to viewers. However, as a feminist, Sucharita said she was not entirely convinced with its overall stance.
Kashyap continues to take risks and challenge conventional narratives with his bold storytelling. Fans now wonder if Bandar will face the same fate as Kennedy and miss a theatrical release in India, though many hope that won’t happen.
