After owning the box office in 2023, Shah Rukh Khan as an actor is taking a break in 2024. But his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, is still putting out interesting movies. Their first film of the year is “Bhakshak,” starring Bhumi Pednekar.
“Bhakshak” is based on the Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Rape Case, where a politician and others were sentenced for assaulting girls. The film focuses on the suffering of the shelter home’s inmates.
Directed by Pulkit and written by Pulkit and Jyotsana Nath, “Bhakshak” is too simplistic, maybe too much so for such a serious topic. Some parts work well, but others could have been better. While it gets the message across, it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking. Some parts might feel too obvious for serious movie fans.
The film effectively shows the horrors of the shelter home, but it feels like it could have been more powerful. It doesn’t show everything explicitly, it might have been stronger with a grittier approach.
The movie’s intentions are good, and the performances by Bhumi, Sanjay Mishra, and especially Aditya Shrivastava as the menacing villain are great. The climactic speech delivers a satisfying conclusion.
While “Bhakshak” may not break new ground and the second half drags on, the film has the potential to raise awareness and foster compassion for abuse victims. it prompts viewers to reflect on the plight of abuse victims and perhaps inspire action, even if on a small scale.
Overall, “Bhakshak” is a decent one-time watch for its intent. You can watch “Bhakshak” on Netflix.
