Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas Review — A Missed Chance at a Gripping True Story

BY SHANTISWAROOP TRIPATHI

• Rating: 2 Stars 
• Producers: Pammi Baweja, Harman Baweja, Kinnishk, and Akshay Shere
• Story & Screenplay: Bhavini Bheda
• Dialogues: Sumit Saxena
• Director: Akshay Shere
• Cast: Arshad Warsi, Jitendra Kumar, Ayesha Kaduskar, Lakshmi Rajput, Tara Alisha Berry, Koral Bhamra, Sandeep Yadav, Akanksha Pandey, Akash Pandey, Sunita Rajwar, and others
• Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes
• OTT: Streaming on ZEE5 from October 17

These days, OTT platforms are filled with films and web series inspired by true events. Working on such real incidents often seems easier for filmmakers since the story is already set. However, creating a compelling film or series based on true events depends largely on the filmmaker’s vision, mindset, and clarity about what aspect of the truth they want to portray on screen. If the writer and filmmaker are unclear about the core message or perspective, the result is often a confused mess instead of a gripping story. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens with ‘Bhagwat Chapter One: Raakshas’.

Story

At the center of the film lies a true incident that took place about twenty years ago in North India, where a schoolteacher lured and exploited not one but nineteen young girls from middle-class families.

The story begins in 2009, in Robertsganj, Sonbhadra district. Poonam Mishra doesn’t return home one day, and her family assumes she has eloped with a boy from another religion. When the family files a complaint at the police station, the case turns political, sparking riots in the city. ACP Vishwas Bhagwat (Arshad Warsi) is transferred from Lucknow to Robertsganj. He is a brutal officer who doesn’t hesitate to use third-degree torture to extract confessions.

Upon arrival, Bhagwat is assigned Poonam’s missing case. During his investigation, he discovers another missing girl, Sandhya — and soon realizes there are nineteen missing girls in total, with no trace of the culprit. This builds an atmosphere of real tension.

Parallel to this, another story unfolds — that of Sameer (Jitendra Kumar) and Meera (Ayesha Kaduskar), who fall in love and elope to get married. Soon after, Meera disappears, connecting the two storylines. Eventually, Bhagwat and his team corner Sameer alias Rajkumar, but the tables turn as Rajkumar traps Bhagwat in his own web. The case reaches court, where Rajkumar decides to defend himself instead of hiring a lawyer. What happens in the courtroom over the next 2 hours and 14 minutes is what the film reveals.

Review

While the writers and director set out to make a film based on true events, they never seem sure about what they actually want to say. As a result, the story keeps wobbling and losing direction. The tone of the film keeps changing — at first, it feels like a “love jihad” case, then turns into a story about human trafficking and prostitution, and finally, it becomes about murder.

At several points, it’s clear the writers and director lack a proper understanding of legal processes or have not done adequate research. The film tries to send a message about how blindly trusting someone in love can be dangerous for young women, but that message is lost due to weak writing. Many characters feel incomplete, and several questions remain unanswered.

For instance, after one girl’s death, Sameer calls another girl using her phone — yet, neither the girl’s family nor the police track the device.
In the courtroom scenes, it’s hard to digest how Sameer alias Rajkumar, after reading just a few books, argues his case like a professional lawyer. He’s never once called to the witness box and instead sits comfortably beside other lawyers — completely unrealistic.

Except for a few dialogues, the film never explores how Rajkumar became such a cunning criminal. The courtroom drama is predictable and takes too long to reach its climax. Akshay Shere’s direction lacks sharpness. Most of the film is shot in dim lighting, though cinematographer Amogh Deshpande’s work still manages to lend intensity to some scenes. The climax, however, badly needed tighter editing.

Performances

Arshad Warsi, as DCP Vishwas Bhagwat, delivers a solid performance, proving once again that he can excel not just in comedy but also in serious roles. Jitendra Kumar, known for Kota Factory and Panchayat, gets to experiment with multiple shades in the role of Sameer alias Rajkumar. Ayesha Kaduskar performs well in the brief role of Meera. Tara Alisha Berry, Lakshmi Rajput, Devdas Dixit, and Sandeep Yadav are decent in their parts.

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Translated By Priyanka Yadav