Shyam Benegal’s masterclass in realistic filmmaking while taking a dig at the fake & self-indulgent world of cinema

RATING – ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 4/5*

Samar Review movie Talkies:

Shyam Benegal’s Samar is nothing short of a masterclass in realistic filmmaking, a bold attempt that simultaneously takes a dig at the fake, self-indulgent world of cinema. This film stands tall as a cinematic classic, one that rightfully earned the Best Feature Film honour at the National Film Awards.

Benegal draws inspiration from a true Story, weaves in cinematic liberty with precision, and at the same time offers a scathing critique of filmmakers, actors, and their hypocritical hunger for so-called “realistic issues.” The result is one of the most innovative narrative experiments of the 1990s, a layered piece of storytelling that very few have dared to replicate. Perhaps the only recent film that carries even a faint resemblance is Cinema Bandi (2021), yet the raw intensity and socio-political sharpness of Samar remain unmatched.

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At its surface, the film narrates the struggle of a low-caste worker and farmer who suffers relentless oppression at the hands of the village sarpanch. His only “crime” is daring to demand fair wages for his labour and later committing what is deemed an unthinkable act—entering the village temple. For the higher-caste sarpanch, this is not merely defiance but an outright challenge to his authority and social dominance. What follows is cruelty, humiliation, and a brutal assertion of caste power that exposes the rot in rural hierarchies.

But the true brilliance of Samar lies in its second narrative layer. The victim shares his painful ordeal with a filmmaker from Bombay, who decides to make a film on the injustice. Yet the irony is striking—the very crew that claims to fight for realism is itself insensitive, fractured, and infected with the same prejudices it pretends to critique. The Dalit protagonist cast in the film faces fresh discrimination, clashing with actors and technicians from privileged backgrounds, mirroring the same oppressive structures that the Story sets out to condemn.

Samar movie Review:

Ashok Mishra’s layered writing is sheer genius, bold in its vision and deserving of academic study for its depth and courage. Coupled with Benegal’s uncompromising storytelling and sharp dialogue, Samar transforms into more than just a film—it becomes a powerful socio-political statement. Performances by Raghuveer Yadav, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Rajit Kapur, Kishor Kadam, Ravi Jhankal, Seema Biswas and others are lived-in, the execution strikingly authentic, and the impact unforgettable. In one word—OUTSTANDING.

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