Newton: A Gripping Tale of Democracy and Duty

 

"Newton" is an amazing Hindi black comedy drama movie directed by Amit Masurkar. The story follows four important characters. Rajkumar Rao plays Nutan Kumar, who later prefers to be called Newton. Pankaj Tripathi appears as Assistant Commandant Atma Singh, Raghubir Yadav as Loknath, and Anjali Patil as Malko Netam. Nutan doesn't like his name, so he decides to change it to Newton.

The setting and production structure of the film is shot in the dense forest of Chhattisgarh. It shows the real struggles of people working to protect democracy and highlights important social and political problems in some parts of India.

The film's story highlights the struggles of government official who tries to maintain order and conduct fair elections under challenging circumstances. The entire story is a perfect blend of humor and introspection.
The movie introduces us to a government worker named Nutan Kumar. He gets assigned to a politically tense area in central India during election time. There, he encounters many obstacles in his mission to conduct fair and open elections. The story unfolds in the midst of troubled jungles affected by insurgency, and Newton has to deal with the indifference of the tired Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the fear of guerrilla attacks by communist rebels.

Despite facing tough challenges, Newton never gives up and works hard to fulfill his responsibilities. He wants to ensure that the villagers get to choose the right candidate through fair voting in a democratic process, even in such difficult circumstances. Rajkummar Rao delivers an outstanding and powerful performance, portraying the character's determination and unwavering commitment as a government clerk.

The complexities of his character and his unwavering commitment to his duty are beautifully captured in the film. Pankaj Tripathi in the role of Assistant Commandant Atma Singh aptly portrays a jaded officer torn between Duty and Empathy, while the fine performances of Anjali Patil and Raghubir Yadav take the film to a different level.

The film maintains a steady pace right from the start. The indifference of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and their conspiracies convey a humorous but serious message. The film's screenplay skillfully balances comedy and dramatic elements, making the film entertaining and thought-provoking.

Amit V. Masurkar's direction is commendable, and the editing of the film is so good that keeps the  audience engaged till the end. The cinematography has captured the beauty of the surroundings very aptly, giving the plot more authenticity.

The film proves that even after more than 70 years of the country's independence, people from many areas  still lack awareness and understanding about the right to vote and the electoral process in many parts of the country.

"Newton" was well received by both critics and audiences. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and was selected as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards. Rajkummar Rao's exceptional performance earned him the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor for the film.

"Newton" is a film that explores the complexities of democracy, duty and human spirit. With excellent performances, eye-catching screenplay and excellent direction, the film explores the challenges of sustaining the democratic process in conflict-ridden areas and reminds us that democratic values ​​must be preserved in any adverse situation. People who are interested in social value issues and their subtle exploration should watch this movie. - Krushna Dabholkar