Siya movie review: Manish Mundra makes a relevantly striking & realistically pious directorial debut

Siya movie review

Producer Manish Mundra in his debut as director with his team of writers - Haider Rizvi and Samah along with himself takes up a solid hard hitting topic inspired from real events like the Unnao and Hathras rape case.

Thankfully, it’s not overly sensational and aims at bringing the harsh reality in a subtle manner.

Though travelling on familiar troupe of a movie on rape/molestation/atrocities on women, Siya by director Manish Mundra benefits from the producers observations/learning while producing gems like Aankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Newton, Kadvi Hawa etc.

The approach in Siya by Manish Mundra as a director/story teller is technically sound, realistic with shot takings that could compete with seasoned directors of the genre.

The scenes have a sense of development and the buildup is excellent.

Right from the first frame, the opening sequence, when Siya goes to the fields to relieve herself in late night, a sense of fear, haunts you. The impact is tremendous and the caliber of Manish Mundra as a director gets established instantly.

Siya goes back safely, tells a fictional story to her younger brother waiting for her in the bed but the monster which we all sensed comes back wickedly later in the broad daylight but the audience is already hooked.

Siya focuses on the harsh reality, the struggle, the fight rather than concentrating more on the triumph of wining.

Here, things go tricky for Manish Mundra as the struggle of Siya to get justice is unfortunately set on familiar known terms making it a baffling mismatch of realistic and mainstream cinema.

However, apart from the treatment, Manish Mundra’s debut in Siya highlights the humanitarian quality of the survivor’s family which wins your heart.

Siya is not the hated one back at home coming back from the inhuman torture, her mother cooks her favourite dish, while her grandmother massages her wounded legs.

This human healing is heartfelt and striking in a way a layered comment on the chauvinist male and discriminatory mind set.

And that’s a triumph indeed for Siya.

Performance & Technicalities

Performance

Pooja Pandey, as Siya shows great potential as a sensitive actress.

Vineet Kumar Singh is outstanding

Madhvendra Jha has his moments

Technicalities

Rafey Mahmood and Subhransu Kumar Das’s cinematography captures the raw, rustic flavor. Manoj M Goswami’s sound design fits the mood.

Final words

Siya is a relevantly striking cinema on rape powered by powerful performances by Pooja Pandey and Vineet Kumar Singh underlining the realistically pious directorial debut of producer Manish Mundra.