BRITISH filmmaker Sandhya Suri had been searching for a meaningful way to discuss violence against women for a long time, until a powerful photograph inspired her.
While in India, researching and working with various NGOs, she came across an image from Delhi in the wake of the nationwide protests following the Nirbhaya gang rape case. The photograph captured a large crowd of angry female protesters and a line of female police officers, forcing them back.
“One of them had such an enigmatic expression, I was fascinated by her. What a gulf between her and those protesting, what power her uniform wielded, and what powerlessness not to feel safe as ordinary women. To explore this violence and her power within it felt exciting,” said Sandhya Suri.
This led to the British Asian filmmaker researching female police constables and learning about a government scheme of ‘appointment on compassionate grounds,’ where eligible dependents of deceased police officers can inherit their jobs. She said: “During my research, I spent time with many such widows. Some had previously led very sheltered lives, never even leaving the house without their husband or a relative until they started their police training. I was struck by the journey: from housewife, to widow, to policewoman. That was a journey I wanted to write about and watch.”
This resulted in Suri making her feature film debut as a writer and director with Santosh. The hard-hitting drama, after a successful premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, is now part of this month’s BFI London Film Festival.
The documentary filmmaker didn’t initially intend to make this as a feature narrative, but her idea organically grew into a complex police drama. “The film is about a lowermiddle-class housewife whose husband, a police constable, dies. As per a real government scheme, she is able to inherit his job on ‘compassionate grounds.’ And so, she goes from being a housewife to a widow to a policewoman. She is thrown into the investigation of the death of a young Dalit girl and is taken under the wing of the charismatic, older female inspector Sharma. The film examines the relationship between the two women as the case unfolds.”
Although Suri says she doesn’t make movies to ‘teach’ anyone anything, she did want to communicate what was on her mind. The result is a film that highlights diverse themes like misogyny, religious prejudice, and casteism. “It is a sort of social tapestry upon which to place the story. I was curious what would happen if you took someone like Santosh, a housewife, and put her in a place like this. What does it do to a person?”
A challenge she faced with Santosh was making a genre film without losing the sense of observation that came from her documentary training. She said working with many non-actors was rewarding but also challenging.
Sandhya SuriIt was a similar case with the gritty locations she used for the film. “Shooting in live locations (such as when Santosh goes on the hunt for Saleem) also gives the film a sense of authenticity, but it was very tough to get the shots while shooting in marketplaces. Add to that shooting in India during summer. Yet, all that said, it really is kind of addictive.”
A standout aspect of Santosh is a stunning lead performance from acclaimed actress Shahana Goswami, who plays the title role of a tough widowed police officer. Suri had initially intended on casting a non-actor but soon realised they wouldn’t be able to shoulder such a weighty role.
“Then on the last day of casting, I met Shahana. She had not initially been on my radar, as she was slightly over the age bracket I had been considering. But when she walked in, I realised she had that perfect mix of hardness and softness, hunger, and passion for life. I knew she had the containment to hold the grief for her dead husband over the course of the film, and play the huge journey Santosh had to go on.”
Suri was thrilled for the entire team when Santosh was selected at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. She is especially looking forward to the UK premiere at the London Film Festival this year.
“As a British Asian filmmaker and Londoner, this is so important for me. Santosh was released theatrically in France at the beginning of July, and it is still in cinemas there. It has gone down so well with audiences over there, nearing almost 150,000 cinema entries. I think the fact that it is both a thriller/ genre film, which deals quite deeply with societal issues, has led to its success there as a real crossover film. I hope it will be the same here, or even better, since there is a stronger link between India and the UK.”
Suri never imagined how much of an impact her directorial debut would make. When asked about her favourite moment in Santosh, she said: “When she sees the young couple at the end of the film on the platform opposite. It is the most important moment of the film because it represents hope and is a memory of love and lives lost. And it is such a beautiful, cinematic image.”
The filmmaker is planning to make a dystopia-set love story next and finishes by revealing what she thinks makes for great cinema. “Economy of storytelling, images and sounds over words, always emotion, respect for the audience and their intelligence, and a genuine lack of cynicism by the filmmaker.”
Santosh screens at the BFI London Film Festival on October 13 and 18. The festival runs from next Wednesday (9) – October 20. whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.