“Delhi 47 Km” Review: Feels like you’re watching lives unfold, more than a film.

There are two types of films in this world. Those that open the doors to imagination, and those that work as a reflection of reality. ‘Delhi 47 Km’ falls into the second category. There aren’t that many films that delve into the dark side of small town India. That in itself is a reason to respect this kind of a film. The story is the strength of this film, and to see each of the characters falling deeper and deeper into the rut as they try to solve their individual problems, ultimately reminds us of how life generally can be. Many times, as we try to solve one problem, we end up creating another. Now Imagine that very thought, but in a world where you are surrounded by a flawed system with flawed individuals. That right there is “Delhi 47 Km”. The level in which the characters are hopeful is equivalent to the level in which society is unforgiving.

“Delhi 47 Km” is the type of film that seems to be driven by anger and the need to express something. Therefore, there is sincerity in the final product. You can see that the filmmaker, Shadab Khan, is trying to tell us something and has made this film with a purpose. If anything, it’s a very honest film. While the film has a fairly simplistic look, it adds to the rustic and raw nature of the content. All the actors are unknown, but that also works for this type of a film, since only unknown faces can do justice to these types of characters. It doesn’t seem like anyone is acting. They are all very comfortable in front of the camera. At some level, you connect with each of the characters, but the story of Shankar, Avni, and Mintoo stands out the most. The editing in the film is decent. One major USP of the film is the cinematography. For a small film, the use of wide shots is impressive. Some of the shots are shaky, but since the story itself is chaotic, it works.

At some places, the lighting could have been better, but since this is a low budget film, we can give that a miss.  The music is hummable, and works well with the montage sequences. They aren’t just placed for the sake of adding commercial value. They are there for the purpose of adding an emotional context to the film. In terms of narration, the first half of the film could have moved a bit faster. During the second half, the pace picks up and till the end of the film, we are hooked. Just like in Shadab Khans previous film “B.A Pass 2”, Delhi 47 Km has a very unpredictable and shocking climax. Seems as if the director has found his own trademark style. In a way, this film reminds us of Iranian cinema, such as the films of Asgar Farhadi. When it comes to Indian cinema, it reminds us films on the lines of “Gangs Of Wasseypur”

Overall, “Delhi 47 Km” is a film that should be seen by anyone who appreciates cinema as a form of reflection. After walking out of the theater, one thing that could be noticed is that people remembered the names of every character and that proves that the film does make an impact. This film will especially be appreciated by audiences in Bihar, UP, Delhi, Haryana, and MP

Rating : 3.5 out of 5