The line between "right" and "wrong" often fades when survival becomes the sole law. The jungle embodies such a space—a world where every moment is a battle for life, and constant vigilance is the only defence against death. There are countless stories of individuals, who are certain they are on the "right" path and serving society, but who eventually transform their mission into something entirely self-serving. The complex minds of such men are what we see explored in filmmaker Chhatrapal Ninawe’s debut feature Ghaath (Ambush), which had its World Premiere at the prestigious 2023 Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section.
The film abandons a linear narrative, weaving together the stories of three distinct characters with timelines that shift forward and backward, and also crisscross at different points. The narrative follows an undercover Maoist guerrilla following a police officer for revenge, another guerrilla desperately trying to escape death at the hands of his own cadre, and a cop negotiating the latter’s surrender while hoping to secure a transfer to a safer police station. Each is joined by a companion from the indigenous community, trapped between the state and the Maoists.
There are other triads too which is evident in the film. For instance, three essential elements of tribal life—land, water, and the jungle—form the backdrop for the film's mise-en-scène. While the film does not deeply explore the ideological intricacies of its characters, it suggests a central theme: at the core, every life is simply striving for survival.
Ninawe employs a minimalist approach to storytelling. While there are instances of shootings and deaths, he keeps the cinematic elements and drama to a minimum. The Nagpur-based filmmaker has experience in editing, cinematography, post-production supervision, and writing within the Marathi film industry, and this diverse background clearly enhances his filmmaking.
At the Berlinale, the film won the 15th Giuseppe Becce Award for Best Director, an accolade presented by Cineclub Verona and FEDIC magazine. Produced by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One and Manish Mundra’s Drishyam Films, along with Milapsinh Jadeja, Sanyukta Gupta, and Kunal Kumar, the film features Jitendra Joshi and Milind Shinde, alongside Suruchi Adarkar, Dhananjay Mandaokar, and Janardan Kadam.
Udit Khurana, known for his recent work on the popular Netflix documentary, The Hunt for Veerappan, handled the cinematography. He has done an excellent job of creating an immersive atmosphere for the audience, instilling a sense of anticipation for the unexpected at every turn. The film had its Indian premiere at Jio MAMI 2023, followed by a screening at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
Movie: Ghaath
Directed by: Chhatrapal Ninawe
Starring: Jitendra Joshi, Milind Shinde, Suruchi Adarkar, Dhananjay Mandaokar, and Janardan Kadam
Rating: 3.5/5
