200 Halla Ho : A beautifully crafted movie based on a true incident of Nagpur in 2004, that boasts of no big stars or well known names in Bollywood except for the yesteryear’s Amol Palekar.
It yet delivers its message well and makes us wonder what age are we living in, when even to this day the worst form of casteism is practiced even in the heart of some prominent central cities of the country … where sexually exploiting women of the lower caste is the most gratifying and suppressing act and the most harrowingly tolerated act, which is neither ever reported nor ever punished ..
It is a kick in butt of those pseudo ‘mards’ for whom women are mere objects of pleasure and entertainment .. and a strong punch on the law and administration of the country which ironically punishes the victims of repeated brutal devastating rapes and protects the perpetrators .. and a tight slap on the rotten caste system of the country and on those perverts who still believe in it and practice it ..
The movie portrays the incidents of a locality (bustee) of Nagpur, wherein the local goon leaves no woman of no house untouched. Any attempt to seek justice only antagonises the goon further, attracting his wrath even on the men of the locality. So much so that, the bustee is collectively forced to strike a deal with the ruffian of sending a lady to him every night and this system continues unabated for 10 long years.
But just as one starts feeling helpless for the victims, the movie quickly takes a turn to celebrate the power of unity, strength and intelligence of women in avenging themselves, …
wherein the women collectively not only eventually take upon themselves the responsibility of punishing the culprits after the entire justice system miserably and hopelessly fails them for 10 long years ..
but also subsequently do not fear in openly and boldly admitting it in front of the law without any sign of guilt or remorse … an indication of the pain they had endured for 10 long years.
The courtroom scene of the collective lynching of the ruffian by the women folk of the bustee is the high point of the movie which fills you with a sense of pride and contentment. You feel like patting the back of the women with a tight hug to applaud their courage and patience.
Rinku Rajguru of the Sairat fame does a fine job of a revolutionary, igniting the fire of collective revenge among the busteewalas. But the movie sadly wastes the talent of Amol Palekar and one wishes probably they could have had more scenes of him.
Nevertheless, a must watch for even the young generation of today to sensitize them about the concerns, pains and issues surrounding women belonging to the lower castes.
