Devi Review

In the Hindu religion, goddesses are worshiped. Throughout India, there are many temples and religious destinations dedicated to female goddesses. The title of this short film derives its meaning from the importance given to women in the spiritual aspects of Indian life. “Devi” is the Sanskrit word for goddess. The use of this word as the title is to display the irony of the situation of women in India. In a country where goddesses are heavily worshipped, women are not guaranteed even a bit of respect. Devi highlights the plight of women who are victims of sexual assault, while deliberating on this irony that women are violated so brutally and so often in a country, which claims to worship them. In this thirteen-minute drama, a group of diverse women confined inside a room, argue about whether to allow the new entry inside. They are of different religions, different classes, and different lifestyles, yet the common thread that binds them is the shared experience of being violated without their consent, regardless of what the circumstances were.

The main motive of this film is to get a message across to the audience in the most emotionally draining manner. In this endeavor, it succeeds. The painful trauma that these women have endured is beautifully portrayed by their facial expressions and mannerisms. Each actor manages to bring a unique and layered perspective to her character, despite the short run time. The film boasts of a huge star cast of veteran and upcoming actresses. Including popular faces such as Kajol, Mukta Barve, Neena Kulkarni, Neha Dhupia, and Shruti Hassan, and newer, but brilliant talent such as Shivani Raghuvanshi and Yashaswini Dayama, the actresses manage to create a balance, where no one dominates, and each one gets equal space to develop her character. This is especially important in such a film, where the varying personalities and backgrounds of the characters give meaning to the narrative.

Writer and Director, Priyanka Banerjee, is relatively new to filmmaking. Three years prior to Devi, she made a short film, which did not receive as much attention due to lack of marketing and known names associated with the project. This time, however, she managed to secure an extremely vibrant cast of known personalities, and a well-known company in the Indian short film industry as a producer and distributor. Banerjee is very good at building atmosphere. For the first minute of the film, she sets up each of the characters through close ups, as they each proceed with their daily activities. Everyone is busy and content, until the bell rings indicating the arrival of a new entry. Just this one-minute gives the audience enough material to gauge the personalities of each of these characters. However, when the conversation begins the narrative pace slows and some of the dialogues seem contrived. But this small flaw disappears behind the fantastic acting by this group of talented actors, and the film is elevated, making the interactions extremely powerful. Banerjee’s writing is mediocre, but her direction is phenomenal.

Devi is a film, which is simplistic in concept, yet powerful in execution. The load of the film rests on the conversations. Thus, either the dialogue needs to be unique or the acting and direction need to be strong. In this film, the latter is its strength. But this film needs to be viewed for its message, rather than its artistic merit. It is an extremely moving and emotional film that centers around an important topic that is not discussed enough, despite its relevance in Indian society today.