Soni

A Hindi film of 2018. It was written by Ayr & Kislay. Chronicles the life of police officer Soni (Ohlyan) & her superintendent in Delhi Police Kalpana (Batra) who deal with crime against women in the city.

The film was shot for 24 days in Delhi in February.Soni was premiered in the 75th Venice International film festival, received a standing ovation. It was screened at 2018 BFi London film festival, 2018 MAMI film festival & Pingyao international film festival where it won the best film award & a cash prize of $ 20,000, half of which went to fund development of the director’s next project.

Soni is a police officer who lives alone in Delhi. Her ex-husband Naveen often visits her to persuade her to rekindle their relationship but she is not interested. On duty, she beats up a goon who tries to harass her. A day later at the check post she slaps a drunken navy officer who is driving without a licence & misbehaving with her.

She is transferred to the police control room & an inquiry is set to look into the incident. Kalpana , her senior, brings her back to police. While on duty, they go to a restaurant to have a cup of tea. Soni goes to the ladies washroom. It is occupied by a group of young men consuming drugs. She gets into a fight, injuring her hand. They get arrested. One of the men is found to be the son of a minister’s friend.

Kalpana’s husband Sandeep, a senior officer scolds her for being too soft. ‘Why did you choose IPS?” The arrested men are released immediately & Soni is sent back to the control room. Later Kalpana is faced with her niece who complains of the children in school jeering at her. She had been visiting the washroom frequently during her periods. Kalpana realises & resolves to put things right. She knows Soni is right & arrests the minister’s friend’s son knowing the consequences.

The actors have lived their part. It has been taken in as much light as natural. The shadows are long & dark. The surroundings are dense. The music just right to set the mood. A must see.