Directed by Avinash Das, ‘Anaarkali Of Aarah’ features Swara Bhaskar, Pankaj Tripathy and Sanjay Mishra in the lead roles. The story is about a sexy street dancer in Bihar who’s pet name is “Aarah waali Anarkaliya”. Anaarkali is gutsy, confident, knows her craft and maintains a sense of dignity (which of course people know very well). She knows when to draw a line when people try to grope her during or after her performances. She is dedicated to her working partners aka. “mandli” and Rangeela (Pankaj Tripathi) is one of her closest friends and confidant. But, her life takes a 180 degree turn when a pervert vice chancellor (Sanjay Mishra) tries to molest her. She is sure to teach this lecherous VC a lesson and slaps him in front of the audiences. Not only this, she also files an FIR against molestation. But what follows in her life is only hatred and dirtiness because at the end, she’s just a street dancer who isn’t considered respectable in the society. As a director, Avinash knows his plot very well and conveys his message pretty loud and clear. But he could have shown the characters in a little more passion and zeal because during certain circumstances you might feel really bored. The movie, in a nutshell, is a must watch to show how a simple dancer girl fights-back to the injustice  against all odds. Go for this movie for all the good reasons and get some realistic updates on the crude life of such brave women.

Thanks to its crew’s fight with the Censor Board Of Film Certification, Anaarkali Of Aarah didn’t remain as low-key as it would have been otherwise. Now that it has crossed all the hurdles and is ready to impress the audience with its David versus Goliath approach, it may not appear to be a very polished product or a free flowing story to some, but it punches with all its might in the climax, and that’s where you suddenly realise its worth. Director Avinash Das displays his understanding of the delicate social structure of Bihar, where pretention of being a morally righteous guy is more important that actually being one. He very smartly makes the audience the third party, and then makes it difficult for them to stay neutral. Slowly and steadily the tide takes a turn in favour of the underdog. This isn’t just an onscreen win. Its major off-screen implication is the popular acceptance of a deprived woman’s right to her body. But all these flaws don’t restrict him from driving his point home. Swara Bhaskar does the rest for him, with apt support from Pankaj Tripathi and Sanjay Mishra. Anaarkali of Aarah brings forth a world that’s out of focus and needs our attention. Marginalised sections are fighting their own battles in this part of the globe and Anaarkali Of Aarah wants us to be sympathetic to them. Being privy to their emotions doesn’t seem a bad idea.

With Anar, Swara Bhaskar gets a role worthy of her. The film uses lines and situations involving crudity but never turns vulgar. Nowhere does Anaarkali of Aarah makes you cringe, and that’s a real achievement. Actually, the name Anaarkali of Aarah doesn’t do justice to the film. The refinement of the ‘of’ makes it anodyne, which is very far from the tone or tenor of what’s on screen: it is a full-bodied, crackling film, powered by a full-bodied, crackling performance from leading lady Swara Bhaskar, who lives her role as Aarah wali Anaarkaliya ( as a character calls her). But those are small things. It’s tough to make a film which uses lines and situations involving crudity and not turn vulgar. This is how we would expect the characters to speak: anything else would be artificial. Nowhere does the treatment in ‘Anaarkali’ make you cringe, and that’s a real achievement. The payoff seems to have been created for an upbeat ending, but we can’t help cheering when Anar rises, refusing to be cowed. What it says needs repeating: whatever kind of labour it may be — including women who strut their stuff — dignity is paramount. Anaarkali manages to hit many marks. Bhaskar gets a lead role worthy of her. Das is a new director to watch out for. And more than anything else, it is a ‘ladies-oriented’ film. Enough and more, in these dismal times.

Anaarkali of Aarah is an unexpected winner that stuns you with its authenticity. It is about a woman, who fights to uphold her right to dignity. Given its risqué subject, the film could have gone awfully wrong if the execution had faltered or tilted on sleazy over substance. But writer, director Avinash Das’ execution lends gravitas to the proceedings, making you feel for the lead character. Most importantly, this film finally gives Swara Bhaskar an opportunity to put her exemplary acting chops on display. She is a revelation as a pan-chewing, courageous woman, who won’t buckle under pressure. Ishtiyak Khan of ‘Tamasha’ fame is impressive too. The music compliments the film’s raw and rustic setting as well. However, what doesn’t work here is the absence of a strong antagonist. Sanjay Mishra’s comic villainry fails to unnerve you, making the climax look a tad convenient and underwhelming. The patriarchal society has a way of holding women responsible for the atrocities they themselves face. This movie questions this very mind-set and offers a refreshing take on women and their sexuality.