Stolen review: A taut realistic thriller that shows gut-wrenching descent into mob violence
'Stolen' is the type of film that you rarely see in mainstream Hindi cinema. It's a taut and well crafted realistic thriller that delves into a variety of themes while also shedding light on the pernicious power of fake news and viral videos on social media, which fuels people's thirst for instant mob lynching without even attempting to fact-check.
Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer), who is sleeping on a bench on a railway platform, has her five-month-old infant daughter abducted. Jhumpa is a migrant worker, and the police are first hesitant to assist her in finding her missing child. She initially assumes Raman (Shubham Vardhan), a young man on the platform, is responsible for stealing her child since she discovers the baby's cap in his hand. Raman, a freelance photographer, had missed his flight and arrived at the same raily station. Raman's brother Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee), who was waiting for him outside, arrives at the railway station to pick him up. Although Gautam has no interest in assisting the mother and wishes to depart as soon as possible, Raman decides to offer his assistance in finding her missing child. However, their search for a lost infant eventually entangles these two brothers in a web of falsehoods and hubris from which they struggle to escape.
Director Karan Tejpal emphasises the stark contrast between two Indians: affluent and poor. On one hand, a young homeless woman and mother is struggling to feed her child, on the other side there is a man driving a high-end car and wearing a Rs. 1,50,000 wristwatch. 'Stolen' is a proper 'race against the clock' road thriller, and the film doesn't waste much time exploring any subplots or overt melodramatic scenes. Instead it focuses solely on the struggle of a mother and two brothers to find a missing child while also surviving a web of falsehoods spread on the internet in a matter of hours. Despite its short 93 minutes runtime and not wasting time in giving away too much about these two brothers' backstories, the film emotionally invests us in a mother's search for her daughter and two brothers' fight for survival as things worsen with each passing hour. Two brothers, as well as Jhumpa, are forced to negotiate society's dark underbelly, putting their resilience, trust, and humanity to the test.
These two brothers have diametrically opposite views and they are constantly arguing about who is right. Gautam, the elder brother, believes in thinking rationally and argues that since the police are already present to do their job, the brothers should not waste their time assisting a stranger who is not entirely trustworthy, but Raman allows his emotions to guide his decision-making. This constant conflict between two brothers plays an important role in making viewers feel as if they are a part of the discussion, as It also makes us question our stance in this never-ending battle between them and how we would have responded if we had been in this life-or-death situation.
'Stolen's basic premise is quite straightforward, but screenwriters have cleverly threaded in several unexpected detours that gradually transform this film from an investigative thriller to a survival thriller as things become more tight and more secrets are uncovered. The film emphasises the crooked system in every department, the lack of humanity, and the characters' complete powerlessness as a violent mob stalks these brothers after watching a short viral clip. It also demonstrates the harsh fact that administrations in these hinterlands have failed to combat crime, and residents are now taking matters into their own hands. The film delves into subjects such as parenthood, classism between the poor and the rich, xenophobia, and disillusionment with the system.
All of the actors have provided outstanding performances in their various parts. Abhishek Banerjee depicts the inner battle of a man who merely wants to return to his family but is forced to assist his brother. He is initially filled with rage, but he gradually begins to comprehend the agony of a mother whose daughter has been snatched Abhishek masterfully depicts the gradual transformation of an egoistic, self-assured man into a terrified man attempting to save his and his brother's lives. Mia Maelzer's performance left us enthralled. She doesn't say much beyond the first few scenes, but she uses her expressive eyes to convey the anguish of a mother whose infant daughter is kidnapped. Shubham Vardhan also shines in portraying a man's uneasiness, particularly when he begins to question his decision.
Another major benefit for the movie is how it was shot and the action choreography. There are some frantic chase scenes, but director Karan Tejpal and cinematographers Isshaan Ghosh and Sachin Pillai have managed to create an excellent balance of variety and tension in those realistic chase sequences, particularly when the brothers are attempting to flee a horde of people pursuing them.
Hope, a well crafted realistic thriller like 'Stolen', gets the deserving praise from moviegoers who are eager to watch something unique in Hindi cinema.
Cast: Abhishek Banerjee, Shubham Vardhan, Mia Maelzer, Harish Khanna
Writers: Karan Tejpal, Gaurav Dhingra, Swapnil Salkar, Agadbumb
Director: Karan Tejpal
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