‘The Sabarmati Report’ box office collection day 7: The Vikrant Massey starrer holds well as it completes a week, makes Rs 11.45 crore in India

The Sabarmati Report is a 2024

‘The Sabarmati Report’ box office collection day 7: The Vikrant Massey starrer holds well as it completes a week, makes Rs 11.45 crore in India.

Hindi political drama directed by Dheeraj Sarna, focusing on the 2002 Godhra burning train incident. It follows the events and investigation made by a rookie journalist, Vikrant Massey, as he finds the real causes of the incidence as well as the cover ups by the media. For now, it has received mixed reviews, praising the performances but criticizing weak writing and predictable plotlines14. It was declared tax-free in Uttar Pradesh and other states, with the intention of boosting viewership as the subject material was controversial in nature23. So far, it has earned nearly ₹13.75 crore at the box office.

The Sabarmati Report is influenced from the real events of burning the Godhra train in the year 2002, resulting in the death of 59 people and subsequently rioting at all communal levels in Gujarat. The film is a dramatization of the event, delving into the intricacies of truth and media narratives combined with political manipulation surrounding the tragedy.

The story captures the conflicting reports by various commissions and the infamous Nanavati-Mehta Commission, which delivered its verdict stating that the fire was most probably from inside the train, not from any external attack as was reported earlier. The film uses these incidents to suggest how they have been politically worded and are still a sore subject in Indian society.

#What is the portrayal of the role of media by the film in the Godhra train burning incident?

The Sabarmati Report delineates the role of the media as a manipulative force during the Godhra train burning incident. Notably, it seems to mean that journalists participated in fashioning narratives around political agendas, often smothering truth, and that the protagonist, a journalist himself, is punished for revealing what really happened, thus underlining a division between elite English media and vernacular reporting. The storyline highlights how the media’s stories distort public perception by merely narrating false stories that mislead the audience about the real features of the incident.

#What are the portrayals of the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident in the film?

Sabarmati Report discusses the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident by tracing large-scale communal riots that took place in Gujarat, leaving more than 1,000 dead, mostly Muslims. The film describes the mayhem and social turmoil following the tragedy, dramatizing the politics of the time into how this became public and how the stories were shaped. It captures some of the intricacies of the investigations and differing accounts of the causes, with an intention to question current narratives and uncover further truth about the community tensions that followed.

#What controversies are some of the main ones in the film?

Controversies in the Sabarmati Report on the Godhra train burning incident are:

-Media Manipulation: The film critiques how media narratives were crafted to serve political interests, often misrepresenting the truth and inciting communal tensions.

-Political Accountability: It raises questions about the role of government and law enforcement in responding to the violence that followed, suggesting negligence or complicity.

-Communal Violence: The portrayal of the aftermath highlights the deep-seated communal divides and violence, prompting discussions on religious identity and societal polarization.

-These themes add to the controversy surrounding the movie because this film challenges set narratives and sets of political sensitivities surrounding the event.

#Synopsis of The Sabarmati Report

The Sabarmati Report is a Hindi political drama film, which was released in 2024. The film is set by Dheeraj Sarna. The film majors on the major episode of the burning train at Godhra in 2002, that led to the multifaceted violence throughout Gujarat.

#Plot Summary

Starring Vikrant Massey, it tells the story of a rookie journalist investigation related to the true incidents of train burning and its effects. While moving forward, he faced media maneuvering, political agendas, and societal unrest. His journey unfolded the complexities of truth of journalism and the power play through the narratives in the public.

#Key Themes

Media Manipulation: The movie satirizes how the media set narratives to fit the political ideologies at play, even if it meant skewing truth and sparking communal violence.

Political Accountability: It questions the govt. and the police response post the incident, that was one of negligence, or even complicity with the violence as it occurred.

Communal Violence: The portrayal of the societal upheaval following the train burning highlights deep-seated communal divides and raises discussions about religious identity and polarization.

#Reception

The film has received mixed reviews, with praise for its performances but criticism for its writing and predictability. It has been declared tax-free in several states to encourage viewership, given its controversial subject matter.

Overall, The Sabarmati Report is a thought-provoking piece of an investigation about a historical event which explores the interrelation between media, politics, and society.

#What are some ways in which the film employs visual elements to convey its message?

-The film The Sabarmati Report uses several visual elements to portray its message:

-Color Palette: The use of specific colors enhances emotional impact, with darker tones often representing tension and despair, while warmer colors may symbolize hope or conflict resolution.

-Cinematography: Strategic camera angles and movements create a sense of intimacy or isolation, influencing how viewers perceive characters and their struggles. For instance, low-angle shots may depict power dynamics, while close-ups reveal emotional depth.

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Visual Imagery: Settings and objects symbolize meaning through associations with the film’s themes. For instance, motifs might symbolize societal divisions or the pursuit of truth.

These thus blend together to create a narrative that works both intellectually and emotionally for the viewer to connect with the film.

#What are the biggest controversies surrounding the burning of the Godhra train?

Origins of the Fire: The Fire Origin Investigation Team has concluded that the fire was started by an accident and not by the Muslim mob, but other reports conclude it was by accident or even from within the train.

This incident has largely been politicized, wherein different parties have floated their own stories using the findings. While BJP claimed the incident to be a terrorist attack, Congress reasoned that it was an event orchestrated to provoke violence.

-Judicial Controversies: Different commissions inquired into the matter, resulting in conflict conclusions. The Nanavati Commission called it a conspiracy, and the Banerjee Commission viewed it as a result of an accident, which the Supreme Court declared later to be unconstitutional.

-Communal Violence: The aftermath was accompanied with widespread riots that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, of whom the majority were Muslims, raising questions on state complicity and response to violence.

These controversies epitomize the current and ongoing tensions within Indian society about communal relations and political accountability.

#What were the main differences between the findings of the Gujarat state enquiry commission and the central enquiry commission?

The key differences between the findings of the Gujarat State Inquiry Commission (also known as the Nanavati-Mehta Commission) and the central inquiry commission on the Godhra train burning incident are the following:

#Cause of the Fire:

-Nanavati-Mehta Commission: Found the fire to be an act of premeditated arson and not an accident. The commission holds no Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi or any part of his government liable or negligent1.

-Central Commission: Banerjee Commission’s inquiry states that the fire was accidental, starting from within the train itself, which contradicts the theory of a planned attack.

#Political Connotations:

-Nanavati-Mehta Commission: The verdict was perceived to be in favor of the BJP ruling government, which sparked accusations of political influence and bias on part of the commission, particularly as some members have been reportedly well connected with political personalities.

-Banerjee Commission: The conclusion by Banerjee Commission was perceived as neutral and sought to represent answers about larger issues related to riots and governmental responsibility without being linked to any particular political agenda.

#Public Response:

-Nanavati-Mehta Commission : Received mixed reactions; BJP supporters were welcoming it, while opposition parties and other human rights groups condemned it by arguing that it ignored evidence of state complicity in violence after the event.

-Central Commission : It was relatively less politically charged and aimed at bringing more comprehensive understanding to events without being attached to political narratives.

These differences reflect the contentious nature of the investigations into the Godhra incident and its lasting implications for communal relations in India.

#How did the public react to the findings of the Gujarat state enquiry commission?

-Public response to the findings of the Gujarat state inquiry commission (Nanavati-Mehta Commission) was divided and highly polarized:

-Opposition Parties Criticism The Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposed commission’s exoneration of Gujarat government arguing it had inherent political motive and well-timed to appear soon before the elections. It had much enhanced communal prejudices and shut eyes towards several evidence of complicity in governmental quarters in the violence that followed the burning of the train.

-Academic Skepticism: Authors ranging from Christophe Jaffrelot have been critical of the commission’s hasty adoption of the arson conspiracy theory while ignoring existing monumental facts that could implicate state actors in the violence. Thus, these criticisms were reflections of larger concern about the commission’s independence and thoroughness.

-BJP Support The findings of the commission vindicated the BJP’s stand on the issue while incurring political damage on Congress party. They rejected contradictory reports meant to demonize them.

Overall, the findings of the commission caused great controversy on the issues of accountability, truth, and communal tension in the India case, reflecting profound divisions in public opinion surrounding the incident and after-effects.