Cast: Divya Singh, Sanjay Singh, Neelima Azeem, Anjan Srivastav, Javed Haider, Mushtaq Khan, Kamaal Khan
Director: Sharique Minhaj
Producer: Vipul Shah
Release Date: November 29
Duration: 101 minutes
Banner: VSP Productions
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The film Delhi Bus, inspired by the horrifying 2012 Delhi gang rape case, released in theaters this week. The brutal assault on Nirbhaya that took place in a moving bus sent shockwaves throughout India, and this film recreates the traumatic incident in a way that will send chills down your spine.
Directed by Sharique Minhaj, Delhi Bus serves as a tribute to the countless women and girls who have fallen victim to such unspeakable crimes. Through this powerful cinematic portrayal, Minhaj raises a poignant question about the state of women’s safety in society.
The film opens with a haunting sound of a girl screaming in pain, signaling the beginning of a deeply unsettling journey. Shruti Pandey, a medical student, is admitted to the hospital after being brutally gang-raped. At the same hospital, the daughter of a judge (played by Anjan Srivastav) gives birth to a child. Shruti’s close friend, the judge’s daughter, is shaken to the core upon hearing the news and tells her father, “I don’t want a daughter anymore—not after what happened. The entire nation mourns this tragedy.”
This powerful line speaks volumes about the fear and insecurity women feel in today’s world. It reflects the deep-rooted societal anxiety, showing how unsafe women feel, even within their own families.
In the courtroom, the judge delivers a heart-rending judgment: “What happened to Shruti Pandey is the defeat of morality. It’s the death of a mother’s dreams. This is a death of humanity itself. Women are unsafe, whether on trains, buses, streets, or even at home.” The perpetrators are sentenced to death, but when a journalist asks Shruti’s mother (played by Neelima Azeem) if she finds solace in the death sentence, her response is a slap in the face of society: “Women don’t feel safe stepping out of their homes. The death sentence alone won’t bring me joy. Only when girls and women feel safe day and night, will I feel justice has been served.”
Divya Singh plays the victim, Shruti, with exceptional sensitivity. Sanjay Singh portrays Shruti’s boyfriend, Avinash, while Neelima Azeem delivers a strong performance as Shruti’s mother. The rest of the cast also brings depth to their roles, making this a standout ensemble performance.
Director Sharique Minhaj has taken on the challenge of adapting such a sensitive subject for the big screen. Though the film is just 101 minutes long, some of the scenes in the bus are prolonged and could have been edited more tightly. Several dialogues and visuals are deliberately unsettling, leaving an indelible mark on the viewer’s psyche.
The film’s music complements its mood well. Babli Haque and Arav have composed effective tunes, while Jameel Ahmed and Saleem Asifi’s lyrics add emotional depth. The romantic song “Betehsha Udne Lage Hai Hum” featuring Divya Singh and Sanjay Singh is a standout, along with “Kyun Chala Gaya,” a heartfelt situational song. The Delhi Bus title track appears during Shruti’s treatment and helps propel the narrative forward. However, the background music could have been improved for a more immersive experience.
The film brings to light the same painful and shameful reality as the Nirbhaya incident. Through this story, the director hopes to spark a change in societal attitudes, especially towards how men view women. Even twelve years after the Nirbhaya case, the level of violence against women remains disturbingly high. The film highlights these continuing issues and raises serious questions about women’s safety in modern society.
Delhi Bus is a brave attempt to shed light on a sensitive issue. The acting, direction, and music are commendable, though there are areas that could have been refined further. The cinematography, editing, and background music could have been worked on more, and trimming some unnecessary scenes could have made the film tighter, reducing its runtime by 10-15 minutes.
Nonetheless, Delhi Bus remains an important cinematic exploration of a critical societal issue.
