Mumbai| Santosh, directed by Sandhya Suri, arrives on Lionsgate Play after receiving widespread international recognition, including a debut at the Cannes Film Festival, a BAFTA nomination for Best Debut Feature, and Best Actress for Shahana Goswami at the Asian Film Awards. Despite these honors, the film faced hurdles in India, where it was denied a censor certificate, effectively blocking a theatrical release.
Set in a fictional town in northern India, Santosh confronts deep-rooted social issues—misogyny, caste bias, and religious intolerance—with unwavering honesty. The story follows Santosh (played with quiet intensity by Shahana Goswami), a widow who receives a job as a constable after her police officer husband dies in the line of duty.
Uncomfortable in her new role, Santosh wears her uniform awkwardly, her posture reflecting her uncertainty. In a male-dominated police station, female officers are marginalized and reduced to menial tasks. Santosh is expected to serve her superior officer’s domestic needs rather than engage in real police work.
Her world begins to unravel when a Dalit man pleads for help finding his missing daughter, Devika. Ignored by the male officers, his concerns are dismissed until the girl’s body is discovered. The community’s outrage and the media spotlight push the police into action. Santosh is reluctantly assigned to escort the body to the morgue—an act revealing the deep caste prejudices at play.
With a change in leadership, a senior female officer named Geeta (Sunita Rajwar) takes charge. Though hardened and brusque, Geeta encourages Santosh to investigate, even as the system continues to push back. A Muslim man is arrested, but as the investigation unfolds, Santosh begins to see the complexity of the injustices around her.
The film follows the structure of a crime drama but avoids the glamor often associated with the genre. Instead, it opts for a raw, almost documentary-like tone, thanks to Lennert Hillege’s cinematography. Even open landscapes feel oppressive, reflecting a society weighed down by cruelty and systemic corruption.
Suri refuses to sugarcoat the harsh realities. In this environment, Santosh’s gender places her at a constant disadvantage. Her journey reveals that survival often means compromising one’s values—or becoming complicit. Yet, her quiet resistance and evolving awareness make her a powerful symbol of resilience.
The strength of Santosh lies in its grounded screenplay and the authentic performances of Goswami and Rajwar. They fully inhabit their roles, embodying the silent courage required to navigate a world designed to break women down. Without theatrics or sentimentality, the film demands that viewers confront uncomfortable truths about power and prejudice in Indian society.
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