Review of Damul

Prakash Jha could never make a film better than this. This film is a masterpiece, not only from the point of view of direction, performances and cinematography, but also because of the wideness of its plot and its capacity to capture and present the reality, in its natural wholeness. From the pitiable condition of a young widow to that of the agrarian workers, from the process of making of bonded labours to the theft of animals, and from the dynamics of caste politics in villages to the genocide of poor dalits,the film speaks on everything and captures the true nature of feudal oppression, which is responsible for all this. Its power lies in the simplicity with which it addresses all such issues and conveys a dissenting voice against these. In the end, it tries to provide and answer when the wife of a bonded labour of local landlord resorts to the last alternative left to her.

For those interested in socially committed cinema( and not for those believing in art gracia art, or the lovers of entertainment), Damul(meaning hanging)will always remain an all time favourite.