I have watched his last 3 movies -- Mulk, Article 15 and Thappad -- and all 3 were absolute gems, in their own right.
Mulk was about religious indoctrination and had a stellar cast. The movie was gripping and very well-made. The sensitive edge while portraying the Hindu-Muslim coexistence, probably to throw light upon the fact that naturally, Hindus and Muslims exist together peacefully and the equilibrium only gets disturbed in unusual circumstances. The treatment and approach of the film- highly nuanced- does attempt to resolve boundaries and break the barriers. With heavy dialogues, emotions, Hindu-Muslim relationships, nationality, and existence in question, Mulk is an earnest effort.
Article 15 was gritty and absolutely hard-hitting. I'm surprised it became a hit because the movie was dark and showed reality in an unfiltered manner. The movie was pitched to mainstream audiences and yet was dark and depressing - showing the brutalities in the name of caste.
Thappad is my favourite out of all 3. Despite dealing with an issue which was as delicate as domestic violence, the film never got heavy-handed or preachy. It was subtle, sensitive, and very aesthetically made. Taapsee Panny and the supporting cast were excellent.
Do you like his work?
Kumkum Bhagya
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