Vivek Banerjee

Shades of Avni... *Sherni* is an honest film. The film rarely deviates from its aim, that is a long hard look at tiger conservation. Loosely based on the killing of Avni or T-1, the film is well scripted and rarely flags. Crisp performances by the lead and support cast gives the film a real life feel. Vidya Balan essays a difficult role with elan, bringing alive the character of a DFO on a difficult turf. Sharat Saxena shines in the role of an unscrupulous trophy hunter, a character we all would hate instinctively. The camera work is innovative and catches the feel of the jungle well. Tiger conservation is a complex issue and relentless pressure of population on tiger habitat, environmental degradation in name of progress is a massive challenge. The political interference and inept people in power with no understanding of conservation issues is an all too familiar story. While the film shows the challenges in tiger conservation and the nuances of man animal conflict, it does not offer any solutions. Perhaps there are no simple solutions. A complex issue has to be tackled at multiple levels over a very long period of time . The ending leaves you sad, but with a ray of hope. I loved the movie and I believe all of us will find a resonance with it in our hearts. Do catch up with Sherni on Amazon Prime