Plot

India Lockdown is an anthology film consisting of four stories set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and India's nationwide lockdown. While the film touches on diverse elements like migrants, sex workers, and commercial pilots, it fails to evoke empathy despite the challenging circumstances that the characters find themselves in. One of the most promising plots involves the Mumbai brothel trying to stay afloat during the lockdown. Director Madhur Bhandarkar, known for his excellent films like Chandni Bar and Fashion, misses the mark here with a disjointed story that fails to engage.

Acting

The performances in India Lockdown are underwhelming despite the earnestness of the actors. Shweta Basu Prasad and Sai Tamhankar do justice to their characters, while Prakash Belawadi is a seasoned actor who brings a credible air to his character. Aahana Kumra and Prateik's performances are disappointing, with Kumra going overboard with her character's look and behavior.

Cinematography

India Lockdown captures the essence of quarantine life with minute details. The absence of any song or dance sequence is a bonus, and the film keeps things pretty real without adding melodramatic twists and turns. The scenes of migrants walking for miles every day in scorching heat or Madhav digging into a pile of garbage looking for some food are distressing but necessary to bring the audience closer to reality.

Direction

Madhur Bhandarkar is an excellent director, but his attempt to weave the story together misses other aspects like a compelling background score or effective editing. The impact is lost with the continuous to and fro from one story to another, and the writing is patchy in some places. The film feels disjointed instead of a beautifully weaved coherent whole.

Overall

India Lockdown comes a little too late in the day, and much of what the film talks about is known, which gives it little novelty. It's worth watching only if you're a die-hard Bhandarkar fan. The film fails to evoke empathy despite the challenging circumstances, and the performances are underwhelming. Despite its flaws, India Lockdown captures the essence of quarantine life and touches on diverse elements that everyone can relate to.

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