Movie Review: Safed

Plot

Safed is a film that attempts to showcase the plight of the transgender community in Varanasi. However, the depiction of their struggles is superficial and lacks depth. The narrative is filled with excessive melodrama and over-the-top treatment, which takes away from the emotional impact of the story.

Acting

The performances in Safed are mostly hammy and lacking in nuance. While Abhay Verma delivers a decent performance as Chaandi, his co-stars, including Meera Chopra and Barkha Bisht, struggle to emote and make their characters believable. Jameel Khan, who plays the head of the eunuchs, stands out with his performance. Overall, the acting in Safed is mediocre at best.

Cinematography

The cinematography by Anirban Chatterjee is one of the few redeeming qualities of Safed. He skillfully captures the ghats of Varanasi, highlighting the atmosphere and surroundings of the film. The Holi scenes and community's festival are particularly well-shot, adding visual interest to the film. Despite its other shortcomings, the cinematography in Safed is commendable.

Direction

As a directorial debut, Sandeep Singh's direction in Safed falls short. The film lacks coherence and suffers from thoughtless direction. Singh and his co-writer Rishi Virmani seem to prioritize shock value and excessive melodrama over telling a coherent story. The lack of nuance in the writing further exacerbates the emotional disconnect experienced by viewers. Singh's attempt at social commentary comes across as superficial. Overall, the direction in Safed is dull and lacks thoughtfulness.

Conclusion

Safed is a disappointing film that fails to deliver on its promising premise. The attempt to shed light on the struggles of the transgender community in Varanasi falls flat due to its superficial and melodramatic execution. The lack of nuance in the writing and mediocre acting further diminishes the impact of the film. However, the cinematography does provide some visual interest. Ultimately, It fails to effectively convey its message or create a meaningful connection with the audience.