Is Durgamati real? This question has been on the minds of Indian movie-goers for quite some time. The story of Durgamati is not exactly mainstream, and it focuses solely on good forces and supernatural entities. As such, it seems to have a very broad appeal. However, there is one thing that seems to be a definite flaw in the movie: the extras. The film has some of the worst extras I’ve ever seen in a Hindi film. Its spook effects are also among the worst. This is especially disappointing considering how much better Bhaagamathie was. In addition to Shetty’s arresting performance, Bhaagamathie had better visuals and camerawork. Pednekar was also better shot.
Durgamati Movie Plot
The movie opens with lawmaker Ishwar Prasad threatening to quit if the government doesn’t find idols that have been stolen over a six-month period. This irks his political adversaries, who work with CBI Joint Director Satakshi Ganguly and Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhay Singh to devise a scheme to undermine his credibility. The two have a plan to question IAS Chanchal Chauhan, an Ishwar confidante who is currently serving time for the death of Abhay’s brother Shakti. They move her to Durgamati Bungalow, a run-down, purportedly haunted bungalow on the outskirts of a city, for the interrogation in order to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Chanchal is questioned by the CBI to learn more information about Ishwar, but she leads them on by reiterating that he is a fine man and casting doubt on his integrity without providing any evidence.
Later that evening, Chanchal comes under the hands of Durgamati, the house’s previous monarch before independence. When the CBI team asks a psychiatrist to look into the case, the expert comes to the conclusion that Chanchal must be suffering from schizophrenia because she frequently assumes multiple personae and recounts stories from books as if they were her own. He recommends the CBI place her in an asylum. Abhay, who believes that she might be using this as a ruse to flee, arranges for a spiritual teacher to investigate the possibility of paranormal activity. A few indicators are suggested by the guru. Later, Abhay learns that those signs point to the bungalow’s presence of ghosts. Under the influence of the ghost, he also witnesses Chanchal inflicting harm on herself. As a result, Abhay drives Chanchal to a mental health facility. “Pushpa Movie Review”
Durgamati Movie Cast
- Bhumi Pednekar
- Arshad Warsi
- Jisshu Sengupta
- Mahie Gill
- Karan Kapadia
- Prabhat Raghunandan
- Ashok Sharma
- Dhanraj
- Brij Bhushan Shukla
- Ada Singh
- Shoeb Ali
- Shubhendra Gupta
- Chandan Vicky Roy
- Amit Behl
- K. Durga Prasad
- Muskan Lalwani
- Anant Mahadevan
- Tanya Abrol
When Ishwar pays a visit to her at the mental hospital, he learns that Chanchal had organized the entire scheme to elude the CBI in exchange for a 300 Crore bribe from Ishwar. Additionally, it is revealed that Ishwar had coerced Chanchal into killing Shakti, her fiance, in order to conceal his swindle involving a welfare project.
Satakshi, in the meantime, understands that Chanchal was attempting to illustrate the truth of Ishwar’s crimes through the tale of Queen Durgamati, which she had learned from the various writings and artifacts she had found in the bungalow. She also discovers proof of Ishwar’s wrongdoings and the location where he concealed the villagers after shooting Shakti.
Chanchal is now seen leading a charitable organization in honor of Shakti after being righted. Then Satakshi informs her that although they believed they knew everything about her, they were unaware that she had studied Arabic and was an accomplished magician in her youth. They are shocked by Chanchal’s response, which suggests that there was actually paranormal activity in the house: she doesn’t speak Arabic.
As for the film itself, the film was originally named Durgamati, and is scheduled to begin production in November 2020. The budget of the film is reportedly Rs30 crores, and it has grossed over Rs102.2 crores at the Box Office. The film’s cast includes Bhumi Pednekar as Chanchal Chauhan, an IAS officer who is imprisoned in a haunted house and has a spirit that can control her. The film also stars Vikram Malhotekar and Bhushan Kumar.
There are two versions of the story: one in Hindi and the other in Telugu. Both versions are based on the same myth. In Tamil, the film is a remake of Bhaagamathi, another popular rural myth. Its background score by Jakes Bejoy is too archaic and dramatic. In short, it fails to deliver on its promise to be a horror movie. And its climax is predictable.
This movie is a mixture of political conspiracy and revenge. The story begins with the theft of idols from Hindu temples. The saffron-stole-wearing protagonist claims that these thefts are a direct attack on Hindutva. Otherwise, the government would have fallen to the hands of the minority community. It also features the character of a poor farmer whose slogans are relevant to the ongoing farmers’ protests. Sadly, the movie doesn’t really get anywhere.
The movie was also a remake of the acclaimed Ashok film Bhaagamathie. The movie stars Bhumi Pednekar as an IAS officer. In the movie, the CBI imprisons Chanchal Chauhan, who plays the lead role. Chanchal is interrogated by the CBI, and she reveals details about her former boss, Ishwar Prasad. Despite the plot of the movie, the film is a highly entertaining watch.
