Written by Pepino Pushpani and Ravi Gautam and directed by Ravi Gautam, Soch – A Perception is a 2024 crime mystery that stars Anjali Patil, Mukti Ravi Das and Silpi Dutta.
Soch delves deep into the heart of societal biases, female rights, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Set against the majestic yet unforgiving backdrop of the Himalayas, this film follows the intense investigation led by police officer Priyanka Negi after the discovery of a brutally burnt female corpse. The victim is believed to be Shaila, a young social activist whose tragic demise ignites a nationwide firestorm, dividing communities and sparking a heated debate on justice and prejudice.
Soch – A Perception is great where it counts. This is an edge of your seat thriller through and through, inspired from the consistent cycle of violence against women that has gripped the sub continent for the better part of the last century. There is a body, there is death and amidst all the chaos, a young female police officer is on a desperate journey to catch the monsters who killed a social activist.
The central plot is believable, the twists and turns surprising and the foreboding tension throughout the film makes for a great story. The makers behind the project use the shoestring budget really well. From the picturesque valleys of the Himalayas to the violence, the film has it all. The action is well choreographed and the horrors of violence against women are captured in all of their unfortunate brutality.
In regards to the acting, it is fantastic across the board. Anjali Patil as Police Inspector Priyanka Negi is pitch perfect and she carries the entire film across her shoulders effortlessly. She is strong when she needs to be, vulnerable when the situation demands her to be and a beacon of hope and inspiration in this tale of perseverance. Equally impressive is Mukti Das as Bashar and rest of the supporting cast is equally impressive as well. Each part and character is fleshed out properly, allowing actors to seamlessly transition into their onscreen counterparts.
For a thriller to work, pacing is everything and it is here that the film manages to excel as well. The editing is perfect, playing up the tension in the story into a crescendo. Ensuring the audience remains invested is key here and the director ensures the film is captivating through pacing the narrative in a way that keeps the audience on its toes. Not to spoil the ending but I thought the film concluded in a way that was fulfilling; the ending was thematically resonant and wrapped up the conflict in a satisfying manner.
For all these complex parts to work together in unison, the director needs to be at the top of his game. This is where Ravi Gautam works his magic; he balances the thematic aspects of the script with the visuals really well. He knows when to slow down the action and allow for drama and he knows when to ramp up the violence when it services the story. Since he wrote the script himself, Gautam is the perfect person to bring the script to screen. Directors work best when they write their own scripts and Gautam manages to translate his work on the screen flawlessly.
Thus, to summarise, Soch – A Perception is a powerful thriller about an imperfect world where women still have it difficult in the 21st century. Featuring fantastic performances, a riveting story and thematically resonant themes, the film goes above and beyond and left me impressed. It is fascinating to see such a moving drama come out from India and it cements the idea that the next wave of great filmmakers will indeed come from this great nation. Ravi Guatam has thus made a fantastic film, one that will not only inspire filmmakers from his continent but will also move audiences across the globe.
