Movie Review: Netwon

Movie Review: Newton
Rating: 3/5
Director: Amit V Masurkar
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Sanjay Mishra, Anjali Patil, Mukesh Prajapati, Raghubir Yadav.

This film is niche, festival-kind, in-your-face but in the end, it’s an honest attempt to explain a good thing without being preachy.  Nutan Kumar, struggling with his name changes to Newton – he’s the replica of how a perfect man should be. Honestly, punctuality, work-is-worship – are few of his primary traits. The film is set in Konar, Chhattisgarh which is affected my Maoists & Naxalites. When a polling officer denies going for voting in that area, Nutan Kumar aka Newton (Rajkummar Rao) is appointed as a presiding officer to fulfill his duties.  Halfway through the film you’ll feel lost among the crawly pace of the film, but, don’t lose hope 2nd half has a lot in store for you. Follow Spotlife Asia for the latest Entertainment and Lifestyle news.

With Newton, Amit Masurkar has done something extraordinary, he has achieved a feat which isn’t achieved by many even after staying in the industry for years. Using symbolism, covering child marriage, dowry, election’s malfunctions in the duration of 106 minutes is not something we see regularly in Bollywood. From card tricks to Pankaj Tripathi explaining BODMAS to our hero Rajkummar Rao, Amit has designed many of such wonderful moments in the film. Because of explaining the situation of villagers so clearly, the second half of the film catapults to another level.

This is not new for Rajkummar Rao, topping the cast with her stupendous performance is what he has been doing since his first film. Each dialogue he says, each stare he gives, each smile he smiles has only one thing written on it – honesty. Newton is about an honest man fulfilling his responsibilities to the core – ain’t Rajkummar Rao the perfect choice?

Pankaj Tripathi is as equally important as Rajkummar Rao. He overshadows Rajkummar Rao at many places, yes you heard it right! Every single time both of them have a conversation, it’s hard to root for any one of them. He manages the control of the film even during the slow pace. Anjali Patil who plays the role of the Booth Level Officer with the team is the sweetest part of the film. Playing the role of a local, speaking Gondi language, Anjali manages to shine in a film which is full of talent.

The entire supporting cast is one another reason to watch this film. From officers helping Rajkummar Rao to the military people under Pankaj Tripathi, even each of the villagers – everyone is top at their game. Special mention, Raghubir Yadav, this man enjoys the best punchlines of the film. He infuses humour every time he’s on screen.

You’ll not get an item song, seeti-maar dialogues or hero beating ten goons kind of situations in this film, but what will you get – is a pure & innocent film trying to explain something.  Amazingly written by Varun Grover, the only song of the film becomes the highlight of it. Music by Naren Chandavarkar, Benedict Taylor, and Rachita Arora has not much role to play in the first half but is well used in second.