A story set in a slum isn't new for commercial Hindi cinema, or Bollywood as it is fondly known. For decades, slums have been where poverty and crime thrive, and where talent lies hidden. These tropes, along with actor Amitabh Bachchan playing a character named Vijay, are practically Bollywood traditions.
Writer-director Nagaraj Manjule makes his Bollywood debut with Jhund, telling a story built on these familiar elements. However, seen through Manjule’s eyes, neither the slum nor its residents feel clichéd. Instead, what we get is a story about discrimination and lost innocence that feels both inspiring and rooted in reality. You’d expect nothing less from the director of the Marathi films Fandry and Sairat, both of which received widespread acclaim for Manjule’s incisive storytelling.
