Anarkali of Arah is a film with a strong message regarding consent. Anarkali is a strong and well written character delivered by a tour de force performance from Swara Bhaskar. Anarkali is a singer who isn't ashamed of singing lewd songs that wouldn't garner respect in the civilized society. She sings because of her love for the art and garners a fanbase in her town. Things get rough after she is publicly molested by a person of power.
While the film does hit every beat you'd expect from a typical story where an underdog fights against a powerful person, it is so well done that you find yourself completely immersed in the situation rooting for the protagonist. The supporting characters all feel real and well developed with little quirks of their own, the sexist thinking of the villains feel realistic instead of being cartoonishly evil. Inspite of tackling a serious issue, it retains a sense of humour quite often due to its colourful characters. The plot never meanders and its crisp direction delivers an enthralling experience.
While the film does hit every beat you'd expect from a typical story where an underdog fights against a powerful person, it is so well done that you find yourself completely immersed in the situation rooting for the protagonist. The supporting characters all feel real and well developed with little quirks of their own, the sexist thinking of the villains feel realistic instead of being cartoonishly evil. Inspite of tackling a serious issue, it retains a sense of humour quite often due to its colourful characters. The plot never meanders and its crisp direction delivers an enthralling experience.