Kooki Movie Review : A poignant tale of trauma and justice

Story: Kooki (Ritisha Khaund) is a 16-year-old shattered by a brutal gang rape. Despite swift justice, the trauma lingers, as she grapples with a question—why is murder worse than rape?

Review: Films on rape often focus on courtroom drama or investigations. But is justice enough? Kooki challenges this, showcasing the lasting scars a survivor carries. In Assam, Kooki is gangraped and left for dead. As she heals, loved ones offer support, SP Mandira Singh (Dipannita Sharma) and Dr Priyadarshini Pator (Ritu Shivpuri) rally around her. Then a journalist Navnita’s (Devoleena Bhattacharjee) debate on and a video Kooki uploads begs the answer: Why isn't rape considered heinous like murder? This question forms the film's core.

The narrative paints Kooki's pre-tragedy life: a teenager’s world that has loving parents—Dhananjay Mishra (Rajesh Tailang) and mother Suman (Rina Rani), best friend Rashmi (Nancy Singh), and a fledgling romance with Saptarishi (Bodhisattva Sharma). Post-assault, the focus shifts to the emotional and psychological devastation. Along the way, it critiques the nation that has had many amendments but is still stuck in the same place where it fails to protect its women.

Director Pranab J Deka delivers a poignant narrative that keeps you invested until the end. However, the exploration of Kooki's PTSD and the core question arrives late, leaving some aspects underdeveloped. The movie raises other important points such as justice and law are two different things and the accused being innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. However, these also largely remain unexplored.

The film captures the essence of Assam, including its landscapes, art forms such as Bhaona and Nagara Naam artist Subash Nath's performance, etc. Cinematographer Gyan Gautam excels in filming the locales and the crime, which will send shivers down your spine yet doesn't seem titilating.

Kooki also boasts powerful performances. Ritisha Khaund shines with her portrayal of the pluviophile who eventually finds rain traumatic. Her monologue about how she’s too young and naive to understand how the world works but despite justice being served, she feels betrayed, will tug at your heart. Rajesh Tailang as her lawyer father is outstanding and shows his prowess in a sequence at the hospital when he enters the doctor’s cabin a strong and collected man but walks out shattered. That said, how unperturbed he seems soon after is unconvincing. Nancy Singh as the outgoing friend and Bodhisattva Sharma as her boyfriend and support system deliver strong performances, as do Rina Rani, Dipannita Sharma, and Ritu Shivpuri in a guest appearance.

Despite its shortcomings, the film compels introspection. Kooki's journey urges viewers to understand that justice isn't always healing, and the fight for true safety continues.