9 Things That Make Sherni 2021 On Amazon Prime Video Absolutely Smashing!

Vidya Balan’s Sherni released on Amazon Prime Video on 18th June, and we still cannot get over it. A very unique film, its plot revolves around a man-animal conflict and the challenges faced by a forest officer who’s right in the middle of it. Although the film is a work of fiction, it is said to be inspired by the killing of T1 Tigress Avni, who was responsible for the killing of a lot of people. Anyway, the film was extremely powerful and there were many reasons we loved it. 

Fair Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

1. It Told Us A Lot Of Nitty-Gritty Details About Environmentalism In India   

Picture Credits: primevideo

What makes the film unique is that it gives us a deep insight into the world of the forest, the forest department and environmentalism in India. It gives detailed descriptions of the working of the forest department, its technically skilled officers, and the various rules laid down by the government like the plantation of trees and against the killing of tigers. It’s a genre not frequently talked about in Bollywood, hence, it’s refreshing. 

2. It Showed Us Life At A Sarkari Daftar  

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Sherni gave us an insight into the life of a ‘sarkari daftar’, be it the typical office of the forest department, with the record archives being covered in dust and cobwebs, or ‘Bansal’, Vidya’s boss played amazingly by Brijendra Kala. Bansal was someone we typically associate with as a quintessential sarkari worker, and many of his scenes were hilarious. Other than that, we also got to see how competitive the team was when it came to monitoring the animals with their cameras and technical knowledge. 

3. It Brought Forward The Dilemma Between Development & Conservation 

Picture Credits: primevideo

One of the main purposes of the film was to bring to light how there’s always a tug of war between development and the environment. When nature and humans are so intricately interdependent (like how the agricultural fields were woven through the forest in the film) it becomes challenging to carry them both together. But, it’s extremely important to not lose sight of shielding the environment against human growth, for it is what led to tigress killing the people in the first place.

4. It Brought To Light The Challenges Faced By Women At Work 

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A constant theme in the film was the misogyny that seemed to pour through the cracks and crevices the entire time. The statement about sending a lady officer was extremely powerful because it underlined the lack of faith and the perceived incompetence, only because the officer was a lady. There were several other examples throughout the film where Vidya was undermined at work due to her gender. Even the simplest scene of Vidya ordering a drink was brimming with judgement. Also, the same misogyny was prevalent at her home where she was assumed to ‘look good’ or ‘have children’. 

5. It Brought To Light The Effects Of Cut-Throat Elections  

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Throughout the film, the politicians and the election candidates were at each other’s throats, trying to one-up each other and become heroes in the eyes of the public. They made the issue of the tigress a political agenda and often became barriers to the smooth functioning of the government procedures. They were the reason why the cruel hunter got involved and their rally was the reason why Vidya couldn’t get a hold of the tigress in the first place. The scene where the man was actually killed by a bear, showed how they were using lies to manipulate and anger the public.

6. It Made Us Hate Pintu The Hunter 

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Obviously, we hated the ruthless hunter, who was shamelessly boasting about his tiger kill score. You know the actor (Sharat Saxena) is doing a good job when you actually end up hating their character. Shielded by the people in power, he believed that killing the tigress was the only way to control it. While we don’t like the hunter, we enjoyed the character of Vijay Raaz, who played professor Hassan Noorani, who loved the forest with all his heart.

7. It Taught Us That Sometimes, Our Heroes Can Disappoint Us Too

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It was clear how Vidya held Nangia sir, played by Neeraj Kabi, in pretty high regards. She looked up to him as her hero and trusted him to guide her to do the right thing. This is what made the scene, where she called him a ‘coward’ and a ‘darpok’ all the more chilling. He ended up disappointing her because he gave in to the political pressure in front of what was right. This reminds us that even the people we hold in great regards are, after all, human, and can make mistakes that dishearten us.

8. It Taught Us About A Tough & Real Ending  

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The film did not exactly have what you call a happy ending. It was real, and our hopes of Vidya succeeding in saving the tigress and helping her get to the jungle were squashed. This shows us that life is not always rosy and sometimes, bad things happen. But, it also teaches us to take the little wins, and keep moving forward. Vidya didn’t quit working with the cards she was dealt with, and so neither should we. 

9. Vidya Balan Rocked It

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Needless to say, and this comes without surprise, Vidya Balan absolutely killed it with her acting. Be it calmly standing up to her misogynist superiors, calling them out, or displaying her internal conflict, she did it well. The film was ultimately about 2 shernis, one Vidya, and the other, the tigress. They were both smart, courageous, determined, and bold. Vidya portrayed with utmost ease the unsung government officers and was a much-needed ode to them. 

Hence, ultimately, the film left us reeling. It also left us woke, and sensitive to many critical issues - and most of all, saving our Shernis!

Watch Online Here | Vidya Balan Rocked It