National Award-winner Srijit Mukherji delivers a spectacular dud in Sherdil The Pilibhit Saga | Review

Pankaj Tripathi's talent is wasted in Srijit Mukherji's badly directed Sherdil: The The Pilibhit Saga.

I have always considered myself an ardent Srijit Mukherji loyalist. I mean, you have to give it to him for helming Bengali films like Autograph, Jaatishwar, Gumnaami, and more. And when a man like him delivers a half-baked project like Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga, starring Pankaj Tripathi in the lead, you end up googling the director’s name just to be sure that it is indeed him. It is. And this is Sherdil for you.

‘For KK’ - is how Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga begins. Soon, you are inducted into the world of Gangaram AKA Pankaj Tripathi, which has little or no substance. After an endless introduction scene with Pankaj roaming around in a jungle (for God knows what), the film finally starts. Sherdil is the story of Gangaram who is on a suicide mission to sacrifice himself to a tiger so that his village receives compensation for his death. Par 'meat' kahan hain? The film puts too much focus on the central character, with little or none on the others. And hence, even before the end of the first half, the film droops.

Sayani Gupta plays Gangaram’s wife Lajo and perhaps her timed presence and not-so-fake desi accent is the only good thing about Sherdil, after Pankaj himself, of course. Both Srijit and Pankaj try. Try their best to make this jungle story appear appealing, lively. Sadly, it is just the opposite.

Even Neeraj Kabi’s presence as Jim Ahmed in the second half of the film couldn’t do much to save this jungle story that's now burning like a jungle fire. Our long-haired Kabi is a kavi who, instead of worrying about the cops, you know, because he is in the business of illegal animal skin and teeth trading, decides to turn shayar in a dense forest.

Watch the trailer of Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga here:

Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga is an example of poor storytelling and what-is-happening direction - the reason I had to Google if the film was actually a Srijit product. Contrary to the Srijit Mukerji films I grew up watching and loving.

A little into the film, you realise that Pankaj Tripathi is the worst affected - worse than the audience watching this film. He has been dealt a bad hand in the form of Gangaram. And his talent is entirely wasted in the process. However, full marks to him for trying and trying again. Even though perhaps he knew where this saga was headed.