New Delhi, August 30, 2017: In the beginning, the name "Newton" may stir thoughts about the great Scientist and his philosophies, but one you get a glimpse of the trailer, you will understand that Rajkummar Rao starrer "Newton" is a dark political comedy going by the simple rule "If you don't change nothing, nothing will change."
From the very first glimpse, Rajkummar Rao in and as Newton makes the trailer appear extremely promising.
Imagine sitting in a remote village somewhere in Chhattisgarh, far beyond the reach of technology and any worldly interference.
Imagine being surrounded by impassive villagers on one end and Maoists and police forces on the other, with both competing for cooperation and power among local people.
Now, what if you were to conduct election voting in such a scenario?
The Maoists would want the villagers to boycott the elections.
As per the trailer, this film is about the people living in villages, who hardly have any idea about exercising their right to vote, and showcases various shades of human emotions blended with humor.
Newton, a political satire starring Rajkummar Rao in a titular role, tells the story of an oddball named Nutan Kumar who is a stickler for rules and principles- this is revealed from the very first frame of the trailer when he refuses to marry an underage girl.
ALSO WATCH: "Newton" Trailer Starring "Rajkummar Rao"
The film is an intimate portrait of a government clerk with the single-minded agenda to conduct free and fair elections in a village riddled with conflict in Chhattisgarh. However, amidst violent clashes between Maoist guerrilla armies and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, Newton is exposed to a bigger problem- villagers who are not aware of their "right to vote".
The film reflects an underlying social problem of the contemporary Indian society- the unrelenting saga of ignorant citizens who do not exercise their voting rights; of people who cannot make sense out of elections and those who deem it unnecessary and treat it like a joke.
What Inspired 'Newton' ?
In an interview with LiveMint in January, writer-director Amit Masurkar had said "the only day people feel powerful and really a part of the democratic process is Election Day: regardless of caste, gender, religion" which prompted him to make Newton.
The young director drew inspiration from the Indian Constitution and its Preamble. According to him, these are great documents but there exists an inherent gap between the virtues upheld in the Constitution and the reality of India that could make for quality cinema.
In another interview, Masurkar said, "the humor is incidental and the subject is serious. Some may find elements of a thriller. I would call it a 'dramedy'."
Newton Gives Hope To Bollywood
Newton comes at a time when Bollywood is slowly transitioning towards impactful cinema. With films like Nil Battey Sannata and Toilet : Ek Prem Katha, that lend support to adult literacy, and Clean India campaign respectively, 'Newton' also aims to impart awareness, however of a different kind. It belongs to the selective category of cinema that entertains yet provokes a viewer to reflect on what he saw, even long after the film has ended.
The film very conveniently aims to give a wake-up call to everybody who considers voting as an insignificant activity. The trailer exposes how people in villages fail to exercise this right due to deep-embedded fear and hence, continue to stay defenseless.
With Rajkummar Rao's words echoing in your ears "If you don't change nothing, nothing will change", the trailer comes as a gentle reminder that the power lies right in our hands.
The trailer looks quite promising and the film is all set to release on September 22.
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