Filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s powerful narrative debut, “Santosh,” is a gripping neorealist procedural and a thoughtfully observed character study of women navigating a corrupt, machismo-driven workplace environment.
Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, the film showcases Suri’s adept directorial control alongside a palpable sense of fiery outrage. She combines a journalistic attention to procedural detail—skillfully building tension as evidence and characters unfold—with an empathetic portrayal of Santosh’s internal struggles.
After her police constable husband is killed on duty, young housewife Santosh (played by Shahana Goswami) is trained to take his place on the force due to a government initiative. She eventually partners with a savvy and charismatic female inspector, Sharma (Sunita Rajwar), who arrives from outside the department to investigate the murder of a low-caste girl.