Sherni Trailer Review: Vidya Balan's Film Promises To Showcase Challenges Faced By Nature And Women

Sherni Trailer Review: The trailer of Vidya Balan starrer Sherni was released today by Amazon Prime Video. Since theatres remain closed in the country due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Sherni will have an OTT release. The trailer of the film promises a two-fold tale- that of nature's tussle with man, and of working women's struggle against patriarchy.

The film has been directed by Amit Masurkar, who directed the National Award-winning film Newton (2017) starring Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi and Anjali Patil. If you have seen Newton, you would be aware of Masurkar's penchant for showcasing dense forests in all their glory, and the struggle between mankind and nature to coexist. Do human beings have any right to set limitations on nature? Who gets the right to push back, when the paths of nature and civilisation cross? ">Sherni promises to dwell on these questions and many more.

Vidya Balan has been around long enough for us to know that we cannot expect straightforward masala films from her, devoid of a female-centric gaze. And even a film promising to touch on the complex issue of man versus nature is not an exception. We see the struggles of a female forest officer assigned a high profile case first hand in Sherni's trailer. Balan's character "Vidya" must not only prove her worth, but also work hard to be heard by her superiors and work her way around patriarchal constraints that a woman must deal with while holding an unconventional job.

A character points out early on in the trailer, "..there's a problem here and they have sent a lady officer." In another scene, we see Balan's character being told by another officer how he has been hearing a lot of praise of her work, albeit in a taunting manner. As various men around Vidya try to take charge of the situation we see Ila Arun's character telling her to not step out looking so "dull" and wear a "nau tole ka necklace".

Towards the end of the trailer, it talks about the need to maintain the balance between humanity and nature, since we depend on each other for our existence. But what about various hierarchies within mankind itself? How does one strike a balance here?

Sherni seems to be a tale of two tigresses, fighting for their territories and survival in a hostile world. Humanity owes a lot more to both of them than it is willing to concede. So how does this tale end? Who emerges triumphant, and will we approve of the one who emerges victorious?

We will find out on June 18, with the release of the film.

Meanwhile, check out the film's trailer here: