Section 375
2019 · Directed by Ajay Bahl
Original language: Hindi
- drama
- thriller
The story
A filmmaker stands trial when a costume assistant on his movie accuses him of rape.
What it’s like
Cool, institutional light from fluorescent courtroom ceilings and the drab greys of Mumbai offices gives way to warmer, more intimate tones in the film's private spaces, with the camera mostly locked in measured, static setups that let tension build in the silences between lines. The score is sparse and restrained, so the courtroom exchanges carry the weight: clipped arguments, pauses, the scrape of chairs, the hum of a ceiling fan. The mood is tense and unsettling, a steady pressure rather than jolts, with a cold, clinical register that stays with the moral questions long after the verdict. Its intensity is heavy but not gory: the central accusation is an explicit sexual assault, discussed and depicted in disturbing, distressing terms, with some brief dramatised moments and no graphic gore; the revenge strand adds menace and some confrontational violence. The rhythm is deliberate and dialogue-led, building toward a sharp, uncomfortable finale. It suits a focused evening when you want a serious, unflinching legal drama, and is best for viewers who can handle sustained, direct treatment of sexual violence and its aftermath, not for anyone seeking something gentle.
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