 "Dilli Dark Movie Review")
The movie by Dibakar Das highlights the different struggles in the capital city by outsiders who are trying hard to make Delhi home. But they are not being accepted. The movie shows how Michael Okeke (Samuel Abiola Robinson), a Nigerian MBA student is struggling to survive and even after learning Hindi and understanding it, the man is not being accepted by the city mostly because he looks different. And we all know how the city has an obsession for fair skinned and sharp featured men and women. And this Nigerian man stands out because of the texture of his hair, the colour of his skin, flat nose and pendulous lips.
Those who have lived in Delhi know that roads in the city are like gol chakkars (round circles). When the English built Delhi, they planned the city in circles. Michael Okeke (Samuel Abiola Robinson) mentions in the film, “Ever since then people like me have been going round and round.” He feels the roads go nowhere.
Delhi is indeed a harsh city with extreme climates, pollution and brash people. Delhi screws everyone’s happiness initially, but once you get accepted, you realise that it is the place for prosperity. Everybody wants to make it big in Delhi and so does Michael Okeke (Samuel Abiola Robinson). The city is like New York for many Nigerians. A mecca of opportunities. But there are no easy tricks to survive in the city or even make friends because if you look different, they either get threatened or they find you funny. And that’s exactly the case for Michael.
Delhi actually doesn’t belong to any particular caste or community. Unlike Bombay or Calcutta, Delhi being a union territory doesn’t have a state language. So, literally everybody in the city is threatened and insecure. Above everything, the city’s obsession with good looks reigns supreme. Yet we all love Delhi for its brilliant infrastructure.
The movie shows how being a cosmopolitan city, it fails to cover up on the racism bit. But one thing that is great about the city is they are right on the face with their opinions and their punches too, they don’t backstab for not knowing the language or for not understanding their culture.
Dibakar Das Roy’s sharp take on the city and deep understanding of the culture of the place makes it a delightful watch. Wonder why these films take so much time to make it in cinema halls. This movie proves it yet again that you don’t need big stars for a film to be liked. All you need is a story that touches your heart and compelling performances.
Rating: 3 and half out of 5
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.