Nimrat Kaur can pack a punch. She plays an aspiring commando in Nagesh Kukunoor’s web series, The Test Case. The title is intriguing indeed, but as the only woman officer in India’s most elite combat force, Shikha Sharma (Kaur) is aptly called The Test Case.
The web series will chronicle the struggle of Shikha Sharma as she works toward her dream of becoming a commando. Produced by TV soaps queen Ekta Kapoor’s Alt Digital — the video-on-demand arm of Balaji Telefilms — The Test Case cannot ignore the traditional female audience. So, Kukunoor will throw light on the gender bias that Sharma faces.
Kukunoor sets his agenda right in the start by incorporating the 'women in combat roles' debate through authentic footage from popular news channel.
The challenges faced by Shikha Sharma are extreme, but as the tagline says, ‘no force can force her out’. Shikha Sharma is here to fulfil her dream at any cost.
Not wanting any special treatment, Shikha Sharma asks to be shifted to the boy’s dorm. The special force training centre thrives on making men out of boys. Shikha Sharma gives Colonel Ajinkya Sathe (Atul Kulkarni) a fitting reply when he asks her what he could make out of her.
Shikha Sharma is stepping into a man’s world, but she tells Colonel Sathe to make a commando out of her. Colonel Sathe and the force treats Shikha Sharma as The Test Case. Her failure will not only end her career, but perhaps make the defence bigwigs rethink their decision to have more women in the combat force.
Kaur sports a lean figure, looking super fit. In real life, Kaur’s father was killed by terrorists in Kashmir. Albeit, in the reel world, the family will be proud to see Kaur play an army officer.
In March this year, the Border Security Force (BSF) had proudly enrolled Bikaner's Tanushree Pareek into the force. The 25-year-old Pareek became the first woman combat officer in 51 years history of BSF. We wonder if Shikha Sharma’s character is inspired by Pareek?
Another interesting aspect of the trailer is the presence of Juhi Chawla who plays Shraddha Pandit, the minister of defence. It is Pandit who chooses Shikha Sharma to be part of the special force. Chawla, too, finds herself in an altogether new space.
The trailer of The Test Case is hard hitting and stays clear of any jingoism. The web series will be streamed from 25 April.
Watch the trailer of The Test Case below.