Chhorii review: An uneven film about the horrors of patriarchy

Written and directed by Vishal Furia, Chhorii examines larger societal horrors that unfold every day in our country. Based on the filmmaker’s Marathi horror film Lapachhapi (2017), the Amazon original film stars Nushrratt Bharuccha, Mita Vashisht, Rajesh Jais and Saurabh Goyal.

Lapachhapi review: Well-crafted film that gives you the creeps

Sakshi (Nushrratt Bharuccha) and Hemant (Saurabh Goyal) are a young couple leading a seemingly happy life in the city. But when the debt collectors come calling, the couple decides to disappear and hide away in their driver’s (Rajesh Jais) isolated village. There, Sakshi, who is eight months pregnant, is looked after by the driver’s wife (Mita Vashisht). But as Sakshi spends time in the creepy home, she realizes that something is not quite right.

Furia’s film sheds light on the female infanticide and foeticide that is rampant in many parts of the country. The film evokes the eeriness of the supernatural while trying to create a sense of mystery about what lurks beneath the surface. The rural landscape and the labyrinthine fields are put to good use as an effective setting for the story, creating the claustrophobia that Sakshi feels and bringing alive the supernatural elements. 

The first half of the film sets the context fairly quickly and takes us right into the heart of the action, where the story starts to unfold. Although the premise is set up at a robust pace, the film slackens in the second half, which only gets lifted by the emotionally wrought story of Sunaini and her fate. Towards the end, however, the film becomes didactic, leaving no room for us to put the pieces together and figure out the mystery.

Bharuccha is fairly adequate in her performance though her psychologically disoriented state of mind, which is key in her understanding of the deep injustice to women, needed more finesse. Mita Vashisht stands out in skillfully communicating the danger that lies behind her sweet talk and loving gestures.

Chhorii is a film with a social message and the message is overpowering. We are shown how Sakshi fights for the rights of women, questioning traditional gender roles within the home. She fights for the rights of all women, evoking her identity as that of a mother. However, in the end, in an almost hero-like moment, she delivers a dialogue about how women are the biggest enemy to their own kind. A rather cringe-worthy line for an ostensibly feminist heroine.

The film, much like Terrie Samudra’s horror film Kaali Khuhi (2020), becomes a film that examines female infanticide within the horror genre. Unfortunately, despite a moving story at its core, the film is patchy and does not leave too lasting an impression.

Chhorii is being streamed on Amazon Prime Video