“Saand Ki Aankh” aims well but misses the bullseye. The film is important for what it is trying to tell you, but the effort gets weighed down by an obvious obligation to tick-mark the diktats of commercial cinema.
Bollywood writer Tushar Hiranandani’s directorial debut ends up a work of ironies – it is high on intention and low on execution. You admire Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar”s performances, even as you can’t resist a chuckle over the ludicrous prosthetics went into making them look aged. The outstanding women, whose real-life story “Saand Ki Aankh” narrates, instill awe but it surprises you how their on-screen personas are imagined without much depth. The drama uses the all-important issue of gender discrimination in heartland India, yet characters are too black-and-white to leave any serious impact.
Also, for a biopic about a couple of spirited women who defied all odds, “Saand Ki Aankh” is a surprisingly lazy film.