By Crafting an impactful film like “Bhakshak” on child sexual abuse is a challenging task, as it involves portraying the harsh realities of a callous society that allows predators to roam freely, silences helpless victims, and showcases a flawed system that favors wrongdoers over justice.
‘Bhakshak,’ inspired by the distressing real-life case of rampant abuse in a shelter home in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, attempts to encompass these elements. However, it adopts a somewhat heavy-handed approach, making the film both less potent and more didactic than intended. The narrative begins by forcefully presenting a disturbing incident and concludes with a moralizing tone.
Vaishali Singh (played by Pednekar), a small-time video journalist, and her cameraman Bhaskar Sinha (Mishra), stumble upon a report that raises concerns about a shelter home for girls in Munnawarpur (a thinly-disguised name for the real location). Despite Vaishali’s initial hesitancy to delve deeper, her determination leads to an investigative journey, primarily involving visits to state-run shelters across the state and posing uncomfortable questions.
