Inspired by the well-known poem Deshlai Kathi (The Matchstick) by Sukanta Bhattacharya, the upcoming film Adamya (which means indomitable) tells a story of inequality, rebellion and revolution. A tense, gritty and fast-paced survival thriller with clear political overtones, the film, which seems heavily influenced by communist ideology, is expected to blur the thin line between revolution and terrorism.

The trailer of the film has offered intriguing glimpses into the action of Adamya, bearing testimony to its raw power and realism, while introducing the stark and unforgiving world of the film. Set in the treacherous and unpredictable terrain of the Sunderbans, Adamya explores themes of survival, poverty and corruption. Focusing on just one central character named Palash, a struggling youth perhaps belonging to the lower-most rungs of society, it confronts the viewer with conflicting ideas that question established standards of courage, sacrifice and heroism. The action follows Palash as a fugitive on the run, hiding in the mangrove forests after a failed assassination attempt.

Actor Aryuun Ghosh portrays Palash with an authenticity that is both powerful and disconcerting. Capturing facets of his character that highlight his energy, determination and passion for his cause and, at the same time, exposing the character’s fundamental contradictions and inner demons, Ghosh remarkably brings to life Palash’s transition from being a fearsome revolutionary to a hunted extremist. The moral conflict, self-defeat and dilemma in the mind of the criminal is unmissable as is the voice of power, which cunningly indoctrinates and exploits impoverished young people to serve their selfish ends.

From what is evident from the trailer, the storytelling of Adamya does not attempt in any way to glorify the image of the political terrorist as is traditional and common in most political literature and films. The only trace of romanticism in Adamya is through its tiny vignettes of rural life and in the scenic beauty of boats sailing in the rivers of the Sunderbans, but not without a sense of impending danger and urgency, making the landscape of the Sunderbans a living character of the narrative.

Filled with scenes of violence and bloodshed, the photography of Adamya is realistic, offering a raw and unfiltered view of life in society’s underbelly, matching the tone of the film which seems to be dark, coarse and uncomfortable. Vividly capturing its theme of crime and corruption, its atmospheric sound amplifies the film’s tense, ironic and provocative mood, emphasising the unstoppable force of youth along with their quandaries and the utter corruption and hypocrisy of political power. Directed by Ranjan Ghosh and presented by Aparna Sen, Adamya releases in theatres on February 13.

Piya Roy