The Sabarmati Report: A Gripping Yet Flawed Take on Media and the Godhra Tragedy

Uddipta Goswami

The movie explores the heartbreaking Godhra incident of 2002, in which 59 passengers aboard the Sabarmati Express tragically lost their lives.

Despite its concise two-hour runtime, the film manages to keep viewers engaged, offering a fresh perspective on the events. It challenges traditional narratives surrounding the incident, suggesting that history is often shaped by biased viewpoints and urging a reconsideration of these accounts.

However, a more grounded approach could have made the story even more powerful, giving it a deeper emotional resonance.

The Sabarmati Report: A Gripping Yet Flawed Take on Media and the Godhra Tragedy

In the first half, the focus drifts away from the Godhra tragedy itself, centering instead on a news channel’s manipulation of its coverage to favor the ruling party, exploiting political ties for its own gain.

The film follows Samar Kumar (Vikrant Massey), a dedicated Hindi journalist recruited by Mahika (Ridhi Dogra), a tough and ambitious journalist working for a major broadcast network. Together, they travel to Godhra to cover the incident, but when Mahika receives a call from her boss, the narrative shifts, framing the tragedy as an unfortunate accident.

“These inconsistencies detract from the film’s credibility. While The Sabarmati Report holds attention throughout its runtime, its glossy treatment of the material makes it feel more like a conventional commercial drama than a film based on real events. It does succeed in educating viewers about the lasting impact of the tragedy, but the cinematic embellishments dilute its authenticity, leaving the true weight of the story somewhat lost. The film ultimately prompts reflection on the role of media in shaping public perception, but it could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of the tragic event itself.”

As Samar digs deeper into the story, he uncovers a different truth that clashes with the channel’s version of events. When he confronts his employer, he is promptly fired, leading to a downward spiral of depression and alcoholism.

As the fifth anniversary of the incident approaches, the network assigns Amrita Gill (Raashi Khanna) to revisit the story. She turns to Samar for help, and the two team up to create a new, unfiltered account of what really happened.

Vikrant Massey gives a standout performance as Samar, skillfully portraying the struggles of an honest journalist trying to navigate a compromised industry. Raashi Khanna also does well as Amrita, bringing depth to her role as a producer. However, it’s Ridhi Dogra as Mahika who truly commands attention. She plays the ruthless, manipulative journalist with chilling precision, her arrogance and entitlement making her a memorable presence.

The tension between Samar’s moral compass and Mahika’s unscrupulous approach adds a compelling dynamic to the film, making it clear how power and control shape media narratives. Despite the strong performances, the film falters in some areas. Its portrayal of journalists traveling to Delhi to deliver tapes feels unrealistic, as such tasks would typically have been handled by bus drivers or passengers during that time.

Additionally, by 2002, OB vans were commonly used to transmit footage via satellite, which the film overlooks. Mahika’s character is also somewhat exaggerated, playing into journalistic stereotypes that may not resonate with everyone. These inconsistencies detract from the film’s credibility.

While The Sabarmati Report holds attention throughout its runtime, its glossy treatment of the material makes it feel more like a conventional commercial drama than a film based on real events. It does succeed in educating viewers about the lasting impact of the tragedy, but the cinematic embellishments dilute its authenticity, leaving the true weight of the story somewhat lost.

The film ultimately prompts reflection on the role of media in shaping public perception, but it could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of the tragic event itself.

Uddipta Goswami, Gauhati University , e-mail: uddiptagoswami777@gmail.com

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