Watch Maatr
- 2017
- 1 hr 50 min
-
4.7 (492)
Maatr is a Bollywood thriller movie released in 2017 starring Raveena Tandon, Madhur Mittal and Anurag Arora in the lead roles. Directed by Ashtar Sayed, the movie deals with a sensitive subject matter of women's safety and rape. The story revolves around Vidya Chauhan (played by Raveena Tandon), a high school teacher and a mother of a teenage girl, Tia (played by Alisha Khan). On their way back from a party, Tia and Vidya are abducted by a group of men who brutally rape and murder Tia. Vidya is also left in critical condition but somehow survives the assault.
Despite sincere efforts by law enforcement officials and a close family friend, Inspector Jayant Shroff (played by Anurag Arora), the perpetrators of the crime remain at large. Frustrated and fed up with the sluggish pace of justice, Vidya takes matters into her own hands and embarks on a mission to seek revenge from the culprits.
Assisted by a former student of hers, Apurva Malik (played by Madhur Mittal), who is now a high-profile lawyer, Vidya starts eliminating those involved in the crime one by one. She has nothing to lose, and thus she sets out to make sure that the men pay for their crimes.
The movie uses a very different approach to address the issue of rising instances of sexual harassment and rape in the country. While most movies tend to splurge on item songs or comical scenes, Maatr brings to light the seriousness of the crime and how it's affecting innocent lives.
Raveena Tandon delivers a power-packed performance as Vidya Chauhan. Her portrayal of a bereaved mother who is suffering from PTSD and yet is determined to seek revenge is commendable. The plot is well constructed, and each character is given adequate attention, making each performance worthwhile.
The supporting cast of Anurag Arora, Madhur Mittal and Divya Jagdale, who plays Vidya's friend, all play their parts with the utmost sincerity. Children being subjected to this kind of violence is a severe issue, and Maatr had done justice to it.
The film does not rely on song and dance sequences or over-the-top action scenes to keep the viewers hooked; rather, it presents a straightforward yet hard-hitting narrative in a rather subtle manner. The movie's narrative is well-paced, and the audience is left on the edge of the seat several times as each revelation unfolds slowly.
The director has done an excellent job of maintaining a balance of thrill and sentiment throughout the movie. Though the climax could have been more realistic, it doesn't take away from the message the movie aims to convey.
Maatr is a movie that every parent and every woman should watch. It is a well-executed movie that calls for change and action against those involved in such crimes. The subject matter is dealt with sensitively, and the movie does not sensationalize atrocities against women but instead elevates the narrative of this hard-hitting reality.
In conclusion, Maatr is a gripping movie that addresses a hard-hitting reality in a rather subtle manner. The performances of the cast are powerful enough to convey the message of the movie clearly without relying on too many gimmicks too. It is a movie that deserves appreciation for its sensitive handling of a very pressing issue. Maatr is worth our time, and it leaves a lasting impact, reminding us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Maatr is a 2017 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.