Watch The Terrorist

The Terrorist is a 1998 Indian film directed by Santosh Sivan. The movie is about a 19-year-old girl named Malli who is a member of a terrorist group. She is chosen for a suicide mission to assassinate a VIP member. The story takes place in the beautiful and lush countryside of Kerala, India. The movie is a highly emotional and dramatic piece of cinema that explores the human costs of terrorism.

The main character, Malli, is played by Ayesha Dharker. She is a young and beautiful girl who is full of life. Malli's backstory is not fully explored, but we do know that her parents were killed when she was young. Malli was taken in by a terrorist group and trained to be a suicide bomber. The audience follows Malli throughout the movie as she prepares for her mission.

The key highlight of the movie is its portrayal of the complex psyche of Malli. The audience gets to see how the unyielding ideology of the organization she belongs to forces her into a position where she must choose between patriotism and humanity. Once she enters the compound, there is a powerful juxtaposition of scenes that depict moments of peace and violence in a very close proximity. As she gets closer to her final goal, Malli's doubts start to surface. The movie portrays the struggle that Malli feels internally in a very realistic and powerful way.

The director has done a phenomenal job of creating an atmospheric and immersive world that feels like a character in itself. The beautiful landscapes of Kerala are gorgeously captured on camera. The lush green fields and forests are a stark contrast to the violence and bloodshed that unfolds in the story. The sound design is also noteworthy. The silence is used to heighten the tension and the ambient sounds of the surrounding environment add to the surreal feeling of the movie.

The supporting cast is also excellent. The actor who plays the head of the terrorist group, K. Krishna, delivers a very nuanced performance. His character is multi-dimensional and the movie does not shy away from exploring the more humane aspects of him. Sonu Sisupal, who plays an undercover agent, is also very good. His camaraderie with Malli is endearing and adds a touch of humor to the otherwise serious movie.

The pacing of the movie is deliberate and slow. There are no unnecessary action sequences or cliched tropes that one expects from the genre. The movie takes its time in building up the tension and the conflict within Malli. It is a heavily character-driven movie that focuses on the struggles and emotions of its characters.

The themes of the movie are very timely and relevant even today. The movie explores the dangerous idea of blindly subscribing to an ideology and how it can lead to acts of terrorism. Malli, like many young people today, is drawn into the world of terrorism due to her disillusioned outlook on society. The movie does not try to excuse or justify her actions, but it does try to understand the thought process behind them.

One of the most interesting aspects of the movie is how it never tries to sensationalize the act of terrorism. The end result is not what is glorified or even shown, instead, the movie focuses on the emotional and psychological costs of it. The movie highlights the often-forgotten human cost of any act of terror and the collateral damage it has on the people involved.

In conclusion, The Terrorist is a powerful and thought-provoking movie that explores the complexities of terrorism. The movie is beautifully shot, excellently acted and has a pacing that draws the audience into its world. It is a movie that stays with you long after the credits roll.