Babita Singh Reporting Story
ASI Babita Singh aka Baby (Nimisha Sajayan) is the accommodating good cop, based in Bhopal who’s been accorded her job on compassionate grounds. Her senior SI Sethi (Rajesh Kumar) does not think very highly of her and exploits her innate goodness to his advantage. On the personal front, Babita is nagged by her husband Sharad (Anshumaan Pushkar) for being unable to take time off work for a holiday. When she takes the fall for an error committed by Sethi during an ongoing investigation, Babita is suspended for two weeks which allows her time to visit her in-laws in hometown Rewa. As soon as she arrives, her childhood friend Bansi Beni (Barun Sobti) is found dead. While investigating the case, Babita must confront external and inner demons to learn the truth and find herself.
Babita Singh Reporting Review
Directed by Ambiecka Pandit and written by Amita Vyas, Babita Singh Reporting is faultless in its portrayal of the life of a common woman in an India that appears progressive yet is restrained by its archaic conditioning.
It is a compelling choice to cast Nimisha Sajayan as the lead since the actress is quite the frontrunner when it comes to telling stories of ordinary women under extraordinary circumstances. Take her power-packed performance in Jeo Baby’s ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ for example. Babita is a far cry from the super cops, we’ve been force-fed for decades across Indian languages where the men and women in khaki possess supernatural abilities and can confront an army of baddies, while they escape unscathed. In ‘Babita Singh Reporting’, Nimisha imbues vulnerability and resolve unto Babita, making her extremely relatable.
Babita is infantilised by family and peers as she is nicknamed Baby. Her ailment with thyroid makes her an unfit prospect on both personal and professional fronts. Even when she is driven to the brink of exhaustion while complying with the demands of her in-laws, she is expected to empathise with her husband, who breaks down in a display of self-pity, only to seize the opportunity to make her feel inferior and indebted, that he chose her despite the several marital prospects available to him. A scene performed brilliantly by both Sajayan and Pushkar, which will make you teeth in rage.
In another tender moment with her colleague Karamjit (played effectively by Geetika Vidya Ohlyan), the two women allow empathy among each other while explaining their differing choices and approaches to life and work.
Director Pandit spruces moments of tenderness and helplessness while constructing Babita’s ordeal. Here’s a woman who wants to be available for her family yet remain active on the job. However, when the film delves into becoming an investigative drama alike ‘Paatal Lok’, the plot derails. Several characters walk in and out with merely a chance accorded to the viewers to understand their worth and intent in their entirety. While Barun is a welcome presence as Bansi in the film, we never get a chance to understand why is he very fond of Babita, despite a vague backstory being provided.
Nimisha Sajayan in Babita Singh Reporting
Sunita Rajwar is excellent as the overbearing mother-in-law who insists on princess treatment for her pregnant daughter but expects Babita to do all the chores and planning around the scheduled baby shower. Rajesh Kumar, in a brief role as SI Sethi, is the slimy senior at work, who will misuse his position and authority to serve his interests. Priyanka Setia offers a steely portrayal as Bansi’s long-suffering wife Rupa.
Shot by Sunil Ramkrishna Borkar and edited by Tanya Chhabria, the screenplay commands attention but the climax is extremely rushed and contrived, making the pay-off far less gratifying than it could have been. Ajay Jayanthi’s background score is impressive but the soundtrack barely registers an impact.
Babita Singh Reporting verdict
Babita Singh Reporting remains a competent watch despite its mild shortcomings, owing to a stellar performance by its leading lady that you cannot stop rooting for. Nimisha stans will concur.
