Apr. 24, 2017|India|106 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bollywood;Comedy;Drama
Description: “Newton” is a 2017 Indian film that follows the story of Nutan “Newton” Kumar, portrayed by Rajkummar Rao, a dedicated yet inexperienced government clerk. Assigned to election duty in a Naxal-controlled area of Chhattisgarh, Newton faces numerous challenges in the conflict-ridden jungle. After the main duty officer falls ill, Newton steps into the role amidst the apathetic attitudes of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), led by Assistant Commandant Aatma Singh, played by Pankaj Tripathi. Fear of guerrilla attacks by communist insurgents looms over the region, adding to the tension. Despite the odds, Newton is determined to ensure a fair and free voting process.
However, his efforts are met with disappointment when the villagers fail to show up to vote. The situation takes a turn when a foreign journalist arrives at the polling station, prompting the CRPF to force the villagers to participate. Unfamiliar with the voting process, the villagers are confused by the electronic voting machine. Newton soon realizes that many of them have no understanding of the election’s purpose. Some believe they will be paid for voting, while others express frustration over their unpaid labor. Newton attempts to educate them, but his efforts yield little success.
Aatma Singh, growing impatient, takes charge and mocks the villagers, urging them to vote for symbols on the machine without explaining their connection to political parties. While the villagers cast their votes based on their preferred symbols, the foreign journalist captures a positive portrayal of India’s democracy. Newton, committed to his duty, insists on staying at the polling booth for the allotted time but is forced to leave after a staged Naxal ambush orchestrated by the CRPF. The film highlights the struggles of conducting elections in conflict zones and the complexities of democracy in such regions.
Cast director: Amit Masurkar
Cast actor: Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil, Raghubir Yadav, Mukesh Prajapati, Sanjay Mishra
Original name: न्यूटन