The UP Files Movie Review : Ambitious themes lost in a formulaic, disjointed narrative

Story: Inspired by true events, The UP Files follows Abhay Singh (Manoj Joshi), Uttar Pradesh’s newly elected Chief Minister, who aims to establish a good governance model in his state. To achieve this ambitious goal, he takes on the land mafia, criminals, and corrupt bureaucrats while working towards women’s welfare, irrespective of their religion.

Review: Director Neeraj Sahai's film attempts to redefine Uttar Pradesh's image, shifting focus from lawlessness and quirky towns to progressive governance under Chief Minister Abhay Singh. This firebrand leader implements unique measures like empowering rape survivors to punish perpetrators, sending corrupt bureaucrats to rural areas, and prioritising village electrification for job creation. He also advocates for 'one country, one law,' irrespective of one’s religion, caste, or class.

The political drama endeavours to promote good governance and portray relevant issues but lacks a coherent narrative. It advocates the 'no discussion, only action' approach and debatable solutions, which further weaken its impact. Writer Stanish Gill’s script and screenplay are riddled with tropes presented in a disjointed and formulaic manner, reminiscent of 90s Bollywood. It relies on cliched characters and tracks like women being violated and perpetrators going unpunished and a daring female cop, Sujata Menon (Manjari Fadnnis) seeking justice but facing opposition from corrupt colleagues.

The movie has some thought-provoking themes and raises important questions about personal freedom and its limits, suggesting that our right to freedom ends when it infringes on someone else's well-being. It also emphasises the need for a unified legal framework that applies to both criminal and civil matters. However, the lack of a storyline and shoddy editing detract from the message, which seems force-fitted into the narrative. The music is unmemorable, and the songs start and end abruptly, and the film concludes hastily.

Manoj Joshi delivers a good performance as the CM, convincingly portraying a leader committed to India's welfare. Manjari Fadnnis plays her role diligently but struggles with stunts. The movie also stars Milind Gunaji, Ali Asgar, Anil George, and Amam Verma.

The film's lack of story and jerky pacing undermine its intent to showcase a powerful CM and the impact of effective leadership. Its failure to craft a compelling narrative and reliance on formulaic tropes also overshadow its positive intentions, making it a missed opportunity to explore meaningful themes and ideas.