Love Sonia : This sister rescue mission is not for everyone

Love Sonia: ****1/2

India | Hindi | Drama

Cast: Mrunal Thakur; Freida Pinto; Demi Moore; Manoj Bajpayee; Rajkummar Rao; Richa Chadda; Riya Sisodiya; Anupam Kher; Adil Hussain; Sai Tamhankar;

Release Date: September 2018

Duration : 2 hours

Plot: (wiki)

Love Sonia tells the heartfelt and brave story of Sonia (Mrunal Thakur), a young Indian Village girl whose life irrevocably changes when she is entrapped into the vicious global sex trade network

Review:

Love Sonia is a love letter by Sonia to her sister Preeti. A letter of hope that says in spite of everything she went through to find her she would go through again to find her again.

The Tabrez Noorani is not an easy watch, believe me, you will question yourself why you walked into the theater. It will test you and show you every possible hardship but also rewards you with amazing performances. The film starts a butterfly trapped in a glass bottle hinting at the grim future Sonia will have to look forward to. She is the sister who does it all for her sister, comforts her protects her and would go to any lengths to make sure she is happy and safe. Her life changes when Preeti is sold by her father and she decides to go look for her. Under false pretense, she is too taken to the big dream city Mumbai only to land in the clutches of Faizal (Manoj Bajpayee), who runs a gruesome brothel.

Tabrez did not shy away from the raw truth of the dirty streets. He shows the business as it is, but also brings colors to the story with every character no matter how small. Whether it was Richa Chadda, Rajkummar Rao, Freida Pinto or Sonia's parents. You will hate, care and sympathize with them. Murnal Thakur has taken the character of Sonia and lived it on screen. As much as you see the pain on her face you see hope in it too. She has managed to portray all possible emotions at the same time.

The direction of the film takes you into her life as she struggles through every part of her life and even after she herself safe at an NGO working towards rescuing victims of human trafficking. The warm end to the film leaves you calmer after the storm no matter how disturbing, if the two-hour film gets you riled up it will also give the satisfaction of a complete film in the end.

The best part of the film is, it never falters from the main plot in spite of the heavy and serious content right there to explore. It stays true to the story and to Sonia.

Verdict: I recommend only if you are prepared for some gut-churning content.

****1/2 stars