The story of Eight Down Toofan Mail is intriguing, for sure. Till the very end, you keep wondering what this woman’s true intentions are. The other characters also keep coming up with their own conspiracy theories. If you do not know, this movie is inspired by the real story of Begum Wilayat Mahal.
But if you feel the story of Eight Down Toofan Mail unfolds the way Begum’s story unfolded in real life, you are in for a surprise. Writers Akriti Singh and Shaurya Agarwal have taken the creative liberty to give this story a twist and leave it open-ended for viewers to interpret where the queen came from and where she disappeared to. So, yes, it is an interesting and gripping story.
The story, both the original and the one adapted for the film, is powerful and impactful, but I feel the execution lets it down. The film progresses slowly, and even though there are so many political and emotional aspects to explore, this 1-hour-and-37-minute film keeps revolving around Begum and her temporary residence, the railway station. The conspiracies, especially given the historical period in which the story is set, along with the delays, emergencies, brainwashing, and the lingering psychological scars left by Partition and the aftermath of independence should have acted as supporting pillars or, let’s say, silent supporters of this film. That depth is what I felt was missing. Otherwise, this film’s story had the potential to grab all the attention it deserved.
A little more depth in character development and a more nuanced portrayal of the characters would also have made this a finer piece of cinema to watch.
And yes, how can I not mention this? I loved the cycle guy in the film. India is so full of weird people who make both life and films entertaining. He was one of those characters.
Language: Hindi
Where to Watch? YouTube
