Santosh
Frankfurt premiere
meet the Director Sandhya Suri
A government scheme sees newly widowed Santosh inherit her husband’s job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a low-caste girl is murdered, Santosh is pulled into the investigation by charismatic feminist inspector Sharma.
Santosh is just 28 years old when her husband, a simple policeman, is killed on a mission. Through a program run by the Indian government, she inherits his post in the provincial police force. The experienced inspector Sharma takes her under her wing and together they begin to investigate the murder of a girl from a lower caste. The “culprit” is quickly found, but Santosh has doubts and starts her own investigation. An exciting crime thriller with suspense, but also a look at the harsh reality of patriarchal power structures in the police apparatus and society.
“Santosh" internationally acclaimed, yet is not allowed to be screened in India because of its depiction of misogyny, Islamophobia and violence within the Indian police force.
• Written and directed by: Sandhya Suri • UK, France, India, Germany 2024 • 128 Min • Hindi with English Subtitles • Cast: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Nawal Shukla, Pratibha Awasthy
