‘Santosh’ is a Heartbreaking Tale

The investigation into a young girl’s death leads to horrific consequences.

Shahana Goswami in Santosh | Credit: Metrograph Pictures

Santosh (Shahana Goswami) is a widow who is able to inherit her husband’s job as a police constable. When a young girl is found dead, she is forced to make some difficult decisions.

This is such an interesting premise. I had no idea that this practice, called compassionate appointment, existed. That’s such a fascinating concept and is a great way to explore so many different facets of Indian culture.

At first, Santosh is doing entry-level work, mainly working to ensure that people aren’t engaging in pre-marital sex. At one point, she has to break up two people who are making out in a secluded yet public place. She is then ordered to watch the male do squats while others look on as a punishment. While this work is paying the bills and providing a place for her to live, this is likely not the type of task that she signed on to do.

Santosh also touches on the caste system in India. We go into Dalit villages and see how the lowest caste is treated. Many of them are illiterate, and there is no hope for them to advance. They are mistreated and mocked by both the police and the upper classes. So, when a teen girl goes missing, she is dismissed. The police ignore the case, assuming that she’s just in the fields or ran away. They can’t be bothered by a missing Dalit. Santosh sees this and attempts to respond with compassion and empathy, but as the lowest person in the organization and a woman, she doesn’t have much sway.

Sunita Rajwar and Shahana Goswami in Santosh | Credit: Metrograph Pictures

Once the investigation starts, Santosh is brought under the wing of a trailblazing female police officer, Geeta Sharma (Sunita Rajwar). Sharma is such a complex character and far more interesting than I expected her to be.

Through my American lens, I thought Sharma would be a feminist icon who is tough but ultimately does the right things. I didn’t expect her to be perfect, but I wasn’t ready for her to be as problematic and messy as she is in this film. And that messiness helps make her so interesting to watch.

At times, Sharma is so cool, like when she stands up to the men and is unafraid to assert her authority. It’s clear that she’s respected within the police department, even though she is a woman. However, we also see that she is willing to do what she needs to do to gain and retain power.

Santosh is constantly belittled by the men on the force, so when Sharma welcomes her into the investigation, it feels like a breath of fresh air. But everything isn’t perfect. As Santosh spends more time with Sharma, she is forced to make some difficult decisions. Santosh encounters so many different people in difficult situations and must choose if she’s going to retain her empathy or if she’s going to put a wall up so she can do her job.

It’s interesting to think about how difficult it is to retain your humanity and your empathy while immersed in a culture that is pushing you to rid yourself of those things. Santosh feels that push and pull as she is forced into more difficult decisions and begins to lose parts of herself.

Santosh is a really heartbreaking film, but it is one that’s well worth watching. It takes a look at some really terrible parts of humanity, which we can see in every culture. And the main female characters are both complex and interesting. They both make mistakes and have triumphs. The film is gut-wrenching and will give you plenty to think about afterward. Do check this one out if you’re able.

Follow Movies & Us on your favorite podcast app!

Looking for TV reviews? Check out TV & Us, where we review TV shows episode by episode, and follow TV & Us on Medium.

And don’t forget to shop Movies & Us Merch at andusmedia.etsy.com.