Its protagonist is not there for you to love. He is there to show you the true colours people are. The movie emphasizes again and again, that in the bigger picture, there is no clear right or wrong, instead, it is a shade of grey you don’t recognize. Amit Masurkar has kept his head clear about the exact issue he wants to raise, and surprisingly, is able to complete his story without divergent. The ending, however, might be a little disheartening for the Indian audiences, which does not understand a subtle closure. Also, the absence of long patriotic monologues might make Newton, ‘a movie ahead of its time’ for the Indian.

Newton is one of the finest political satires we have seen in the last couple of years. It refrains from taking sides and offers a humorous take on state versus the Maoists bloody battle. It raises questions on the importance of the electoral system we are so proud of. It takes us much beyond what we see. The team of Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi, Raghuvir Yadav and Anjali Patil has come up with a top-notch performance. It’s a world waiting to be explored, so better do it now.

This Rajkummar Rao film is a strong black comedy. It’s rare that an Indian film uses dark comedy to make its points so effectively: in ‘Newton’ we go from smiling to laughing outright even at its grimmest, because the film is light on its feet, and the tone is consistent right through. ‘Newton’ could also, just as easily, have been called A Day In The Life Of The World’s Largest, Most Complex Democracy. Or, The Great Indian Electoral Circus. These are questions—hard, jabbing, courageous—that our films do not ask enough. For years they have been the purview of bleeding heart academics, left-leaning persuaders, and hard-nosed news reporters. ‘Newton’ is a film to celebrate because it shows without telling, laying out the layers without descending into shrillness or facile solutions. Director Amit V Masurkar and co-scriptwriter Mayank Tewari have crafted a strong black comedy. It is as sharp and subversive as the classic ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, and even though it is entirely sobering, it leaves us feeling just a little better about ourselves. Rajkummar Rao is enjoying a purple patch. After ‘Bareilly Ki Barfi’, here he is again stitching up a big performance full of small things: blinking, thinking, doing. He is at his most interesting when he is being quiet: he makes us watch. Pankaj Tripathi, as the head of the security detail, cynical yet doing the best he can, is lovely too. For once the talented Patil has been used well, and as for Raghubir Yadav, he gives us, after ‘Peepli Live’, another stand-out act, a lesson in How To Immerse Yourself Effortlessly In Your Role. Except for momentary descent into needless cliché (a foreign TV hack who has clearly helicoptered in on an ‘Indian election tourism’ tour), and a couple of flat notes, ‘Newton’ stays firmly on course. Join it.

In terms of entertainment value, 'Newton' takes on a completely unremarkable subject. After all, why would anyone want to watch a film on election woes in a remote jungle surrounded by Naxalites? Surely not your average moviegoer who is primarily accustomed to the glitz and glamour of escapistBollywood. But in the recent past, some films have tried to blur the line between sheer 'paisa vasool' quotient and essential social commentary. 'Newton' jumps over that divide and runs off with a brilliantly acted, impeccably written, lovingly shot, humorous, yet poignant film that Indian audiences didn't ask for, but need. In fact, Newton's personality traits are so well defined by Rajkummar, that it would be really interesting to see this character react to a variety of other complex and uncomfortable situations. Along with him, Pankaj Tripathi, Anjali Patil and Raghubir Yadav put on a masterclass in acting - each one of them shines when they occupy the screen. Tripathi as Aatma Singh, in particular, is the perfect opposite of Newton's naivete, in his weary scepticism. Together, they make an odd couple of sorts, but also perfectly showcase the two ends of the spectrum in our thought process, when we contemplate the state of our 'democratic' country. But their performances would ring hollow with the lack of a meaningful screenplay. Writer-director Amit Masurkar and Mayank Tewari have painfully captured the bittersweet essence of the people of an obscure jungle that's far-flung from civilization. This is also evident in the cinematography; each shot is thoughtfully structured and lovingly composed. Combined with a subtle sound design that's hard to miss - this film has everything going for it. 'Newton' has dared to take on an issue that our vast majority turns a blind eye to, and slaps us out of our blissful ignorance. Amidst laughing, it'll leave you thinking, which - and we need to be reminded of this - is what good cinema should do. Both your funny bone and your grey cells will thank you for watching it.