LIFF: Berlin

Probably the most cleverly-constructed Indian film of 2023, writer-director Atul Sabharwal’s compelling spy thriller is set in the Delhi of the early 90s, where Indian government security factions compete for supremacy ahead of the Russian President’s visit.

Sign language teacher Pushkin Verma, played by Aparshakti Khurana (Jubilee) is lured into the dark world of espionage.

He finds himself forced to interrogate – in sign language – a deaf man, Ashok Kumar played by Ishwak Singh (Rocket Boys) who’s been accused of spying.

However, as the seemingly innocent Ashok gradually exposes that he has been a witness to information dealing and murders that could bring down the heads of security forces, Pushkin’s life is very quickly turned upside down, and he becomes a pawn in the game of violent secrets that emerge.