Experiencing a film that escalates before your eyes is always a treat. Karan Tejpal’s debut, “Stolen” (2023), accomplishes this with finesse, transitioning from a tense whodunit to a gripping thriller at precisely the right moment.
Dark, exhilarating, and ultimately critical of a society plagued by stark economic disparities and misinformation, “Stolen” navigates the complex intersection of privilege and peril. The film opens with a stark epigraph: “There are two Indias. Neither cares much for the other. But sometimes they collide.” This collision is visually represented by contrasting scenes: a woman named Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer) cradling her baby at a railway station, and Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee), a privileged yuppie, asleep in his car.
Gautam, embodying a Michael Douglas-esque character, initially dismisses Jhumpa’s accusation of baby theft, eager to attend a wedding with his brother Raman (Shubham). However, when the police intervene, the brothers find themselves entangled in a web of child abduction rings and corrupt institutions, where snap judgments can lead to swift victimization.
The plot unfolds with intricate layers, gradually revealing the brothers’ backstory and Jhumpa’s complex past. Yet, the true allure of “Stolen” lies in its unexpected twists, chilling moments of violence, and the ingenious ways it subjects the privileged protagonists to trials.
Director Karan Tejpal’s background as a second-unit director in Bollywood lends the film a remarkable sense of scale and depth. While Bollywood often celebrates the joyous spirit of crowds, “Stolen” exposes the darker underbelly of mob mentality, fueled by misinformation rampant on platforms like WhatsApp.
Isshaan Ghosh’s documentary-style cinematography adds to the film’s tension, seamlessly shifting between handheld shots and elaborate tracking sequences. Despite its modest appearance, “Stolen” maximizes its resources, delivering impactful visuals that punctuate its themes.
Far from its generic title, “Stolen” emerges as a thriller with substance, offering a gripping narrative intertwined with poignant social commentary. It’s a testament to the film’s quality that it transcends its seemingly mundane label, standing out as a compelling exploration of contemporary India’s social challenges.
