Sherni

Amit Masurkar's 2021 Indian film follows Vidya, a forest officer trying to capture alive a tigress believed to be attacking villagers. She wants to apply the rules; politicians, hunters and her own superiors want the animal shot. The film's strength is building the conflict not between human and animal but between institutions: nobody genuinely cares about the tiger and everyone is making another calculation. Masurkar does not turn this into a loud message; the telling is calm and almost documentary. Vidya Balan's performance is unshowy. The ending openly refuses the heroic template and may leave some viewers unsatisfied. Who it's for: viewers interested in Indian independent cinema and films about the environment. Who it's not for: anyone wanting action, or a hero who wins.