In the deep and dense forests of Madhya Pradesh, a tigress is mercilessly killing villagers who unknowingly astray into her territory. With the arrival of a new Divisional Forest Officer (Vidya Balan), there is a moral dilemma as to whether the tiger should be killed for the safety of the people or whether it should be given the right to live.

After watching the trailer for this film, you may feel this film is a commercial Bollywood film about the protection of the wilderness. But it’s much more than that. There are so many underlying themes that have been subtly integrated into this well-crafted thriller. In more ways than one, Vidya Balan’s character is roaring like a tigress even though she calm and composed throughout most parts of the film.

One of the biggest positives of the film is its figurative and underlying messages. Vidya Balan’s surroundings force her to feel isolated as if she were the lone female in a patriarchal and misogynistic male-dominated forest protection team. In many ways, she is the real ‘Sherni’ of the film. Many of her colleagues try to undermine and ruin her valiant efforts to save the wilderness as if they were hunting her down rather than the tigress. Although subtle, Vidya’s determination and valorous passion shows that she doesn’t have to be man enough for the jungle. She is her own unique beast that is roaring fearlessly. In addition to this, performances by veteran actors Vijay Raaz and Brijendra Kala stand out. Their versatility as actors makes them 2 of the most underrated performers in the industry.

All in all, Sherni is riveting, glorious, and an excellently executed jungle adventure that is about so much more than just a tigress.