Corruption, education and media: review of the film Dasvi (2022)

Dasvi is a film by Jalota (2022) that emphasizes the importance of education and the role of media in politics. The story deals with an uneducated and corrupt politician who learns the value of education during imprisonment. Gangaram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), a leading character in the film, decides to spend his time studying for high school. His story is loosely inspired by the former Haryana chief minister (CM) Om Prakash Chautala (Vyavahare, 2022). While sentenced to jail, Chaudhary, CM of the fictional state Harit Pradesh, finds a way for his wife Bimla Devi (Nimrat Kaur) to take over as CM. The character of Bimla Devi is inspired by Rabri Devi, ex-CM of Bihar (Vetticad, 2022). The film explores media’s role as image builders. Politicians may call journalists pimps and avoid them but they recognize and fear the power of media. In jail, Chaudhary finds out what is happening in the assembly by watching TV. Chaudhary makes his plan and trains his wife for political conspiracies over mobile phone. The film raises the mindset of politicians that they are always in government. Initially, Bimla is reluctant to get her hands dirty in the muddy world of politics. Eventually, she falls in love with the taste of power and fame. She refrains from revisiting the buffalo shed and prefers to hear Chaudhary being addressed as CM’s husband. Bimla’s character has similarities to Huma Qureshi in the web show Maharani (Sur, 2022). The arc of Bimla’s character shows that she built up herself with additional funny and caricaturish elements. Jail superintendent Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam Dhar) reminds Chaudhary that he is illiterate and refuses to grant special treatment in custody. Chaudhary then pretends to appear for class 10 board exams. Initially annoyed, Jyoti encourages him to study in prison.