The Sabarmati Report

<p>Samar Kumar, an entertainment journalist for EBT News, is unexpectedly assigned to cover the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident of 27 February 2002, alongside senior anchor Manika Rajpurohit. Initially treating the assignment with indifference, Samar becomes deeply affected after witnessing the tragic scene at the Godhra railway station, where 59 people have perished aboard the Sabarmati Express. Through his investigation, Samar gathers evidence that challenges the prevailing narrative of the fire being accidental, suggesting instead that it was a planned act of violence. However, his efforts to broadcast the truth are thwarted by his news organisation, which suppresses his findings to align with political interests. Facing professional and personal ruin, Samar is forced out of his job and marginalised within the media industry. Years later, Amrita Gill, a young investigative journalist, approaches a disillusioned Samar with a renewed interest in exposing the truth behind the tragedy. Together, they confront political pressures and public scepticism in their pursuit of justice for the victims and a more honest historical record. The project was announced on January 2024 by and , under the banner of , Vipin Agnihotri Films and Vikir Films Production, which is stated to be a based on a true event story and an starring as lead actor, who was known for in his previous venture and an critically acclaimed film (2023), and the film is being directed by Ranjan Chandel. was announced as a female lead, it marks her second collaboration with Massey before her yet to release film , and it is her third film after (2013) and (2024). was announced for another lead role in the film. Then it was revealed by the makers that the film was based on which was happened on 27 February 2002. The makers announced the cast and crew and story of the film by a video announcement with a release date. Later actress joined for a secured role, later it was confirmed for an to star cast opposite as Vikrant’s love interest. On April 2024, it was faced censor issues by the CBFC, and advised to reshot few scenes from the film. On July 2024, Ranjan Chandel (maker of the film) opt outed the film, due to the changes on the storyline, and said he doesn’t need any credit with the film. Later in August 2024, Chandel was replaced by television writer and actor , with the changed storyline and plot. commenced in December 2023 and wrapped by mid-March. This film was initially planned for theatrical release on 3 May 2024, then later pushed to 2 August 2024, due to the censor issues and Ranjan Chandel’s (maker of the film) sudden quitting. After multiple issues and delays, was theatrically released on 15 November 2024, The (CBFC) issued a U/A certificate with few cuts as strong violence scenes, few muted words and alteration, resulting in a duration of 126.51 minutes. Prime Minister Narender Modi watched the film at the in Delhi, along with several members of the Cabinet and members of Parliament. The film was premiered on from 10 January 2025. received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, and mixed reviews from audiences. The film made Rs 1.69 crore at the box office on its opening day. , writing for , gave the film a rating of 1.5 stars out of 5 and added that it had “no nuance, just judgement”. In another 1.5 star out of 5 rated review, Pankaj Shukla from compared the film unfavorably to , another 2024 film about the Godhra incident, and pointed out multiple inaccuracies in the usage of Hindi throughout the film while also labelling it an “attempt to cash in on Vikrant Massey’s fame”. Amit Bhatia from gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, praising its bold approach to the subject matter, being unafraid to dive deep into the gritty realities of the incident and showcasing the media’s role in uncovering the truth while also showing the media’s shortcomings, thus presenting a layered view of how journalism intersects with politics and public opinion. Lachmi Deb Roy from similarly gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, calling it a well-researched story and a sharply made film which found out the root cause of the tragedy without unnecessary melodrama, stretching of incidents or even frivolous display of romance. Nishad Thaivalappil from , in another 3.5 star out of 5 rated review, praised the dialogue, background score and Massey’s performance. Writing for and labelling it “a must-watch for those who are interested in Indian history”, Sakshi Verma gave the film 3 stars out of 5, finding the performances commendable and feeling it not only paid tribute to the innocent lives lost during the riots but also remained interesting till the end as a film. Similarly, Abhishek Srivastava from gave the film 3 stars out of 5 and praised the performances and the film’s ability to hold viewer attention through most of its runtime, but felt its “slightly glossy treatment” made it feel less like a film based on true events and more like a typical commercial drama with cinematic embellishments that somewhat diluted its authenticity. Zinia Bandyopadhyay from gave the film 2 stars out of 5 and called it an honest attempt at looking at the Godhra tragedy and what happened to the Sabarmati Express on the fateful day, but felt it got marred with several issues being put into it – including the entire vernacular vs English journalists angle, which sometimes overshadowed the tragedy. gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, praising the lead performances, cinematography, background score and production design, while criticising its “haphazard execution” and loose ends in the script. gave the film 1 star out of 5, remarking it spent all its time pointing fingers at one side and entirely absolving another, as she compared it unfavorably to films such as and , which she felt sensitively attempted to depict the trauma caused by the tragedy. On other hand, PM Narendra Modi who was state Chief Minister at the time, said “It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way common people can see it. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!” On 8 November 2024, the trailer for the film was launched at an event in Mumbai. During the event, lead actor Vikrant Massey disclosed that he had received threats related to his involvement in the project, which addresses the . Despite the threats, Vikrant affirmed the film’s commitment to presenting factual content and stated that he, along with the team, would handle the situation as necessary. The Sabarmati Report explores several interrelated themes, including the marginalisation of , editorial bias, political influence in media, and the tension between journalistic truth-seeking and propagandistic messaging. One of the central themes is the portrayal of vernacular (Hindi-language) journalism as being sidelined in favour of English-language media. The film positions its protagonist, Samar Kumar, a Hindi-language journalist, as someone whose attempts to report the truth are routinely obstructed or dismissed by the editorial establishment, which is shown to favour English-speaking reporters and their perspectives. This dichotomy underscores how linguistic hierarchies affect credibility and visibility in Indian newsrooms. The film also grapples with the role of media in politically charged environments, particularly how editorial decisions are influenced by external pressures. The plot follows Samar’s efforts to report suppressed facts, only to face institutional resistance. This aligns with broader concerns about the decline of investigative journalism and the media’s complicity in avoiding narratives that challenge dominant political power. Another recurring theme is the sense of journalistic alienation experienced by regional-language reporters. As , points out, the film “depicts the superiority complex of English journalists and the perceived inferiority faced by vernacular reporters,” showing how language operates as a barrier to influence in the newsroom hierarchy. Similarly, observes that the film “attempts to elevate Hindi journalism as more authentic and rooted, while English media is framed as elite and disconnected,” reinforcing a binary that some reviewers find reductive.</p>