
Newton
by Amit V Masurkar
As the world’s largest democracy once again prepares for a general election, civil service newcomer Newton is given the task of ensuring the election is properly carried out in a remote village in the central Indian jungle. What appears to be a matter of routine soon turns out to be a herculean task in the face of disinterested potential voters and Maoist resistance fighters. Newton, however, remains true to his official principles and when a foreign election monitor arrives, things change in his favour – for now. Amit V Masurkar uses a subtle dark humour to question how far one can go in defending the fundamental values of democracy. Rajkummar Rao, a rising star in the Indian film scene, is perfectly cast as the stubborn yet equally caring civil servant Newton.