Minus 31-The Nagpur Files (2023) Hindi

Synopsis

Set against the eerie silence of India’s 2021 lockdown, Minus 31 – The Nagpur Files blends neo-noir crime with social commentary, taking us deep into a suffocating world of murder, caste conflict, and buried secrets. It’s not just another whodunnit — it’s a mood, a vibe, and a confrontation with uncomfortable truths.

Directed by Pratik Moitro, this film is an ambitious attempt to tackle both crime and class without losing sight of character. Does it succeed on all fronts? Let’s dive in.

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

A young, idealistic police officer named Preksha Sharma is assigned to investigate a seemingly straightforward murder — a wealthy man named Dayanand Pandey is found dead in his Nagpur home.

But things get murky when another “Preksha” — a rebellious underground rapper — goes missing. What starts as a typical murder case begins to unravel into a tangled web of caste politics, family betrayal, and institutional rot. All this unfolds as the COVID-19 lockdown squeezes the city and its people into their emotional breaking points.

Final Verdict

Minus 31 – The Nagpur Files isn’t perfect. It fumbles in execution, particularly in pacing and plot tightness. But it’s brave — cinematically and thematically. It dares to explore uncomfortable territory with a raw lens and chooses emotional weight over conventional thrills.

It’s not a popcorn thriller, but a slow-burning reflection of a broken system seen through the eyes of the forgotten.