SANTOSH Discovery

Screening to be followed by a conversation with director and writer Sandhya Suri.

After her police constable husband is killed in the line of duty, Santosh (Shahana Goswami) is disowned by her in-laws and told to vacate their government housing, but a little-known policy — that the widow of a slain police officer is entitled to not only his job, but also housing, pension and pay — could provide salvation. The policy offers a new sense of independence for Santosh, and with the authority granted to her, albeit through “lady police work,” the opportunity to help those in need. Though crimes against lower castes have often been dismissed by the local police force, when one such case arrives on Santosh’s desk, she finds herself compelled to investigate it, with the assistance of feminist inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar). Through startling twists and turns, Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri’s thrilling noirish policier takes on crimes against women, caste discrimination and police corruption with a powerful global resonance. –Malin Kan