LFF: Peddlers (Halahal)

Fresh from Cannes success, this compelling multi-strand film noir tells of ace narcotics investigation cop Ranjit. His successful work life is, however, in deep contrast to his private struggle with impotence, which makes relationships with women impossible. On the other side of the fence is Bilkis, a young Bangladeshi woman who has become a drug mule in order to pay for her cancer operation. While the cop’s frustrated private life starts to get dangerously confused with his investigations, Bilkis and her dealer friends embark on their biggest score yet. Unstable Ranjit is on the scent of Bilkis’s drug-carrier boyfriend, and it’s not long before Ranjit and Bilkis’ paths cross, and she is forced to trade loyalties for her very survival. First-time director Vasan Bala’s flair for unexpected plot twists ensures a rollercoaster-ride of a narrative, while a powerful cast bring to life its dark heart. (Cary Sawhney)