Shut Up Sona Review - Sona Mohapatra's Personal Outburst To Evoke Women's Equality

Shut Up Sona is a National Award wining documentary directed by Deepti Gupta and features Sona Mohapatra. The Indian Singer, music composer and lyricist has remained in the headlines for many reasons. Actually, more because of her controversies than her music career. But nobody ever gave a damn about her side. Did we listen to it, I mean in detail? The controversies spread by media channels are never supposed to reflect 100% of the truth. The spice and entertainment are always there to make the news hot. It has happened in many cases, and Sona is just another one of them. But, from Sona's perspective, it's not an ordinary or ignorant thing for her to do, especially as a woman.Sona has been told to shut her mouth many times by experts on TV and netizens on social media, so the outburst was meant to come at some point. Finally, it comes in big form, a documentary, and that too, on a big platform like ZEE. Now her story will reach more people, and then people can form their opinions more clearly, rather than listening to masaaledaar news headlines and attention-seeking social media posts. It's her personal outburst against the inequality women are facing in today's world, be it in any field.Shut Up Sona follows the experiences of singer Sona Mohapatra as she takes on blatant misogyny on social media. If she wears the clothes she wants, she will have a case filed against her. If she sings something, she will receive threats. If she posts something on social media, she gets trolled, and even if she replies aggressively to someone on social media, she gets trolled. After all this, she still does not back out. She tirelessly fights for women's equality in the music industry and, to some extent, in every field by giving fearless speeches in front of youth. She evokes that sense of responsibility in everyone with whatever capabilities she has to do so. The idea is brilliant, but the writing is not as hard-hitting as the topic deserves.This isn't a feature film where we can discuss performances and all. Sona being Sona, just roaming around as she does in real life, singing and talking just like she does, are all the things that make it a pure natural outing for her. Her partner, Ram Sampath, and others, also give non-rehearsed performances. That's what any documentary demands, right? Arjun Gourisaria's editing is good but could have been better. The songs and a few pauses could have been fastened. The screenplay is rebellious, though. And that's why it looks different and raw. In the first scene, Sona slams journalists. Can't believe, being a journalist, I am writing this (lol). But she made a valid point by saying, "Who reviews music shows?" A damn valid point.In one more scene, her taunting to a media reporter makes a lot of sense. "Don't give me a brief. It's my life, I have been living it." A moment later, she asks him to stop toying with his mobile phone. Brave! Deepti Gupta deserves equal credit for that. Shut Up Sona's narration is a little tedious, but believe me, the concept is fascinating. As a whole, Sona Mohapatra's attempt to shut other people's mouths is definitely watchable, despite many flaws.