Even an actor as accomplished as Nawazuddin Siddiqui seems to have given in to the shrill tone of the film, turning in what is perhaps his weakest performance so far in what should have been a meaty role. Stilted by the choppy screenplay, he is unable to bring Manjhi and his obsession to life. Radhika Apte, who plays Manjhi’s wife Phaguniya, looks luminous but has little else to do.

Manjhi’s story brings to light an amazing and shocking reflection of Indian society and politics. A man spent 22 years trying to dig through a mountain for a basic civic convenience. The government and the authorities did absolutely naught to aid his efforts. Yes, 30 years ago the media and the public weren’t as vocal as today, but things in the interiors of our country still need to be ironed out, just Manjhi’s saga. And yet, such a pertinent and relevant subject is doled out in an unconvincing manner. The Mountain man and his legend deserved a lot more.

…a film that is so comprehensively artificial that you’ll forget Dashrath Manjhi was a real man and that his is a true story.

Manjhi is rousing, simplistic cinema, just about saved by a fantastic lead turn. It’ll do if all you want is a folk tale, but I wish the film had chipped away at Manjhi the way he chipped away at that mountain.

Ketan Mehta’s absorbing biopic of Dashrath Manjhi is powered by an intense performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.