Review of the film Territory: A respectable effort that, however, fails to take off

Review: The film begins with an intriguing B-roll of scenic Maharashtra. However, the excitement is fleeting because the setup of the plot is overly drawn out and the payoff is meager

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When a number of tiger-related killings bring a CBI officer (Sandeep Kulkarni) within his jurisdiction, Forest Department official Sirtawar (Kishor Kadam) finds himself in a difficult situation. Both teams come to the realization that they are up against a well-organized gang of poachers amid ego disputes and divergent investigative techniques. The movie is still unpolished and portrays a rarely seen side of living in the middle of the woods. The locals, the national government, and wildlife must now coexist in harmony in Sirtawar.

Despite expertly highlighting the tension between animals and humans, director Sachin Shriram is unable to defend the thriller subgenre. Territories handling of the case's facts is clumsy, and several crucial plot points are conveniently inserted in an unsatisfactory way. The audience feels excluded if the stakes aren't high enough. While the music is decent, there are some times where the cinematography is weak. The excellent acting by Kishor Kadam and the captivating wildlife shots scattered throughout the movie serve as this movie's saving graces.

Territory makes a good effort to tell a different kind of story and does touch on several unusual subjects. It is grounded before it could take off because of the feeble effort made to make it a workable thriller.