However, as the film unfolds, it turns out to be more than a mere thriller. At its heart, the story tells the tale of a woman who has spent years pleasing everyone around her and slowly learns to put herself first.

Presented beautifully with a somewhat predictable ending, Babita Singh Reporting does not let your attention waver for a minute. While the climax may be a little underwhelming, the performances and strong script more than make up for it.

Here is our full review of Babita Singh Reporting.

Babita Singh Reporting: First Thoughts

From Aranyak to Roar to Delhi Crime, women police officers have always enthralled us on screen. But Babita Singh Reporting does things differently. Babita Singh is not your typical cop. Babita is stubborn and determined but is also swayed away easily. She can beat up men with a stick but is forced to shop for 'trendy sarees' for her sister-in-law. Babita can handle drunk men but still bows down to cliches of a patriarchal marriage.

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The first few minutes of the movie are enough to draw you in. The film begins with Babita, who's nicknamed Baby, taking up a false accusation and getting suspended through no fault of hers. However, this gives her some space to meet her in-laws and fulfil their expectations. As she packs to go home, we meet a different Babita, the one bowed down by responsibilities.

At work, she wants to prove that she is capable of more than a desk job; at home, she is expected to fit into the role of the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law. Her suspension only pushes her deeper into the latter role. Whilst juggling the two, Baby is met with another responsibility of finding out who killed her childhood friend Bansi (Barun Sobti).

Divided between family, friendship and responsibilities, Babita Singh tries her best to juggle the three. The film effectively highlights how women are often expected to choose between their careers and family, without making the message feel overly preachy.

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Babita Singh Reporting: All about the cast

Along with a strong story, Babita Singh Reporting also stands out for its performances. You may remember Nimisha Sajayan from The Great Indian Kitchen, but she takes things a notch higher as Baby. Her performance feels incredibly real, and she makes you believe in her character. She perfectly captures the frustration and helplessness of a woman caught in a toxic cycle, making you feel her anger, sadness and vulnerability.

What makes Baby interesting is that she isn't written like the usual female cop we see on screen. She is not someone who always has everything under control. She struggles, makes mistakes, and tries to find her way through difficult situations. This makes her so much more relatable.

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While Nimisha is clearly the heart of the film, the supporting cast adds plenty to the story. Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor Rajesh Kumar plays SI Sethi and does a great job of making you dislike his character. His character is written as a snooty, corrupt boss, and Kumar plays it well.

Anshuman Pushkar plays Sharad, Baby's husband, who finds himself caught between his wife and his family. But when it comes down to choosing sides, he almost always ends up siding with his family.

Barun Sobti makes a brief appearance as Bansi, a man who is clearly caught in a serious situation and desperately needs help. Despite having limited screen time, he makes his presence felt. For the uninitiated, Barun did not charge a fee for the role.

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Babita Singh Reporting: Direction and cinematography

With Sudip Sharma serving as the executive producer, Babita Singh Reporting is produced by Saurabh Malhotra, Manuj Mittra and Tina Tharwani under the banner of Film Squad Productions, in association with Act Three.

The film is directed by Black Warrant fame Ambiecka Pandit, who does a commendable job of bringing this women-centric story to life. Her direction strikes a good balance between heightened emotions and quieter, more restrained moments. She also takes the time to explore the lesser-seen side of a cop's life and portrays how women wearing the uniform are often weighed down by patriarchy at both home and at work.

Film Squad Productions

Shot across Bhopal and Rewa, the film also captures the essence of a small-town setting beautifully. From the local adda where people gather to smoke and drink to the Dussehra celebrations, the cinematography makes these spaces feel lived-in and authentic.

Babita Singh Reporting: What did not work

While the performances and direction are top-notch, the climax feels a little underwhelming. By the time the story starts wrapping up, the ending becomes fairly easy to anticipate, making it somewhat predictable.

Some parts of the investigation also feel too easy and convenient, making them difficult to fully believe.

That said, like any good crime thriller, it still manages to throw in an unexpected turn, and when viewed as a whole, the ending somehow works for the film.

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Babita Singh Reporting: Final thoughts

Babita Singh Reporting works for more reasons than one. Despite being a thriller at heart, by the end of it, you are rooting for Babita to find Bansi's killer and herself. Baby's journey gives the film an emotional weight, which is often missing from a conventional thriller.

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