In Atul Sabharwal’s movie “Berlin,” there’s a powerful moment between Pushkin Verma, a sign-language interpreter played by Aparshakti Khurana, and intelligence officer Jagdish Sondhi, played by Rahul Bose. They discuss what ‘truth’ really means. During an interrogation of a deaf-and-mute suspect named Ashok Kumar, Pushkin uses subtle signs to communicate with him. Later, when Jagdish challenges Pushkin, he expresses his view of truth: “Truth is merely what gets recorded, typed, approved by an officer, and archived.” Pushkin, however, is wary of this idea, suggesting that truth can be manipulated.
The film explores these two conflicting views on truth, connecting them to how intelligence agencies operate and how they can become authoritarian. It does this through a well-crafted espionage thriller that feels more like a beautifully written novel than a typical fast-paced movie.
Set in Delhi in 1993, the film takes its time to tell a complex story with great care. The characters drive vintage cars, wear stylish overcoats, and move through the dark shadows of Lodhi Gardens. The movie begins with a mysterious scene showing Ashok at the doctor’s office, where they check if he is really hearing and speech impaired. Then, it quickly introduces us to Pushkin, who teaches hearing and speech-impaired students at a government school. His character feels intriguing, almost as if he stepped out of a Russian tale.
