Think 'survival drama' and the kind of films that come to mind would probably be on the lines of Castaway and 127 Hours. Fast forward to 2017, and Vikramaditya Motwane proves one doesn't necessarily require challenging terrain or literal isolation to unravel a film of this genre onscreen.Trapped, starring the immensely-talented Rajkummar Rao, tells the tale of a man who becomes cut off from the bustling city of Mumbai,when he inadvertently locks himself in his own flat.Although he fails to grasp the gravity of the situation for the first few hours, the ensuing days bring out his resourcefulness,pain and hopelessness. Rao very convincingly portrays the nuances of a character caught in this virtually impossible situation.
If you like what you've read, and are convinced you want to watch the film,stop reading;there are spoilers ahead.
On further thought,some realities of existence are brought to the fore - how nature offers a helping hand when your own kind are nowhere to be found(rain,and the unlikely friendship with a rodent),how you can be alone in a crowd - and learn to cope with it - in this case, Shaurya is still alone after he rescues himself, and how we tend to take the simplest things for granted,such as human company,even of strangers.Perhaps only a traumatic experience of isolation can impress upon us the need to appreciate what we already have, to talk face -to-face and sometimes, to be closed off from the world and be okay with it.
The film runs to 1 hour and 45 minutes,and thereby an interval of commercials on loop has been spared to the multiplex audience.Those who have actually taken notice can sigh in relief.