Patriarchy doesn’t discriminate, it hurts both men and women. Director Ambiecka Pandit explores its impact in Babita Singh Reporting, a murder mystery that doubles as a story of self-discovery. For the filmmaker of Black Warrant (2025) fame, bringing a female gaze to the thriller was less a creative choice and more an extension of her lived-in experience.
“I think Sudip [Sharma, executive producer] was very cognisant of the fact that he wanted a female gaze on the story,” shares Pandit, adding that her perspective changed how she approached Babita’s world. It allowed her to connect deeply with the character. “I have had this experience; it is visceral to me, so I am hoping that feeling translates on screen.”
Ambiecka Pandit
That shared understanding even extended to the core creative team — Pandit, writer Amita Vyas, and lead actor Nimisha Sajayan. Their common experiences meant they often needed little verbal cues. “We had a shorthand way to [communicate the emotions in the story] because we have all had these experiences; it did not require any explanation,” says the director. The film also examines how women can be controlled within relationships. “Amita had that nuance in the script, where sometimes cruelty was masqueraded as care.” Although Sajayan’s character is independent and serves in the Force, Pandit says control can take the form of making “her feel inadequate by comparing her, reducing her agency, and taking away her individuality”.
The thriller also sheds light on men’s mental health through Barun Sobti’s character, Bansi, who struggles to articulate his trauma. “Traditionally, we don’t see men expressing their emotions, especially mental health weaknesses. They can’t articulate their challenges because it’s stigmatised,” says Pandit, praising Sobti for going the extra mile. “He wanted to go into the nuance of the character, [and feel] his suffocation by keeping his trauma within himself.”
Did you know?
Ambiecka Pandit convinced Barun Sobti to come aboard ‘Babita Singh Reporting’ on the sets of ‘Kohrra’
Other women on the crew
. Tanya Chhabria (Editor)
. Tina Tharwani (Producer)
. Anvitaa Dutt (Lyricist)
. Vahi Shaikh (Production Designer)