Analysis of Narivetta: Political Manipulation and State Apparatus in Suppressing Tribal Rights

Analysis of Narivetta: Political Manipulation and State Apparatus in Suppressing Tribal Rights

On June 5, 2025, I viewed the film Narivetta, which provides a compelling critique of the instrumentalization of state military and law enforcement institutions by political elites to advance their strategic interests and suppress marginalized communities. The narrative centers on a tribal population engaged in a struggle for land and housing rights, establishing protest encampments within a state-protected forest area—an act of resistance against systemic disenfranchisement. The film portrays high-caste politicians as recalcitrant in addressing these demands, revealing entrenched power dynamics rooted in caste and class hierarchies.

A central plotline illustrates the politicians’ calculated manipulation of public perception to undermine the tribal movement. By framing the protests as illicit and indirectly supported by Maoist insurgents, the political elite constructs a narrative that delegitimizes the tribal cause and associates it with extremist ideologies. This strategic misrepresentation is exemplified in a critical scene where, during a joint patrol in the forest, an army commando deliberately kills a police inspector, stages an injury, and fabricates a narrative of escaping a Maoist ambush. This act is revealed to be part of a broader conspiracy orchestrated by the politicians, who exploit the incident to evoke historical parallels with events like the Pahalgam attack. By attributing the violence to Maoist or Naxalite groups, the politicians justify state intervention, effectively dismantling the tribal protests and dispersing their demonstrations.

The film’s depiction of this conspiracy underscores the sophisticated and unethical tactics employed by political actors to maintain dominance. It highlights the co-optation of state institutions—namely the military and police—as tools for executing political agendas, revealing how such mechanisms perpetuate systemic inequities. Narivetta thus offers a critical examination of power, illustrating the extent to which elite actors manipulate narratives and institutional resources to suppress marginalized communities’ legitimate demands for justice and equity.

This analysis reflects the film’s nuanced portrayal of political manipulation, emphasizing the interplay of caste, power, and state violence in thwarting grassroots resistance.