The rank of Subedaar evokes humble authority in the Hindi heartland. As the army’s backbone, these quiet mainstays, often drawn from the subaltern classes, are more respected than idolised. Anil Kapoor’s status in Hindi cinema is similarly earned. The analogy finds shape in director Suresh Triveni’s emotionally charged action drama, with the repurposed folksy number “Balam Subedaar” underlining the title’s regional draw, where a culture of entitlement is pervasive.

Set amidst the illegal sand mafia that is fast changing the shape of our rivers and social ecosystem, Subedaar follows the reluctant rise of retired junior commissioned officer Arjun Maurya against a ruthless syndicate — a kind of modern-day zamindaar. This central conflict anchors the film’s exploration of power and resistance.