Irada 2017

Set in Bathinda, a city defined by its thermal power plants, factories, and the constant hum of industry, this film grounds its suspenseful story in a real-world calamity. Based on a true story, it follows a chain of devastating consequences that begin with one family and widen to a whole city.

The daughter of a retired army officer, Lt.Col Parabjeet Walia, falls gravely ill, and what starts as a personal health crisis soon reveals a wider, more insidious threat. Doctors struggle to pinpoint the cause, and the family discovers that carcinogenic elements have entered the groundwater, contaminating the city’s supply and affecting everyone who relies on it. The sense of danger grows as communities notice rising illnesses, strange leaks, and a creeping fear that the truth is being buried beneath the city’s industrial progress.

Against this backdrop, a determined journalist uncovers files that could implicate the powerful interests behind the groundwater poisoning. His discovery promises accountability, but before he can reveal what he knows, he is kidnapped, leaving behind a trail of questions and a city hungry for justice. His girlfriend, a fellow journalist, refuses to let the case die and pursues the truth with unflinching tenacity, urging authorities to take decisive action before more lives are lost.

As the investigation stalls, a dramatic bomb blast erupts in a business tycoon’s factory, triggering a political response. The state CM decides to bring in an NIA officer to navigate the murky waters of corruption, power, and revenge. The officer arrives at a crossroads, balancing a hard-won grasp of the truth with the demands of a recent posting in a Naxal-affected area, the pull of his own family life, and the weight of his conscience.

The narrative threads converge around a circle of powerful figures and reluctant heroes. Paddy F Sharma, a formidable tycoon, looms large, while Maya Singh enters the frame as part of the collision of interests surrounding the case. Ramadeep Braitch, the CM and Paddy’s mistress, adds another layer of complexity to who holds power, who bears responsibility, and who is willing to bend the truth to protect their position. Others, including Jeetu Arora, Paddy’s manager, and a slew of related figures like Riya Walia, Bhagat Singh, Sunday Singh, and Ricky Bhullar, weave in and out of the investigation, each bringing their own stakes and secrets to light.

As the ex-army father fights to shield his family from a disease that seems to be spreading through the city’s water supply, the exasperated journalist and the newly arrived NIA officer must navigate a web of evidence, fear, and hidden loyalties. The film deftly balances the urgent call for accountability with personal costs—the strain on families, the choices that power demands, and the moral push-and-pull between telling the truth and preserving one’s own peace.

In the end, the characters collide in a tense confrontation with those who hid behind wealth and influence, while those on the front lines—journalists, investigators, and the enduring, grief-driven resolve of a father—fight to restore safety and honesty to a city drowning in doubt. The story is told with a grounded realism, underscored by the real-world implications of environmental neglect and the high price paid when the thirst for profit overrides public health.

Through its braided narrative, the film invites reflection on responsibility, justice, and the quiet endurance of communities that refuse to look away. The result is a compelling, multi-layered drama that stays faithful to its core truth while offering a rich tapestry of character, motive, and consequence.