The film plunges into this pitiless milieu with headstrong assurance, presenting a paternalistic world where corruption seeps into people's pores and women need backbones of steel to survive.

All the technical work is top quality. Namrata Rao's editing keeps the rhythm flowing, while sound effects and music are used to great effect to pump up the mood.

The narrow, grimy lanes of East Delhi come alive with an ominously real touch.

Titli is entertaining in a hard-to-explain sort of way because it is so heart-stoppingly matter of fact about the horrific, sad, almost bizarre reality check it delivers.