Written and directed by Santosh Sivan, The Terrorist is an affecting character study into what drives people to commit extreme actions. Ayesha Dharkar is the terrorist of the title, picked to go on a suicide bomb raid. Honoured by her selection, Malli awaits her target, hiding out with a rural Indian farmer. Once there, however, she begins to re-examine her motivations for carrying out the attack, and questioning the cause to which she has - literally - dedicated her life. Sivan's directorial debut may be short in finance (by Hollywood standards, anyway) but through his sparse, minimalist direction, he presents a thought-provoking study of honour, loyalty and love. His style of direction is fluid and inventive, and his central actor's performance is remarkably accomplished. Occasionally, things slid into the worst excesses of art house - overly intricate shots and heavy metaphors - but overall, The Terrorist is a powerful piece of work.