Words will fall short to articulate the beauty of this film. Undoubtedly, one of the best of this year from with stellar performances, cinematography and background score. It took me a second watch for me to be able to do justice to a review of this wonderful movie.
Set in Kashmir of the mid-90s, the film explores the unrest caused by missing civilians. On the one hand, the film tries to paint the army in bad light by showcasing it as being insensitive to the plight of Kashmiris and also of being overtly nationalistic and being unruly to anyone, who does not acquiesce to their pro-Indian nationalistic stance by saying "Jai Hind". The army is shown as a force that silences anyone, who aids separatist militants. One such reference and comparison to 3 Lakh displaced Kashnmiri Pandits when questioned about the 5000 missing civilians asserts the army viewpoint. Is the portrayal incorrect? Regardless of how the people from the valley feel, the hardcore nationalists will not have any objections to such portrayal of the army.
Hilaal Meer (Narendra Jha) is a doctor, who is involved in the treatment of separatist militant Eklakh Ahmed at his residence. Things do not go as planned and the news gets leaked to the army, who destroy his house and take him away to MAMA 2 detention camp as a prisoner.
Haider (Shahid Kapoor), the doctor's son returns in search of his father from Aligarh, where he had been coaxed into joining a college for higher studies by his mother (Tabu). On return, he finds his mother and his uncle (Kay Kay Menon) in a celebratory mood, days after his father had gone missing, leading him to believe whether everything was pre-planned.
The film explores the trust-deficit in the relationship between a mother and an estranged son bringing an element of eroticism in it, illegitimate romantic relationship between Kay Kay and Tabu and how it shaped up even prior to the doctor going missing and even led to it, friendly turned romantic relationship between Arshi (a journalist, played by Shraddha Kapoor) and Haider opposed by her father (a top cop in J&K Police) and brother.
The breathtaking valleys of Kashmir, snow clad mountains and empty roads running like snakes among these mountains, narrow by-lanes of the city, the lakes of Kashmir and the shikaras, the Jhelum river, the houses of Kashmir and their architecture, the trees of Kashmir devoid of leaves, the snow-covered graveyards of Kashmir - all have been captured with immense magnanimity. Irrespective of the performances, this movie is a must watch just for the rich portrayal of the unexplored landscape of Kashmir. Hats off to the cinematographer for such attention to detail.
Adding to the beauty is the background score, which is very traditional and local and connects well to with the pace of the film. The song Bismil Bismil also fits well in the context of the movie.
Performances by Shahid, who has at least five different looks in the movie, and Tabu are superb. Kay Kay and Shraddha do a fair job, and carry their roles, without many errors. Irrfan Khan as Roohdar and Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Tabu's father-in-law have cameo appearances.
Many reviews have drawn extensive comparisons with the Hamlet. But I refrain from doing so, since it will only spoil the magic that one lives through for nearly 160 minutes of the movie.
Four and a half stars to this movie. A must watch, once if not twice.
Set in Kashmir of the mid-90s, the film explores the unrest caused by missing civilians. On the one hand, the film tries to paint the army in bad light by showcasing it as being insensitive to the plight of Kashmiris and also of being overtly nationalistic and being unruly to anyone, who does not acquiesce to their pro-Indian nationalistic stance by saying "Jai Hind". The army is shown as a force that silences anyone, who aids separatist militants. One such reference and comparison to 3 Lakh displaced Kashnmiri Pandits when questioned about the 5000 missing civilians asserts the army viewpoint. Is the portrayal incorrect? Regardless of how the people from the valley feel, the hardcore nationalists will not have any objections to such portrayal of the army.
Hilaal Meer (Narendra Jha) is a doctor, who is involved in the treatment of separatist militant Eklakh Ahmed at his residence. Things do not go as planned and the news gets leaked to the army, who destroy his house and take him away to MAMA 2 detention camp as a prisoner.
Haider (Shahid Kapoor), the doctor's son returns in search of his father from Aligarh, where he had been coaxed into joining a college for higher studies by his mother (Tabu). On return, he finds his mother and his uncle (Kay Kay Menon) in a celebratory mood, days after his father had gone missing, leading him to believe whether everything was pre-planned.
The film explores the trust-deficit in the relationship between a mother and an estranged son bringing an element of eroticism in it, illegitimate romantic relationship between Kay Kay and Tabu and how it shaped up even prior to the doctor going missing and even led to it, friendly turned romantic relationship between Arshi (a journalist, played by Shraddha Kapoor) and Haider opposed by her father (a top cop in J&K Police) and brother.
The breathtaking valleys of Kashmir, snow clad mountains and empty roads running like snakes among these mountains, narrow by-lanes of the city, the lakes of Kashmir and the shikaras, the Jhelum river, the houses of Kashmir and their architecture, the trees of Kashmir devoid of leaves, the snow-covered graveyards of Kashmir - all have been captured with immense magnanimity. Irrespective of the performances, this movie is a must watch just for the rich portrayal of the unexplored landscape of Kashmir. Hats off to the cinematographer for such attention to detail.
Adding to the beauty is the background score, which is very traditional and local and connects well to with the pace of the film. The song Bismil Bismil also fits well in the context of the movie.
Performances by Shahid, who has at least five different looks in the movie, and Tabu are superb. Kay Kay and Shraddha do a fair job, and carry their roles, without many errors. Irrfan Khan as Roohdar and Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Tabu's father-in-law have cameo appearances.
Many reviews have drawn extensive comparisons with the Hamlet. But I refrain from doing so, since it will only spoil the magic that one lives through for nearly 160 minutes of the movie.
Four and a half stars to this movie. A must watch, once if not twice.
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