Now, I have never studied Shakespeare, nor have I read Hamlet. So forgive me for not commenting on how beautifully Vishal has adapted his 3rd Shakespearean story. But yes, I still think Maqbool is the best of the lot. And there are some reasons for it.
Now, before I begin, I must say that I am a fan of Mr.Bhardwaj. So much so that I absolutely loved “Saat Khoon Maaf”- that was one crazy film. But unfortunately I didn’t enjoy Haider as much. The problem is, Vishal is stuck between Madness and Restraint. The characters turn looney at the drop of a hat, but the scenes linger on much longer than you want them to and so does the movie. There is a general sense of pointless meandering in the film, which blunts the very impact it seeks to make.
While the basic premise is of a man who loses his father and then his sanity, what really stands out is the setting. Kashmir comes alive in the film – its problems, its beauty. Circumstances make Haider what he becomes. He seeks revenge and in this pursuit loses everything that is dear to him.
But the problem is the pacing. There is a great amount of self indulgence in the screenplay. Vishal, surprisingly, seems uncertain of the amount of madness he should insert in the film and some of it seems forced. Case in point, the 2 Salmans. It almost seems irrelevant to the plot and more like an afterthought.
What works is the cinematography, the background score and the performances. And these three aspects are world class by any standard. Kashmir’s heavenly appearance and deathly existence is brought alive like never before. Tabu and KK give a masterclass in acting and Shahid proves that he is a hardworking actor. There are other gems too, like the man who plays Haider’s father – Narendra Jha. A special mention to the conceptualization and picturization of the song Bismil – it’s simply remarkable ( I would pay to watch just that song again).
So should you watch the film? Well, Haider is an important film. While it might get a little too laborious to watch, I still believe that it makes a statement – something not many of our films do. And the message is not what some retards on twitter are making it out to be – That Indian Army is a villain or that it is glorifying separatists - but that revenge only breeds more revenge.
Rating: 6 / 10
Now for those who are adding fuel to the #BoycottHaider fire –
Please watch the film first and do not call Bhardwaj a traitor just because someone said that he insults the Indian Army in the film or just because he was one of the people who campaigned against Modi in the previous elections. Anti-Modi is not Anti-India.
What you fail to understand is that Haider is not a HERO in the film, he is the protagonist. At no point is it said that what he is doing is the right thing and for that matter what the army is doing is wrong. It’s all about perspective. From Haider’s perspective even his mother is a villain. Watch it for what it is, a story of deceit, love, revenge and loss. And if the setting makes you uncomfortable or raises questions about Kashmir in your mind, it’s high time - don’t you think?
DO COMMENT YOUR VIEWS: THIS FILM IS LIKE HIMESH’S SONGS – YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT, BUT YOU SIMPLY CAN’T IGNORE IT!