Vishal Bhardwaj, the master storyteller, is back with his Shakespearean tragedy Haider. And this, after the disastrous “Matru ki Bijli Ka Mandola”… So, has he redeemed himself? Definitely, but then an Imran Khan movie should never be a barometer of improvement!

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!

Tweview: Homi picks some competent drivers, but loses direction mid way and steers into plothole territory! Naseer/Dimple make the journey worthwhile.

When you have stalwarts like Naseer, Dimple and Pankaj in a movie, you expect it to be worth your time. And Homi Adajania almost pulls it off, but not quiet!

Like “Being Cyrus”, Finding Fanny is based in a world of itself, where everything is a little caricaturish (like Wes Anderson films). So Naseer is this 70 year old baby, who still can’t find the courage to profess his love; Dimple is the curvaceous aunty, who is full of herself and constantly seeks attention; and Pankaj Kapoor is an over-the-top world-renound artist, who lech’es over Dimple. In this world of insanity, only the current crop is saner. Dipika, is the widow of Dimple’s son and Arjun is her neighbor cum former lover!

Their idyllic life is pushed into 3rd gear when Dipika decides to take Naseer on a journey to meet the love of his life. Everyone else tags along and thus begins a trip down lunacy lane. Each scene becomes a little more crazy, each frame a little more picturesque. But then Homi lacks the wacked out genius of Vishal Bharadwaj and the film goes downhill post interval. Homi loses direction half way and drives into so many plotholes, that you end up in the wilderness trying to figure what really happened.

Nonetheless, the acting from all the cast members is above-par and there are enough punchlines to keep you giggling. While Pankaj Kapoor is deliberately over-the-top, he is a little under-utilized. Naseer and Dimple steal the show, one with his squeaky operatic voice and the other with her awkward, overbearing personality. Dipika and Arjun, play their roles decently well and most importantly, deliver their English dialogues with as much ease as the stalwarts.  

While this is definitely a step up from the ridiculous “Cocktail”, Homi still will have to do a lot more to beat “Being Cyrus”. In a desperate attempt to make the film commercially viable, he over-plays the Dipika-Arjun romance. It just gets extremely boring and breaks the momentum of the film. And then, the plot falls into the trap of predictability, with many forced laughs. It would have been great if he cut it as sharp as Being Cyrus ( just 83 minutes!).

So should you watch it? Well, this would have made an awesome Tele-film, but then if you have the time watch it on big screen for 3 amazing actors and 1 exceptional cinematographer! But don’t expect it to be a “Little Miss Sunshine”.. It’s a little Miss, a little Sunshine.

Rating: 5.5/10

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