Haider movie review: It's a masterpiece by Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal
Bhardwaj, Bollywood’s master of portraying Shakespeare’s plays, ends
the trilogy with Hamlet’s screen adaptation ‘Haider’. As a classic
filmmaker he is, William Shakespeare couldn’t have found a better orator
than Bhardwaj for the narration of Hamlet’s tragedy.
Stars- Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, Irrfan Khan
Director- Vishal Bhardwaj
Music Director- Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal
brings out the essence of a burning vengeance within Hamlet for his
mother Gertrude and uncle Cladius. Narrating it on the Indian ground and
adding the most violent Kashmir- to be freed or not- isn’t a cake walk
for any filmmaker.
Vishal takes the bravest step, attempts to deal
with it and present it with responsibility. He never ruins the raging
issue and sails with it immensely in an artistic manner. But it’s just
the backdrop.
Vishal’s drama is more about Haider’s painful and
retaliation journey set in exotic Kashmiri. Wait, the term ‘exotic’
couldn’t be used for Bhardwaj’s ‘Kashmir’, which has grey shades.
Beautiful valleys and breath-taking surrounding don’t give chilled
breeze to your eyes instead the burning anguish sets afire the entire
surrounding.
Dr.
Hilal Meer (Irrfan) gives shelter to injured militants suspecting,
which the authorities pick him as they believe Hilal has information
about other militants. But now is he dead or alive, no one knows, so
Ghazala (Tabu) is half widow and half bride.
On learning this,
their innocent son Haider (Shahid Kapoor) comes back to Kashmir but till
then her mother is married to her brother-in-law Khurram (Kay Kay) who
had his roving eyes on Ghazala much before.
Soon Haider realizes
that his father is no more and Khurram is the man behind his demise.
With grief for his father and fire of vengeance within, Haider comes to
terms with his mother and uncle and the love-hate relationship follows
thereafter.
Vishal’s Hamlet never misses a chance of evocation
through his tight narration about the unusual relationship between
mother and his son. His Ghazala is not wholly wrong but is just
victimized by the unexpected conditions and moreover by Khurram.
She
cares for Haider but is also confused about how to handle the whole
scenario. On the other hand, Haider too is in a dilemma that his mother
should be loved or not. Bhardwaj’s way of narrating it could be tricky
to gasp for few but the point of fact is that it has a deeper meaning.
To
what limit an innocent son could go to avenge his father’s death, while
still he is impasse, Bhardwaj explains it with layer by layer and
alongside he touches the conditions of Kashmiri natives with which they
were living in the 90’s. Haider gives you lesser occasions to chuckle.
It’s grim and
gritty as it also focuses on the human tragedy in the
region and it makes Haider heady.
Without abruption the romance
between Haider and Arshia (Shraddha Kapoor) takes an acceptable place.
However, we wished the speed to be pacer, the little yawning coming in
could have been avoided. The Urdu accent and brilliant dialogues by
Vishal at numerous occasions add up to realistic factors but for laymen
it may go above his/her head.
Performances of actors hit the right
chord. Like Kashmir’s stunning locales (cinematographed by Pankaj
Kumar), which are picture-perfect and seem like a painting, the
performances too are soothing and reminiscent.
Shahid
Kapoor’s grief for his father, anxiousness for his uncle and a strange
desire for his mother is carried phenomenally. He is an actor at par and
he proves in and as ‘Haider’.
Shraddha as a Kashmiri journalist
is brilliant. Not just limited to songs, the actress has much meat in
this flick. For both Shahid and Shraddha we hope more such roles come
their way.
Kay Kay Menon brings conniving and clever act in
Khurram. Tabu, as trapped in numerous feelings brings out the most apt
expressions.
Also playing a music director, Vishal Bharwaj’s
‘jodi’ with lyricist Gulzar fits perfectly. The songs are beautiful with
lyrics technically thought over and penned. While Khul Kabhi brings
romanticisms with snow-white winter breezing through your mind, ‘Bismil’
portrays the local culture. The background score is finely crafted and
accompanies the theme of the movie.
Haider is a classic creation minus Bollywood’s cliché elements. It needs patience and your devotion.
