Firaaq (2009)

Nandita Das an underrated actor turned director with this film The film is a docu drama on aftermath of Gujarat Riots that shook the world in 2002, The film has an ensemble cast, with stories not connected to each other yet there have a bone of connection. There are multiple stories, like Mumbai Meri Jaan and such films One issue with the film is lack of subtitles during the Non Hindi dialogues like Gujarati.etc The film starts with dead bodies being dumped from a truck which really shocks you following an attempt by Nasser who plays a Muslim graveyard digger trying to attack the Hindu Deadbodies and he being stopped. We have Paresh Rawal-Dilip Joshi who are cunning businessmen who take advantage of the riots. His wife Deepti Naval is killed with guilt for not opening door to a Muslim women who was burnt down Their scenes are well handled. Then there is Naseeruddin Shah an aged Muslim poet who is oblivious to the current affairs while his servant Raghuvir Yadav is scared after the attacks. Nawzuddin Siddiqui and Shahana Goswami play a Muslim couple who go to their village and find their house burnt and looted on their return, while Sanjay Suri and Tisca Chopra play an interreligious couple who face the wrats.etc The film is well handled by Nandita Das with the end left open ended it moves you, shakes you,disturbs you. It may not appeal to all, though I found it to be too pro Muslims and anti Hindus, which could be avoidedNaseeruddin Shah is exceptional in his role, Raghuvir Yadav is perfect, Sanjay Suri is as always dependable, Tisca Chopra is perfect, Paresh Rawal is simply brilliant, Dilip Joshi too is good, Deepti Naval is awesome, Nawzuddin Siddiqui is simply outstanding, Shahana Goswami is brilliant, Rahul Singh and others are all perfect. In fact all performances deserve highest praise especially the child actor.

I admit that I was quite interested about Firaaq, mainly because of the international felicitation that it has received. Yet I was a little hesitant in going for the movie – especially after a long week at work - I didn't want to watch a heavy movie about the Gujarat riots! I instead chose what I thought would be a light movie – Straight (and regretted it). But I couldn't be more wrong about Firaaq ...Yes its set amidst the Gujarat riots – a month after it, to be precise. But it doesn't have any of the violence or bloodshed of the riots. It instead follows a set of people who are struggling to come to terms with life in the aftermath of the riots. Nandita Das has taken some ordinary people and showed us how they react when faced with something extraordinary – it brings out the worst in some like Paresh Rawal while some like Sanjay Suri look to escape.It is a rare movie that can stir up a whirlpool of emotions inside the viewer – feelings as diverse as loathing, despair, hope and happiness and everything that is in between – all in a runtime of just 100 minutes. Nandita Das exceeds expectations in her directorial debut in Firaaq, taking on the Gujarat riots issue with a wonderful sensitivity. Sure, she has the advantage of having a stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah & Paresh Rawal in Firaaq - but the finesse with which the screenplay seamlessly weaves all the story together is completely to her creditFrom a slightly disturbing opening scene, we are introduced to the different characters and their dilemmas - the Hindu-Muslim urban couple who are leaving town, a Muslim couple who come back to their home to find it burnt down, the gujarati housewife struggling to come to terms with her guilt, a orphaned child looking for his family and an ageing singer oblivious to reality … Each of the actors' performance has been stellar – you cannot help but loath Paresh Rawal and equally you share Deepti Naval's agony and her wish for atonement. Naseeruddin Shah is in a league of his own, playing a musician from a forgotten generation who is disconnected from today's world.As if the multitude of stories were not enough, each of the stories tug at your heart in different directions. From the despair at finding her entire household in ashes to the suspecting her best friend, from the fear of the police to the anger at the bride's silly remarks about the riots, Muneera (Shahana Goswami) bares her thoughts to us. The sharing of the bindi between friends and the intermixing of the names Mohan and Mohsin – the movie is replete with such subtle subtexts.With its limited runtime, Firaaq doesn't conform to the traditional norms of giving a background to each story or taking each of them to a logical conclusion. So maybe it might feel a little abrupt at the start to some. But such trifling irritants are completely forgotten by the time you finish watching Firaaq as you would find yourself overwhelmed with conflicting emotions.I regularly review movies at http://bisprad.blogspot.com

If I were given a chance to give out an award during this festival, then Firaaq by Nandita Das would be my choice for the best film I've seen during the festival. And it's quite amazing in itself being a first film of the accomplished Indian actress, that it's laced with sensitivity while at the same time tackling some hard issues head on that deals with the deep rooted negative human condition of hate and violence.Set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Gujarat, India, it's an ensemble film with a myriad of characters in multiple story threads which involves a Muslim family who returns to their home only to find it burnt by rioters, of a mixed marriage couple who has to deal with their fears and decision to leave Gujarat for Delhi, of a woman who gets haunted by the ghosts of the incident, and punishes herself for her inaction, of a group of Muslim men all flustered and planning for revenge, of a young orphan wandering the streets, and the list goes on.In each of the threads, which for the most parts are independent of one another, Nandita Das weaves very moving stories and crafts very interesting characters to function within each story, either serving as a mouthpiece for keen observations, or highlighting very deep rooted fears. The film doesn't flinch from making harsh criticisms or statements through dialogues and interactions between characters, and Das manages to paint characters on both sides of the equation, some exhibiting bad behaviour even when confronting their prejudices or when confronted by their fears. If I could draw a parallel to an established film that Firaaq gets close to, then it will be Paul Haggis' Oscar winner Crash.One can imagine the human rights violations committed during the tense period, and it's quite natural to see how the outcome of such violations through the mob mentality, affect the common man even after the tumultuous period had passed over, because deep inside, we all know that some prejudice are hard to eradicate. I thought the story of Sameer and Anu was one of the most striking of the lot, and most enduring as well, though with each protection dished out by the wife, the husband feels more insecure about his manhood. Some of the most direct and pointed conversations happen when they are on screen, especially how one's inherent self-preservation mechanism kicks in and would go through anything as extreme as a name change to avoid another extreme such as being stripped to verify identities.The final act was actually quite chilling, and I felt it could cut either way, depending on your outlook. One, that it is of hope, that with the next generation lies opportunity to bury the past and forge a new future ahead filled with better understanding, and the appreciation that such violence should never occur again. On the other hand, it reminds of how impressionable a young mind is, and through the wandering within a camp, taking in the sights of the aftermath of atrocities committed, that the seeds of revenge could have been innately planted, and being ready for improper indoctrination for further atrocities to be committed, some time in the future. It's extremely difficult, but not impossible, to break the stranglehold that violence begets more violence.For a rookie director, I feel that Nandita Das has demonstrated that she has what it takes to join the illustrious ranks of female Indian directors in telling very mature stories through assured technique. Firaaq is a shining example, and I hope to see more of her directorial work again soon. Definitely a highly recommended movie in these troubled times of ours, to hold a mirror up against oneself, for some serious self-examination within.

This movie takes place in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots between Hindus and Muslims in which the majority of the deaths were Muslim. I saw this movie at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.It is difficult to make a movie dealing with such topics which would not be so unpleasant that people would be unable to sit through it. This movie succeeds by creating a good story and a number of very distinctive and fascinating characters. It not only has a serious message it's a very absorbing drama.There are a few story lines being juggled effectively here. You are taken into the home of a Muslim man in a mixed marriage, the burnt-out home of a Muslim widow and even the home of a man who actively participated in the atrocities. You'll see a group of young Muslim men who become fired up seeking revenge, although ultimately fail in unexpected comedic fashion. And most tragically you see an orphaned boy walking alone through the city.The movie is also hopeful. Late in the movie the Muslim man married to a Hindu woman, who had already admitted to being a coward, decides stop hiding behind his Hindu sounding name and declares his true religious identity to a hassling police officer. There are other examples of this same kind of hope.However the movie finishes with a dramatic warning. It ends on the face of the young boy who had been wandering the city. His innocent face fills the screen. The face is so benign, but his eyes had seen so much violence. It forces you to wonder what type of man this child will become. Then the screen goes black. I must admit I found the ending rather chilling.