We live in polarised times; when any attempt that tries to spread the idea of peace, understanding and simple humanity, has to be welcome. Even for those who found the movie uncomfortable viewing because they felt that the film is pro-Muslim, the movie has to have prompted some amount of introspection; some acknowledgement of prejudice? There are of course those who did not like the film; most however see it for the worthy attempt that it is:
Of course there were plenty of comments that criticized the video as being ‘divisive’, how something like this could be said about the experiences of any community in India, the standard whataboutery as well as other offensive Muslim stereotypes. However, many welcomed a film that spoke on pertinent issues facing us today.
Critics have given a Thumbs Up to the accurate recreation of the milieu of Varanasi, the poignant story of a family horrified at the actions of one of their own, a fine screenplay and excellent performances by all the actors.
Acknowledging the fact that the film is direct and honest, new star on the Bollywood firmament Vicky Kaushal expressed the view that the country needs to watch this film.
Islamophobia is an uncomfortable reality; prejudice and ‘othering’ is something that many Muslims live with every day. This writer speaks about growing up without any notion of bigotry; without having her loyalties questioned and about how today she does, unfortunately experience it – sometimes subtly and sometimes much less so.
Rishi Kapoor as Murad Ali and Taapsee Pannu as Aarti his daughter in law are solid and very extremely competent. However, the really powerful and hardest hitting performances are by Manoj Pahwa, the beleaguered, powerless, slightly pathetic Bilal, falsely accused of a terror conspiracy because his son turned out to be a terrorist.
This tweet contains some of the best lines from the film and its most significant takeaways. For me, the restrained but riveting Kumud Mishra as the judge was hugely believable and utterly brilliant. His final summation, particularly where he asks Kapoor's character to show people a copy of the constitution’s preamble each time they question his patriotism was a fist-pump moment.
This is not a glamorous film. It is certainly not entertaining in the Bollywood tradition of escapist drama. But it is a story that makes you cry, celebrate, think… easily one of Bollywood’s best offerings so far this year.
Vishal Dadlani has expressed the view that it takes courage to make a film like this in Bollywood. This is true. A film industry known to pussy foot around sensitive issues; typically opt for the rather-safe-than-sorry attitude that kowtows to the powers that be has, for a change, shown some spine in this case.
While some on Twitter have expressed their reservations and hostility towards the film (and its sometimes provocative publicity); calling it divisive, most people seem to get that this is a film that asks us as a society to confront our own prejudices. Ultimately it’s a film that tells a gripping, realistic story (based on real occurrences), is brilliantly acted and is just very relevant cinema for our times.
Many have absorbed the simple, beautiful message of the film: that we are a nation of differences and diversities; but also a nation that has celebrated and embraced that diversity and difference.
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