Revenge is Never an Option Reiterates Haider

Rating:

Haider is intense with characters that are not straightforward and hence a little difficult to decipher. An adaptation of Shakespear’s Hamlet, Haider is set in Kashmir, a land beset with problems of insurmountable proportions. There are times in the movie when I found myself drifting, and probably some moviegoers will feel the same. However, I think, the pace is intentionally slow so that the viewers can absorb more of the context in which Haider plays out.

The movie refrains from taking sides. It merely shows the plight of the people of Kashmir and refuses to accept violence and brutality as a part of alleviating their pain. If you have seen Hamlet, then you will appreciate the movie from a different perspective. Also, those who have a deeper understanding of the situation in Kashmir will be able to take away more from the movie. However, those who do not fit any of these categories will also find it engrossing.

As Haider returns from Aligarh after completing his studies, he finds his childhood sweetheart, Arshia, waiting for him. Haider discovers his house destroyed, his father, Dr. Hilal Meer, disappeared, and his mother, Ghazala, who now stays with his uncle, Khurram. Haider is intent on finding the whereabouts of his father who was taken by the Indian army for giving a militant leader medical treatment at his residence. But there is more to it than just that. The journey is not going to be an easy one for Haider.

The performances by all the actors are compelling. I found Shahid Kapoor a little shaky in the beginning, but eventually he settles down well in the role of Haider. Tabu who portrays Haider’s mother acts convincingly bringing out the different emotions well. Kay Kay Menon, Haider’s conniving uncle, easily delivers one of the standout performances of the movie. Shraddha Kapoor’s character as Haider’s childhood sweetheart has substance to it when it could have so easily been just a beautiful face with no depth. She lives up to the demands of her character. Irrfan Khan ups the star quotient of the movie. Even though, he has a small part in the movie, it is by no means less important in the context of the story than any of the others.

Overall, Vishal Bharadwaj has marshaled his troops impressively. There isn’t much that is wrong with Haider. I would recommend that you see this movie for it has substance, some good performances, a purpose, and a well-constructed end. It is not a masterpiece, but it is honest and for this it deserves a watch.