Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Blistering performances.

"Firaaq' is a non-commercial low budget movie which marks the debut of Nandita Das as a director; and with her directorial venture, she proves she's even a better film-maker than a stunning actress. The film presents the aftermath of Gujrat riots of 2002, and was also said to be banned. The story is seen through a set of characters, especially the Muslims, and their changed lives after the riots. The dialogues and the narration of the story just holds you tight to your seats; and what you see are the rewarding performances from the distinguished performers like Naserudddin Shah, Raghuvir Yadav, Nawazzudin Siddhiquie, and Deepti Naval. The only fault I felt in the movie was though the story gets mounted well, the conclusion feels a bit weak and incomplete and leaves you with a feeling that something is left out.Rating : 2 stars out of 4

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.

From its very opening scene of a truck dumping dozens of corpses at a graveyard site for mass burial, Nandita Das makes it clear that her directorial debut, Firaaq is not going to be an easy watch. A fictionalised account of true stories set one month after the horrific communal riots of Gujarat in 2002, Firaaq focuses on a handful of ordinary characters whose lives are changed irreparably by the riots. There's an affluent mixed-religion couple (played by Tisca Chopra and Sanjay Suri) who prepares to shift to Delhi because the Muslim husband is afraid of what might happen next. An auto-rickshaw driver whose house is burned down, and his wife (played by Shahana Goswami) who suspects her Hindu friend's husband did it. An optimistic elderly Muslim musician (played by Naseeruddin Shah) who ultimately resigns himself to the fact that no music can hope to calm this rage. A passive, abused wife of a bigoted Hindu (played by Deepti Naval) who is haunted by guilt for not opening her door to save a woman running from the mob. And a little Muslim boy in search of his father, unaware that he's been orphaned in the carnage. These stories interconnect occasionally in a manner that makes it clear that victims, perpetrators and silent observes are all connected somehow. Director Nandita Das steers away from political overtones, choosing instead to tell a dramatic story about everyday people and the repercussions of violence. Interestingly, you don't actually see any incidents of violence in Firaaq, but its aftermath can be felt throughout the film, in the fear, anguish, loss and anger felt by those left in its wake. Firaaq is an important film because Das never shies away from showing the ugly side of her characters. I'm reminded of a disturbing scene in the film in which Paresh Rawal's character gleefully asks his younger brother if he enjoyed a gangrape he'd participated in. Barely moments later, his brother turns to watch a TV news report in which a Muslim woman is seen complaining that they were robbed of their dignity during the riots, to which he spitefully comments that they had little dignity to begin with. It's scenes like these that deliver the full impact of this powerful film, and Das assembles an ensemble of some of the finest actors who bring her characters to life. If there's a problem with Firaaq, it's the fact that despite her best intentions, Das fails to bridge the gap between the audience and her characters. It's unquestionably sad what happens to these people, you know their lives have changed forever, yet there's a certain unexplained distance that never lets you "feel" the pain yourself. Remember, the most compelling films are the ones that transport you to the centre of the drama, and make you a participant in the action. Firaaq is a noble film, an admirable debut, but you don't feel the pain. There is also the issue of the affected English dialogues in the Sanjay Suri-Tisca Chopra track, and the somewhat meandering nature of the Naseeruddin Shah track. Overlook these faults, however, and make it a point to watch Firaaq. It's an unsettling film, one that throws up difficult questions and demands urgent responses.Firaaq is not perfect, but it's much better than anything else you're likely to have watched recently.

Firaaq is a brave and hard hitting film that does raise many questions but leaves them unanswered.Aided by excellent cinematography, brilliant editing and detailed art direction, the director raises the quality bar of the film several notches higher than the average Friday releases. Foe a debut, the film is cinematically brilliant.Naseer is his usual sparkling best as the aging musician who lives in his own world of music, poetry and memories of a happier times. Raghubir Yadav as his caretaker works his own brand of magic by combining his typical subtle comedy with an enormous amount of pathos in his eyes at what he sees and doesn't want to see. His attempts at protecting his master from the harsh realities of the world outside is very touching.Both Shahana Goswami as Muneera and her friend embody the spirit of the women on the streets in the times of rape and carnage and how despite everything their friendship and bonding remains intact. But as usual, friendship between a Muslim and Hindu, remain on the surface and somehow doesn't go deeper with its emotional impact.Sanjay Suri and Tisca Chopra as Sameer and Anu provide an insight into the affluent and literate class, and their dilemmas are something one can easily identify with. The easy switching across different languages - Gujarati, Hindi & English - in their conversations is extremely charming and reminds one of how we are all part of different worlds that are enmeshed.Dipti Naval is outstanding as the 'imprisoned' woman fighting her own ghosts and her attempts to regain her sanity by bringing home a Muslim boy and protecting him by giving him a Hindu name is a bit contrived, but she manages to make it look poignant. Paresh Rawal manages to sink his teeth even into the minuscule role he gets and thats hallmark of a good actor.The dialogs are pithy and non-preachy which is a big relief and the screenplay adeptly weaves together the many stories. But it is the script which is the real let down. It is so lopsided and one-dimensional that it fails to awaken your conscience. Except the character of Muneera's Hindu friend, there is so much Hindu bashing and so much 'Muslims are victims' rhetoric that it becomes one-dimensional. Within 10 minutes of the film one knows the stand the script and director is taking and then on it is one scene after another taking the same point of view further. There is no relief in the script or a balanced view of the situation. All Hindus in Gujarat are not monsters and all Muslims are not victims either.The Gujarat carnage has always raised diverse emotions and intense arguments that usually culminate in no definitive results or solutions. Unfortunately it is the same with this film. Showing what happened is one thing, but providing a sense of hope or a way forward is another - and the film fails on that count. Sure films are meant to raise issues, and hold a mirror to the realities, but there has to be a sense of emotional / spiritual enrichment at the end of it. There are couple of shots in the end like Tisca and Sumeet coming to hear Naseer sing and Deepti deciding to step out, but these somehow just don't make you soar emotionally. The kid returning back to the camp and just staring into the camera in the end frame leaves one unsure of what one should carry back home.