Director Vishal Bhardwaj is back with another hard hitting film in the form of ‘Haider’ which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. Starring Tabu, Shahid Kapur, Shradha Kapoor and Kay Kay Menon, this film has hit the screens today. Let’s read on to see how it is.
Story
The story of Haider is set in Kashmir, where Dr. Hilal Meer and his wife
Ghazala (Tabu) live. One fine day, Hilal brings home an injured
militant for treatment, which lands him into trouble and then he
disappears leaving Ghazala all alone.
Ghazala now starts living
with Hilal’s brother Khurram (Kay Kay), who is in love with his
Bhabhijaan. Ghazala’s son Haider (Shahid) arrives home, only to know
that his mother and Chacha are getting married. Haider now decides to
take revenge and find out where his father is. Will Haider be successful
in his revenge forms the rest of the story.
Performance
When it comes to performances, everyone is on the same page
in this film. Shahid Kapoor brings out his genetic brilliance and gives
an ace performance. From covering Hamlet’s vulnerability to his anger
about deceit, Kapoor delivers it all with breathtaking valor and immense
sincerity. He slips from frame to frame, mood to mood with precision
and ease that only someone who is convinced and confident can get.
Shraddha
Kapoor as Oephilia or Arshiya as in the film, is great. Beautiful,
innocent and smooth, she is better than most of her ungrateful roles.
Tabu
brings her own to Gertrude. She plays Ghazala with flair and have a
haunting quality to her silence. When her son tells her she has two
faces, the heartbreak shows on her face. Her beauty is such in the film
that it reflects her state of mind. Her happiness speaks through her
eyes, her pain shows even before she has slapped her son to express the
same. Only Tabu could have brought alive Gertrude in Ghazala.
Irrfan
Khan in few scenes in the film, is pitch perfect. He is the
Quintessential Shakespearan prop that drives Hamlet and the actor is at
his wicked best. Treat yourself if you can replicate his ‘Badla’. So
much said in one word!
Kay Kay Menon is far away from his last
few stints and gives Claudius (Khurram) his own color. I loved how his
demeanor shifted in the presence of different people. Earnestly loving
towards Ghazala, he is genuinely venomous towards Haider and Menon does
it with utmost brilliance.
Narendra Jha has little to play but is smashing in his minuscule part.
Plus Points
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has already proven his worth with films like
Omkara, Maqbool and Kaminey. This film is no less and also adds just
another feature in his cap. The movie has the perfect blend of a
stunning emotions. Speaking of performances, it is only Vishal who can
bring the best out of Shahid Kapoor. The actor is brilliant in every
scene and portrays the role of a man on a mission with perfection.
But
the one person that takes this poetry in motion to yet another level is
Tabu. Calling this her best performance till date wouldn’t be wrong.
Kay Kay Menon too plays his part extremely well, and outshines in every
scene. Irrfan, may have done a cameo, but every time he enters the
screens, he takes the scene to just another level.
Minus Points
Even after such perfect casting, the only
flaw is Shraddha Kapoor who seems to be lost in the plot. Her
performance becomes monotonous. Another negative part in the movie is
the run-time. Also being a film of a niche genre, not many people will
be able to connect with it.
Technical
‘Haider’ is a brilliant adaptation of Shakespeare’s novel, ‘Hamlet’. For
the ones, who have not read the book yet, they too wont feel lost in
the film. Vishal has very neatly added his own art in the film in the
form of Kashmir. Leaving aside the city’s scenic beauty, Vishal rather
focuses on the dilemma that the people here go through.
All the
songs are awesome and well fitted in the plot, especially ‘Bismil’,
which is brilliant composition. Dialogues written by Vishal are amazing,
especially the way in which Haider expresses the problems of Kashmir by
saying ‘Hum Hain Ya Hum Nahi’ and ‘To Free Or Not To Free.’
Analysis
A humanitarian doctor finds himself fighting for life in Kashmir. When
his wife asks why is he treating a militant, he smiles. She asks, “Kiski
taraf ho aap”, he replies, “Zindagi Ki.” The doctor goes missing and
his son Haider, a poetry student from Aligarh returns to find his
realities transformed. There is a translucent maze through which he
watches his mother laugh without inhibitions, while his chacha dances
around with childlike mirth, singing a folksy Kahmiri lullaby. In that
one scene, Bhardwaj and Peer lay out the basic themes of the play. The
first hour of the film tracks a hapless Haider frantically looking for
his father, refusing to believe he is dead. The most striking scene that
shapes his mental state is when he and his mother discuss the aftermath
of his father’s disappearance.
Tabu in a very powerful scene
tells Haider, how repulsive and inattentive his Abbuji was. She
elaborately describes her relationship with her husband expressing how
he smelled of death and blood. It made her throw up. And in the same
vein she explains how Haider was all she had and ever will have to look
forward to.
Oedipus Complex is not evidently delved into but in
Shahid’s words from his interview to Koimoi, it is running in
undertones, latently present for the takers. The sexual tension between
Ghazala and Haider are seen in hints. There are fleeting references of
it. I mention this to stay clear of the fact that this isn’t why I call
the film bold. It is Bhardwaj’s ability to retain the soul of Hamlet
changing its form so drastically that mesmerises me.
The real
enthusiasm of the play is revealed only when the Ghost walks into the
scene but in Haider, the conversations with the ‘Ghost’ doesn’t drive
the narrative. The monologues are reformed adequately and retained
mostly but compared to Maqbool and Omkara, Haider risks deviating more
than the usual. The constant harping on the word Chutzpah is for a
reason!
And finally Haider is definitely larger than Hamlet in
terms of volume it speaks of. A state torn between the animosity of two
warring nations, Haiders are not a rare sight amidst the unrest of the
Valley. Infusing the drama of disappearing people and giving it a
relevant voice, Haider ups the Shakespearean drama, gives it a relatable
look and sets it in a time of utter stagnation and helplessness, making
it a consistent, coherent and engaging story.
Final Word
On the whole, Haider is one work of art with creativity at its best. Vishal Bhardwaj brings out stunning performances from Shahid Kapur and Tabu who take this film to another level. All those who like hard hitting films with an edge, this is one film you should not miss.
saikumar
7 months agosuper