Movie Reading : Haider

The difficulty with a period film, also set up in a particular location like Kashmir is that you cannot easily connect with what the characters are trying to portray. Haider falls into such category. Central theme of the movie is revenge which is common in a number of Vishal Bhardwaj’s movies (7 Khoon Maaf, Kaminey, Omkara etc). Even then, this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat with sterling performances by Shahid, KK and Tabu.

Full storyline gets summarized in the Bismil song, where the idea is directly being picked up from Ek haseena thi song of Karz. (Difference being use of puppets instead of real actors). Haider is also a movie which shows intense emotions and how can the want of revenge destroy oneself and others around.

The best scene is Haider’s short speech to a crowd at Laal Chowk, very well depicting the condition of Kashmiris and their disappeared relatives at that point of time. He explains AFSPA and calls it chutzpah “besharam gustakh”, also uttering the controversial dialogues about India and Pakistan.

Hum hain ki hum nahi, hum hain to kaha hain aur nahi he toh kaha gaye. Hum hain toh kisliye aur kaha gaye toh kab. Janaab, Hum the bhi ki the hi nahi. Chutzpah ho gaya hamare saath.

Haider’s father, a doctor who saves lives, shows how going through bad experiences can change your inner character. When asked if he is on militants or army’s side, he says

“Main zindagi ki taraf hu”

and later on he himself wants Haider to kill his brother in a highly gruesome manner.

Haider, mera inteqaam lena mere bhai se... uski un dono aakh mei gooliyaan daagna, jin aakho se usne tumhari maa par fareb daale the.

Some dialogues are repeated more than once such as

“Mere nazriye se bhi dekho”.

How often we impose our perception on others and do not try to understand them. On a sidenote, there won’t be any conflicts in people’s lives if they could see other person’s viewpoint.

And

“Inteqam se inteqam hi milta hain, azaadi nahi”

aptly confirms to “eye for an eye, makes the whole world blind”

And finally, a very special performance by Irrfan Khan, daring entry with loud backgrouund music and the gravedigger's song "Aao Na". Unforgettable.

You will like the movie if you appreciate superlative performances and beautiful scenery of Kashmir valley. Even if you don’t like it, at least you will learn to use the word “chutzpah” :)

A very pertinent dialogue in the end:

“Jab do hathi ladte hain, toh ghaas hi kuchli jaati hain”.