HAMID movie review is here. The poignant drama on Kashmir directed by Aijaz Khan stars Rasika Dugal, Vikas Kumar and Talha Arshad Reshi. The venture of Saregama Films is produced by its indie movie division Yoodlee Films. Premiered at the 20 th Jio MAMI, the movie has won accolades at RIFF (Rajasthan International Film Festival) in the best director (Aijaz) and best actor (Rasika Dugal) category. Let’s find out in HAMID movie review, how pious and passionate is HAMID in telling the story about the situation in the heaven on earth – Kashmir. HAMID hits the theaters this Friday – March 15 2019.
The thought that lingers in your mind at the end of HAMID
The great Italian maestro Federico Fellini said, “ If you see with innocent eyes, everything is divine”. Aijaz Khan directed HAMID is that exceptionally rare sentiment on screen that keeps the innocence alive and never falls prey to ignorance. HAMID is a move that knows what it is talking about, knowing very well how it is talking and to whom the message will reach in the end. The situation in Kashmir over here is handled deftly with care, compassion and hope. So how many times do we ‘speak’ to our god, do we really speak or complain?.
The story of HAMID
It’s heaven on earth – Kashmir, the situation is as usual unpredictable with security on alert. Rehmat(Sumit Kaul) father of an eight year old Hamid (Talha Arshad Reshi) goes missing one night. Hamid wants to know where his father has gone and is constantly after his mother Ishrat (Rasika Dugal) asking about his father’s whereabouts. To put an end to his son’s repeated queries about his father, she tells him that his father has gone to Allah (God). A paper/document with the number 786 imprinted on it makes Hmaid curious and asks his mother gets a reply that it’s the number of Allah (God). Hamid believes it and decides to try and reach out to God, by dialing the number. Hamid’s persistence to talk to his father by dialing that number pays off and one day the call gets answered. Who is on the receiving end?
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Script Analysis
The writers Ravinder Randhawa and Sumit Saxena reminded me of the works done by the Iranian maestro Majid Majidi in the atmosphere and feel. The micro – macro approach. Exploring the concerns that matters the adult more but telling it from the eyes of an innocent child. There is a feeling of genuine honesty throughout that takes the spiritual routes as well without giving any hint. Filled with surprising, thought provoking and probing elements that explains the melancholy of the valley with constant dose of hope that comes with a silent humour taking the audience on an emotionally charged, intriguing and spiritual journey that soothes the mind and massages the soul. Simple line with meanings that go beyond, – the poster which says – have you ever spoken to God and the moment of triumph when Hamid call gets answered and later when he says, Allah (God) bahut khoobsorat hai, bahut taqatwar hai or aacha gaate bhi hai. I cried. Yes, scenes where Hamid asks why death is followed by a burial. The internal conflict of a true Kashmiri and the security personnel, they get you emotional but the writing here is not to evoke passion, it’s masterly etched tool to shed the light of hope, redemption and joy through the innocence of the central character and that’s the reason HAMID stays as a haunting triumph.
Aijaz Khan’s direction in HAMID
Some of the greatest stories in world cinema are told through children. Genius like – Vittorio De Sica, Satyajit Ra, Cahplin earlier and later Majid Majidi. This is Aijaz Khan’s third film and his best. He has redeemed himself immensely and nuanced his art of realist filmmaking. The director has taken some serious steps towards gaining expertise and nothing seems staged here. Adapting the micro –macro approach, Aijaz brings his point forward by creating an insight through incidents that explore into the ambiguity of the valley and the firm belief of his story and his protagonist Hamid. A masterly kept balance that is sentimentally sobering and compassionately hopeful because it’s true to its soul.
Performances
Talha Arshad Reshi is a bundle if talent. A gifted performer who stays with you for a while after the movie ends. His remarkable ease, freshness, touches the right chord. Exceptional. Rasika Dugal is in one word excellent. The talented actress has proven her mettle before and here she reconfirms her credibility as an actress with a sharp understanding of her character through a masterly controlled performance of a mother who is torn between the loss of her husband and questions of her son which she doesn’t has any answer. Serving as a metaphoric representation of the valley, the actress excels and wins your heart. Vikas Kumar as the CRPF cop Abhay is brilliant. A person torn by duty, hope and expectations of the future (the child), Abhay brings the true aghast of human emotions to the movie with complete honesty and assurance. Sumit Kaul chips in with a marvelous support.
Technicalities
A well crafted cinema where Andrew T. Mackay music keeps the momentum going. Cinematography by John Wilmor is perfect in getting the different shades of the valley. Editing by Afzal Shaikh is fine.
Flaws
Has its share of predictability, you have to be a believer to get the message and it requires some understanding and patience.
Final words
HAMID is a gem that raises the bar, sentimentally sobering and compassionate adage of peace and hope, we have had movies on the situation in Kashmir and will continue to have but HAMID will be remain that innocent call, the humanitarian urge for ages. When did you had a movie that works both ways – a mirror to reality, critical in its innocence and utopian in its dream and belief.
