" One thing is for sure it is quite dark and intense"
So here we have is another adaptation of Hamlet, and the third film in director/writer/composer Vishal Bharadwaj's trilogy of adapted Shakespearean tragedies (Maqbool and Omkara), So we know the guy has experience handling Shakespearean works and turning them into an entirely unique experience, so how does this one fare?
But where are my manners, welcome to Impressions, a movie blog made for and by a movie buff (or at least a person who really enjoys movies). Over here we do not rate movies but voice our immediate 'impressions' on them as total cinematic experiences, cause in the end your impression will matter for you.
So back to the Impression. For a person who rarely watches Bollywood movies (even though I am a citizen in the land of Bollywood), you can be pretty sure that person clearly wants more out of his movie these days and among the usual line-up of commercial movies, Haider clearly stands out as its own.
The plot follows our protagonist Haider Meer, who has returned to his home, The land of conflict, Kashmir, in the middle of the insurgencies in 1995 ,to find out about the disappearance of his father, a doctor, who was captured by the army since he was caught harbouring Pakistani militants. And thus begins a big, extravagant, dark and intense downward spiral of the character into mental chaos keeping true to the Shakespearean tragedy.
Since I have not read Hamlet, this allowed me to see the movie as it is, so I wouldn't compare. The first thing you will notice in this film is its cinematography especially its striking colour palette which accentuates the different parts /moods in story as much as it is used to portray the chilling landscapes. It provides an atmosphere that is very unique yet enhancing the story, something rarely seen from Bollywood movies. In short the direction fares well....times ten.
Now as for its story, in an oversimplification you can call it 'Hamlet in Kashmir', but the effect of its setting changes up so much thing, including the characters, their motivations and actions etc. it totally becomes its own thing. Though the setting is of much debate on how its handled in the film and how new angles are emerging everyday is a testament to the layered characteristic of its setting and story.
Since I am not thoroughly acquainted with the situation I can't really judge the accuracy of the representation of the time period. However, even so, this movie works on so many different levels with its whole plethora of different emotional and psychological undertones of which many of them are further intensified due to the disturbed backdrop of the film. Its intense, very intense, to the point that it may get rather gory for some viewers, but since I was desensitised to it due to Tarantino movies so it was fine for me, but the movie always tries to make you understand why people are doing whatever they are doing which in my opinion adds a good level of immersion to the story, except for the uncle's, which I thought could have been fleshed more, but its rather relative. And not surprisingly all this fleshing out of characters, story and setting does eat up the time resulting to a rather lengthy run time. However, even with its rather slow pace the plot always manages to rescue itself and catches your interest back with an awesome performance, set piece or a significant event etc. Though there is this one song that does break the pace and emotions a bit.....
The Characters and performances are absolutely superb here with really every actor, that includes the lead by Shahid Kapoor as Haider, in probably one of his most intense and rather most chaotic performance as the tortured poet turned murderer; Shraddha Kapoor as Arshia and also by Kay Kay Menon as Khurram, the Uncle. Though by far the best performance was by Tabu as Ghazala, Haider's mother, weaving a great mixture between strength and vulnerability and the movie also shows light into her challenges as a widow.
So all in all it is a well-rounded film with superb direction and characterisation, a lavish setting, a very layered story that adds to it source material and with also some very good songs (special emphasis to bismil), which add to the theatricality of the story . It is definitely not the Bollywood staple. However, this film may not be for everyone as it may not be to your taste, but nonetheless you should try. You will not be dissapointed
so that was my impression.....what's yours?
Now as for its story, in an oversimplification you can call it 'Hamlet in Kashmir', but the effect of its setting changes up so much thing, including the characters, their motivations and actions etc. it totally becomes its own thing. Though the setting is of much debate on how its handled in the film and how new angles are emerging everyday is a testament to the layered characteristic of its setting and story.
Since I am not thoroughly acquainted with the situation I can't really judge the accuracy of the representation of the time period. However, even so, this movie works on so many different levels with its whole plethora of different emotional and psychological undertones of which many of them are further intensified due to the disturbed backdrop of the film. Its intense, very intense, to the point that it may get rather gory for some viewers, but since I was desensitised to it due to Tarantino movies so it was fine for me, but the movie always tries to make you understand why people are doing whatever they are doing which in my opinion adds a good level of immersion to the story, except for the uncle's, which I thought could have been fleshed more, but its rather relative. And not surprisingly all this fleshing out of characters, story and setting does eat up the time resulting to a rather lengthy run time. However, even with its rather slow pace the plot always manages to rescue itself and catches your interest back with an awesome performance, set piece or a significant event etc. Though there is this one song that does break the pace and emotions a bit.....
The Characters and performances are absolutely superb here with really every actor, that includes the lead by Shahid Kapoor as Haider, in probably one of his most intense and rather most chaotic performance as the tortured poet turned murderer; Shraddha Kapoor as Arshia and also by Kay Kay Menon as Khurram, the Uncle. Though by far the best performance was by Tabu as Ghazala, Haider's mother, weaving a great mixture between strength and vulnerability and the movie also shows light into her challenges as a widow.
So all in all it is a well-rounded film with superb direction and characterisation, a lavish setting, a very layered story that adds to it source material and with also some very good songs (special emphasis to bismil), which add to the theatricality of the story . It is definitely not the Bollywood staple. However, this film may not be for everyone as it may not be to your taste, but nonetheless you should try. You will not be dissapointed
so that was my impression.....what's yours?
