Haider
I was
moving out of the theater stunned, devastated, extremely happy and talking
without break about the movie, all at the same time. I was forced to watch ‘Haider’ in a theater, I don’t remember when did I watch movie there last time.
But no regrets. I was immediately lost in the movie once it began making me
oblivious of the surrounding. I went on
the recommendation of my cousin who I was confident would never have faulted in
recommending a nice movie. Shahid puts up a brilliant performance, Tabbu as
seasoned and as matured as always. Deceptively impressive KK and pleasant
appearance of Kulbhushan Kharbanda but in final analysis it’s a directors
movie. In every shadow and light, from frame to frame the director looks all
pervasive. Against the backdrop of gloomy Kashmir we see the humans retaining
imperfections, a strong remainder that the situations apart we maintain our own
good, bad and ugly faces which come to fore in accordance with our self
interests. It sends a strong message that human imperfections, lovable maturity
and undiminished kindness lives forever, Kashmir is no exception.
The subtlety with which the director has
painted the gloomy canvas of Kashmir, a period after the exodus of Pandits,
when militancy was at its peak is superb. The man standing for hours in front
of his house waiting for physical search, Kashmiri digging their own grave in
the snow and sleeping in it, Haider’s outburst at a square against Armed Forces
Special Powers Act and through many such smaller events the director makes his
presence felt. These small frames must be watched and felt with great
sensitivity. There are nuances expressing the plight of a common man, settled
vested interests of all parties who get the benefit out of such situations and
finally the flexibility of men who are ready to exploit the situations, all
shown brilliantly.
A movie worth watching disturbs but
unfortunately the appeal for boycott of the movie has gone viral on social
media, showering abuse on Vishal Bharadwaj for depicting Kashmiri as victim,
painting army as atrocious force, ignoring Kashmiri Pandits … and so on. It actually is a wrong way to look at it. It
is not a propagandist movie. Rapes by security forces, dreaded interrogation
center mama2, arming of local Kashmiri against militants, missing youths in
hundreds and the cry of their parents, illegal detentions and disappearances,
cases of indiscriminate firing on demonstrations these all are part of history
of Kashmir along with exceptional bravery and valour of our young officers and
soldiers when militancy was at its peak. There is no point in denying it rather
it is better to accept the reality, as the human cost in a conflict zone. The
human rights violations are committed by both the sides and torn in between is
a common Kashmiri. His case is no different from a tribal caught between
fighting naxalite and security forces. He has to sacrifice his aspirations or
he does it by falling prey to emotional propaganda ultimately making mess of
his life.
All over the world the conflict zone is
replete with stories like this. To crush militancy security forces want free
hand, more powers unhindered by the judicial process for they consider it war,
not their fault, but many innocents pay the price. This happened in Punjab which
was classically portrayed in movie Machis. The terrorists don’t deserve any
kind of sympathy but when the conflict zone is civilian area and locals are
against forces, the security forces gets suspicious of everybody for even they
also lose brave men. This perpetuates endless violence. Justice becomes rare.
There are graves in Kashmir where
many lay buried without any identity. The book by a Kashmiri journalist Bashrat
Peer, Curfewed Night is a must read for
knowing stories of common Kashmiri ripped apart by deadly conflict. The book does
not embark on anti India rhetoric it only traces the life of victims of
senseless violence that often tends to perpetuate itself. He takes us on a tour
to see life of men and women who had been through the ordeal ten, fifteen years
back. The bloody past pushes them to devastating present. The reality is that
we cannot win war in Kashmir till we win their hearts, how long it will take,
how many sacrifices needed there simply are no answers to such questions but we
better accept the realities of this deadly conflict whose true victim is always
a common man for he is the one who is left alone to die. Else we remain an
occupied force and continue to lose exceptionally brave men. That the power
centers exploit the situations, emotional gullibility endures and system of
co-existence of battling parties settles is a reality revealed in many conflict
zones all over world. Fortunately in Kashmir we have an elected government to
apply brakes to sliding situation.
But
Haider is not about Kashmir problem it is about a young man who gets caught in
a system that denies justice to him but it is more about our imperfections and
how effectively even the bloody conflict is used to settle personal scores. It
vividly underscores that human failings remain intact. The extramarital love
affair and cunningness to finish the barrier through clever use of system is a
known story happening all around. It simply does not fail to appear even under
the shadow of gun. Haider is a victim of system but his fight smoothly turns
into personal revenge, a story that cannot be unique to Kashmir. Haider is not
all about something anti India or anti army or anti … but is a mirror telling
us our capacity to retain our own vices even when the guns are spewing fire.
From my point of view the essence of
Haider is a voice of an old man, of common sense in senseless atmosphere that revenge
breeds revenge and violence breeds violence, nothing else. Unless we get freedom
from revenge we cannot live freely. The message of Haider for me strikes deeper
, a ray of hope that even in worst kind of bloodshed there will always be a
voice, though weaker, but will exist telling that revenge leads to revenge. It
is this seemingly weak voice that defies the huge blast, scattered dead bodies
and blood on the snow.
It
is a silent message louder than the gun fire, it will outlast deafening sound
of bomb blast.
