Haider

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.