Haider (2014)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The movie Haider is one of the best movie of Bollywood film industry.This movie contains some great acting performance from Sahid Kapoor,KK Menon,Tabu and a great cameo by Irfan Khan.The story is really nice, though it is based on Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet but what good way to adapt this Shakespearean tragedy in setting of 1995 Kashmir conflict.Music is also great.Not telling you much about the story I recommend you to watch this movie and get the story by yourself. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In short, MUST WATCH if you are movie lover

Like it was with 'Maqbool' (2003), Vishal Bhardwaj's first film based on a Shakespeare play, I had to watch this one more than once to fully understand and appreciate its value. Although I liked this one a lot when I watched it back then, but was unable to fully comprehend the philosophies that this masterpiece conveyed.Today, with much better picture quality, I paid attention to every little detail. This adaption is not just that, it is an interpretation of its own and an even further extension of what must have been a great story by Williams Shakespeare (I am yet to study this play of his, which I am sure to do today or tomorrow). It is the work of an absolute genius (that Vishal Bhardwaj is) to have drawn parallels and similarities between the suffering and the double-mindedness of Haider/Hamlet and that of Kashmir. A bold move (given that the film-maker does not belong to a country not related to the conflict) that could have been very costly, but the application is so masterly that it leaves you awestruck. It is in general one of the boldest films ever in history of the Hindi cinema.For the first 80 percent of the film's length you get the impression that it promotes revenge, but the end takes such a turn that we are told that revenge begets only revenge, it is rotten and a bloody concept that leads you nowhere but to even more confusion and bewilderment. It is very films-like in the first place to imagine a peaceful life after taking your revenge, and to assume that all settles and goes well in life afterwards. I am not in general against the concept of it, but my objection is to the human interpretation and application of it. It is beyond human emotions to know where to draw the line. The hatred for the other leads us, in most cases, into inflicting greater damage than the other might inflicted upon you. Revenge feasts upon hatred, and hatred does not itself cease after revenge.A fantastic performance by each and everyone. Easily Shahid Kapoor's best, who was surrounded by brilliant actors throughout like KK Menon, Irrfan Khan and Tabu, the flawless Tabu. Amidst all this, a special mention goes to its cinematography. The film-makers missed not a chance to point out the earthly paradise that they were shooting in.

There is, probably, always something tragic and twisted in "the world's most filmed story, Hamlet," after Cinderella and Haider is the latest. To contextualize Hamlet after four centuries that, too, with complex Freudian concept (though kept subtle) is indeed a herculean task. Although coincidental, there seems a strong parallelism of the dynamics of changes between the writings of Shakespeare and socio-political discourses of Kashmir. Around four centuries ago, it seems as if Shakespeare knew how Kashmir, like his plays, would turn from an idealistic honeymoon destination to a tragic spot (from "most beautiful to most dangerous place on earth").The realist cinema, like naked art is always disturbing, and Haider being realistic is mainly because it engaged a well-informed insider, Basharat Peer, to frame its screenplay. Apart from the controversies, it is essential to understand what 'Haider' offers different from the Bollywood's earlier discourses depicting Kashmir. Read the full review by clicking on the link below: http://www.countercurrents.org/bhat080515.htm

There is something daringly exceptional and unfathomably unsettling about the film Haider. Vishal Bhardwaj sure understands his Shakespeare; I must give him that. So much so as to anoint an underrated actor to play one of the most daring and complex roles in both written, as well as film literature. What Bhardwaj never seems to miss, for me, is context. His context is weaved in a thorough understanding of the time and place of a situation. Except, for the inconsistency of the use of Kashmiri accent in this film. And of course, the Salman Khan anachronisms. Salman had not found his machismo up until the mid 2000s. His Dabangg type depiction was out of order. To point that is to niggle! But, of course.But Haider's craft is in its cinematography. We are not in for the plush Kashmir. We are in to see the boils on the snow, encrusted by bombs; the color code of white and black alongside the gushing shades of red. You can almost feel the gush of blood and gore towards the climax. Contrarily, there is this scene in the garden, where Shahid takes a walk with Tabu, which I feel is a cinematic masterpiece. Think of a selfie in that frame and you are sure to get a dazzling shot; except that Haider reminisces the grim too. The beauty alongside the grim! It is also not all gory. If you have an eye, you can see Kashmir in Shraddha's eyes, Tabu's fingerwaves, pots of kehwa put out on snow, the redness of the scarf woven by Shraddha.I was almost aware of the storyline before I hit the theatre. I was constantly looking for tones of Oedipus, as apprised by the critics. There were undertones. But I don't understand why I felt the obverse! A few scenes percolate down your psyche. But one musn't forget that this is just one side of the story. With that in mind, the scenes- where Peer (also the co-writer) peers through his house gate (read 'comes from a short-story by Kashmiri writer Akhtar Mohiuddin'), Shahid's reference to Anantag as Islamabad, the intermittent, yet consistent use of the word 'curfew'… (I wish I had my notepad handy).But my favorite is the scene at Laal chowk. Right after the point when Shahid finds out the truth about his father. Shahid does manage to pull off a great deal of his thespian skills. But he remains an actor, not a character. What haunts disturbingly in the scene is fragments of truth in Shahid's words- the unfailing want of Kashmiris for azadi- from Hindustan, from Pakistan. I must mention here that Vishal Bhardwaj never ceases his connect with History. It kept resonating in 7 Khoon Maaf in the background through the narrative on All India Radio; in bits and pieces here by talking about AFSPA, the 1989 incident, Nehru's promise of a Plebiscite, the exodus of Kashmiri pundits, etc. But this is a movie. A bollywood movie. It never disappoints with aphorisms in war type/depiction of violence. It ends with an adage by mother to her son – that peace begets peace, rage must be quelled to give way to inner peace. Not entirely incorrect though!Shahid tries his best. What possibly works is his below average performances in the past. With little expectations, he shines! But he is always an actor. Does not get into the grain of the character. That is that. He is watchable. Shradha can be given amiss. Tabu is seasoned. Irfan, Kay Kay Menon are veterans. Actors extraordinaire.Haider is not for the lighthearted, impatient caucus. It requires an understanding of Vishal's cinema. It is a journey, sometimes arduous. One must travel through Shahid's melancholia, up hill and down dale of a story- each frame is important, each frame forming the story. It's a sure watch from me, call it my personal Vishal Bias- I try not to miss any of his movies. I saw Matroo with the same zeal as Haider! Please do not download. It requires a cinematic, theatric experience!