Why I Won't #PrayForParis

The devastating attacks on Paris display the mindlessness of terror and its will to just kill. Paris is hurt and heavily bruised, it needs to gather its courage and stand up stronger against terror. The French President, Francois Hollande declared a state of National Emergency in the aftermath of the attacks thus making this the most painful tragedy in the Western World after 9/11. But wait, isn't the world larger than just the Western World?
Shouldn't the Syrian Refugee Crisis be given similar importance? Those refugees are running away from the same terror that France experienced for three hours, only those three hours are 24*7 for them. They are forever uncertain of their life in their own country and have had to leave it in order to just survive. People have left with hardly any material possessions, they gave up their claims on the houses that took them years to build , the play grounds their children grew up in and on all their favorite dinner restaurants and places of worship. They suffer too, I would say more than France, although terror is terror and it is unfair to compare. But no, I will. Terrorized French nationals have a place to go to at night, however the refugees have no proper roof over their heads.
Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East have been burning since several years and yet the leaders of the world refuse to sit down and decide on a foolproof policy to bring about peace.
Beirut suffered heavy bombings two days before the Paris tragedy but not even half of the coverage given to the French attacks by the international media were given to the Beirut bombings. Middle East has been burning, and continues to do so. It is time that we address the issue and not selective victims: terror needs to be minimized if it can not be completely eradicated, countries that are affected by terror need to be shown equal solidarity irrespective of them being third world countries or members of the Big Five.
Also, as Joan Sfar a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist points out, "Pray for Paris" is a misnomer. We don't need more religion. The people who carried out the inhumanly attacks were too driven by religion (on a level of fanaticism). Religion is not the answer, faith, love and support, I feel are the answers, not only for Paris but for the entire world today.
So when you update your status on the numerous social networking sites today, remember to hash-tag them with love and support, not only for Paris but also for the entire world. :)

Haider: A Movie Review

Haider 

I'm writing this blog almost immediately after having watched Haider (immediately if you don't count my dinner :P) I was awaiting the movie since long and was already mesmerized by it's soulful music. Bismil and Aao na are way too good to not be favourites.


my rating- 4/5  (go watch it!)

About the movie now.
Haider has been directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and is an adaptation of Shakespeare's play hamlet. Vishal Bhardwaj has adapted the bard's play into beautiful movies before too, Maqbool (Macbeth), and Omkara (Othello) were also based on plays by him. Siddharth Roy Kapoor and Vishal Bhardwaj have co produced the film. The cast of the movie includes a melange of talent ranging from Shahid portraying the young Haider, Shraddha Kapoor playing Aisha, a journaltist, Tabu, Haider's mother, Kay Kay Menon, as Khurram Meer , Haider's uncle to Narendra Jha as Haider's father. Irrfan Khan also has a special role in the movie.

The film is set in Srinagar in 1995. Haider's father the life saving doctor brings home a wanted militant to treat him when there is a crackdown. he is taken into custody and then disappears. Young Haider returns from Aligarh to see his mother enjoying her time with Khurram, her husband's brother not long after his father was taken away. He sets out on a search to find his father who has simply disappeared. He tries every legal option and when that is exhausted resorts to unlawful ways. Haider is then determined to murder his uncle, who, he is informed, was responsible for his father's death. The film then explores the various acts of aggression and the mental upheavals experienced by a young boy.

Haider is a bold film. its a fresh piece of daring cinema. it is probably Bhardhwaj's best film so far (don't take my word for it, I haven't seen all his films) the tragic location of Kashmir fits the cinema's atmosphere perfectly and it brings forth several word-less emotions. it goes beyond the entertainment, dance-and-songs and portrays a story worth watching. the characters are all strong in there own ways and they do not try to please the audience. Haider reminded me of the kite runner, the tortured soul,  he is too. the movie calls a spade a spade. the characters play hero as well as villains at different points in the movie. it explores the various facets of the Kashmir problem and does not, at the same time, endorse any particular way or solution.
Bharadwaj explores several themes- violence is Destructive is the most dominating one. Entire families are wiped out, policemen lose their lives within the blink of an eye, the young, the old, the troubled are all a depressed lot and this is somehow augmented by the location. Clouds of smoke against the pristine white snow, pools of blood too contribute to the haunting experience. The director has also dealt with the Oedipal Complex, Haider is a man who loves his mother beyond the normal and at the same time detests her for having betrayed his father.
the dialogues are good too. sentences like 'Hum hai ya hum nahin?', bring out the unconfirmed confused identity of the people. Haider even remarks 'Pura Kashmir ek quaid khana hai'.
The movie flows beautifully before the interval, no overwhelming songs, or dances and no melodrama. The second half however feels extremely long and towards the end one gets impatient due to the lengthy duration of the film.The music is nice and rustic. Some local songs have also been incorporated like Rosh Vallo; other than Khul  Kabhi which feels unnecessary and needless, the other songs blend into the movie and transport the viewer forcing her/him to feel the emotions of the scene.
There is flawless acting on the part of Tabu. she brings out the desire of Ghazala to experience happiness in conflicting, tragic situations and be denied of it every single time. She carries a major part of the film. Kay Kay Menon convinces one of his finesse in acting, he play the villain and the hero with equal grit. Shahid in the beginning feels disconnected however gradually the actor comes to own the role, he cries, screams, laughs, fights with equal passion. Shraddha does not have much role, the little that she has, she portrays confidently.
All in all, Haider is a must watch for people who are tired of entertainment movies. It leaves the audience with food for thought and is haunting and appealing at the same time.