Film: Shikara
Cast: Aadil Khan, Sadia, Faisal Simon, Priyanshu Chatterjee
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Ratings: 2.5 Moons
January 19, 1990, was a black night in the pages of Indian history as Kashmiri Pandits had to flee their homes in the Valley to live as refugees in their own country. 30 years later, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who was one of them, has made a film on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
His film Shikara addresses the issue of ethnic cleansing and riots that took place in 1989 in Kashmir and chronicles the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir on the night of January 19, 1990, through the story of Shiv Kumar Dhar (essayed by Aadil Khan) and Shanti Dhar (essayed by Sadia). At a time when Kashmir is trying to get back to normalcy, Chopra takes us back to a time when Jammu and Kashmir was a state with its own Constitution and decides to tell the story of love. It also shows the layers of blooming romance in the conflict-ridden state of Kashmir.
While Shiv is of the opinion that hatred can be overcome with love, Shanti is his backbone. They get married and start a new life in their new home, Shikara, only to witness the Islamist insurgents threatening the Kashmiri Pandits with killings and blasts. While the community hopes that all will eventually subside, they eventually face the final brunt and have to leave the valley. With thousands of other Kashmiri Pandits, Shiv and Shanti too start their new life as refugees in Jammu. Shikara is thus heart wrenching because it will make you think how dead humanity is and how greed and hatred can ruin even heaven.
While Shikara and its lead character evoke hope that love can win the war, there is no acknowledgment of the fact that the majority community in the state kept silent in the face of atrocities committed on the Pandits. And the ‘simplified’ version of the exodus by ignoring how and why it all started, takes away from the film’s idea. Although it is understandable that a feature film cannot fathom the Kashmir politics alone, but an audience, one would certainly like to see the story of other side as well. Chopra has, without any qualms, overlooked the political backdrop that led to this tragedy. Although he explores it, he does not really delve into it or gives it enough screen time. While he brings forth the grief of losing a home to unknown forces, he reduces the complex issue of Kashmir, about which it was once said - “Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast”. Kashmir is certainly Paradise Lost but why? We wish Chopra had explained why the Hindu-Muslim binary changed when it did.
The screenplay, written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rahul Pandita, and Abhijat Joshi, combines real incidents and a fictional love story. The lead actors, both debutantes, shine in every frame and AR Rahman's music does its magic every time.
PeepingMoon gives Shikara 2.5 moons
(Source: PeepingMoon)
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