India Broadband Forum

aashaka_gandhi

Source- IMDB/ my own self.....

Saw the movie last nite...

Firaaq is laced with sensitivity while at the same time tackling some hard issues head on that deals with the deep rooted negative human condition of hate and violence.

Set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Gujarat, India, it's an ensemble film with a myriad of characters in multiple story threads which involves a Muslim family who returns to their home only to find it burnt by rioters, of a mixed marriage couple who has to deal with their fears and decision to leave Gujarat for Delhi, of a woman who gets haunted by the ghosts of the incident, and punishes herself for her inaction, of a group of Muslim men all flustered and planning for revenge, of a young orphan wandering the streets, and the list goes on.

In each of the threads, which for the most parts are independent of one another, Nandita Das weaves very moving stories and crafts very interesting characters to function within each story, either serving as a mouthpiece for keen observations, or highlighting very deep rooted fears.

One can imagine the human rights violations committed during the tense period, and it's quite natural to see how the outcome of such violations through the mob mentality, affect the common man even after the tumultuous period had passed over, because deep inside, we all know that some prejudice are hard to eradicate.

The final act was actually quite chilling, and I felt it could cut either way, depending on your outlook. One, that it is of hope, that with the next generation lies opportunity to bury the past and forge a new future ahead filled with better understanding, and the appreciation that such violence should never occur again. On the other hand, it reminds of how impressionable a young mind is, and through the wandering within a camp, taking in the sights of the aftermath of atrocities committed, that the seeds of revenge could have been innately planted, and being ready for improper indoctrination for further atrocities to be committed, some time in the future. It's extremely difficult, but not impossible, to break the stranglehold that violence begets more violence.

Personally, the movie did do a lil bit for me......not much though!!! the movie has shown mostly the aspects of wht happened after the riots.... & moreover it was more on the minor sector.....i feel it shud ve been a mix of both sectors as we cannot say tht only hindus or only muslims were at fault....it all began with the set of (hindu) workers burnt alive in the train @ godhra!!

yes being a gujarati, n stayin in ahmedabad....i ve stayed here n been here when this all happened. i would say the movie has protrayed almost of the real aspects....... every single human in this town n around was scared to death....... it was one of the worse things tht happened......

My comments are with no offence to any of the castes & sub castes!!!

Director: Nandita Das - she has done a good job ...
Story: Nandita Das & Shuchi Kothari
Cast: Tisca Chopra, Sanjay Suri, Naseeruddin Shah, Deepti Naval, Shahana Goswami, Paresh Rawal