What it’s about: It is Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaption of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The story of a revenge. Haider (Shahid Kapoor) wants to kill his uncle Khurram (Kay Kay Menon) for having his father Hilal (Narendra Jha) killed and marrying his mother Ghazala (Tabu). Haider’s love interest is played by a journalist, Arshiya (Shraddha Kapoor), daughter of a cop. The backdrop of the film is Kashmir in 1995. The turmoil in the state at the time, and the turmoil being faced by Haider tie in wonderfully.
What’s good: With Haider, Vishal Bhardwaj’s trilogy of Macbeth, Othello and now Hamlet. While most people would agree that Maqbool remains at the top slot, Haider comes in at second place. Vishal scores where he does best — storytelling. He overpowers you the locations, his actors, the language, dialogues and the background score. This is a subject that could have ruffled many feathers, but that doesn’t stop him from showing what was wrong with Kashmir, or exploring the sexual undercurrent between the mother and the son. Vishal along with co-writer Basharat Peer weaves the Hamlet saga into the tension in Kashmir in mid 90s, making it hard for you to imagine it in any other setting. Haider is a well-acted, well-written and beautifully directed movie with a top supporting cast. But it is Shahid and Tabu that keep stun you with the ease with which they handle the complexities and layers of their characters.
What’s not: While no one expects a Shakespearean to be snappy and quick paced, you will find yourself getting restless with the pace and the length. Twenty minutes too long? The Bismal song though wonderfully choreographed and performed by Shahid is somewhat of a speed breaker as it comes at a point when you are keen to know what’s ahead. The most dramatic moments in the film come way before the climax, leaving you feeling a tad let down as the credits roll. Haider begins as a great movie but ends as only a good one.
What to do: No matter what and how small the faults in the film, it deserves an audience. To experience a film that is so mersmerising that it will stay with your forever, even if it is in bits and pieces.
Rating:3.5 out of 5