Shakespeares’ Hamlet was not only his longest play but is also considered the most difficult to comprehend. Director Vishal Bhardwaj who successfully adapted Macbeth (‘Maqbool’) and Othello (‘Omkara’) casts his ‘Kaminey’ star Shahid Kapoor in this week’s ‘Haider’ in the titular role. It’s a character stage actors have struggled with given the kind of complexity it deals with. Shahid himself hasn’t been too lucky with movies- apart from performances in ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Kaminey’ or his last outing ‘R… Rajkumar’ (I shudder with fear recalling the trauma I underwent watching it!) which made bucks at the BO, he was nearly on the verge of being written off. For him, ‘Haider’ is a blessing. And I don’t mean the market value here. Bhardwaj has had average successes at best; it’s his vision that counts in film-making.
Haider (Shahid Kapoor) returns to his hometown Srinagar from Aligarh where he was sent for pursuing studies. His father, a renowned doctor is missing after he treated a militant at his place. A brooding Haider finds himself lost, depressed and annoyed. His home is now reduced to ashes and he sees his mother Ghazala (Tabu) happy with his chacha Khurram (Kay Kay Menon). Haider is adamant on finding his father and leaves no stone unturned for the same getting a little comfort from his fiancée Arshiya (Shraddha Kapoor). He begins losing his sanity and revenge becomes his motive when a supposed informer Roohdaar (Irrfan Khan) tells him that his father is dead; his last wish was that his son would avenge his death by killing Khurram- the culprit behind it who had also apparently blinded Ghazala.
Bhardwaj remains true to the text and at the same time takes cinematic liberties but never compromises on the narrative. Set in Kashmir during 1995, this is an adaptation which has a lot to convey and brings forward the mood of the period really well. Shot beautifully in the state but never captured the way it has been earlier, Kashmir is an important character in the film. But amidst all the turbulence is a mother-son story and one that borders bravely on Oedipus Complex, very much a part of Hamlet too. Handled with a lot of maturity and understanding, Bhardwaj’s depiction of it will surely raise a few eyebrows. However, it isn’t an out-and-out serious film; humour is dark and the kind you see in the director’s films. The only problem I had with ‘Haider’ was its music. Songs could have been avoided as they lessen the impact of the drama.
Shahid Kapoor plays Haider as a vulnerable young guy who transforms to a near-insane revenge-seeking furious man. In the process, he delivers his best performance yet and proves that
he may have not been lucky like other stars but he has a lot more than many of them. It’s a very tough role but not for once does he seem to be incapable to carry it off. Shraddha Kapoor isn’t in a very important role but does her bit quite well though she needs to express well. Kay Kay Menon is great as the cunning Khurram and plays it as the character demands- ‘aasteen kaa saap’. Equally good is Irrfan Khan but in an important cameo and yet he makes such an impact. But the best of them all is Tabu; she conveys so much even when she doesn’t speak; as the heart-broken confused mother torn between her son and second husband, Tabu is simply brilliant. It’s a shame that an actress like her doesn’t get many roles in our movies. The supporting cast (each one of them) leaves a mark.
Watch it or not: A must-watch for connoisseurs of good cinema. If masala films is your only idea of entertainment, ‘Haider’ is gonna bore you!
At the Box-Office: ‘Bang Bang’ will be the first pick of the audience; a commercial potboiler with much bigger stars will surely lead. So, ‘Haider’ has to rely on the good word-of-mouth. Made at a much lesser budget than the other release but released in lesser number of screens, this will do decent business. On second thought, Bhardwaj’s films have never been known for the money they make.
My Verdict
My Rating
4.5
If Shakespeare was alive and watched ‘Haider’, he might have rephrased a quote from Hamlet- ‘To die, or not to die: that is the question’… he would cherish this adaptation.
