Haider [2014]

Language - Hindi
Director - Vishal Bharadwaj
Run Time - 2 hours, 40 minutes
Genre - Action/Drama
Starring - Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon

Haider is an exceptional film. It is probably the only Hindi movie this year which shall receive my heartiest appreciation. Vishal Bharadwaj has struck gold this time, and he seems to be one of the few directors  who can get a good performance out of Shahid Kapoor [Kaminey also]. After watching this movie, I'd like to say that Shahid Kapoor can actually act well, when he does not over-act. His monologue scene was nothing less than remarkable. He essays a multitude of emotions in this film, and does so with extreme ease. I am amazed by this wonderful performance.

Add to that, the brilliant acting of all the supporting actors, be it Tabu as the caring, loving mother who uses emotional torture to get her son to listen to her, or Kay Kay Menon as the conniving uncle; we get an exciting movie. But what blew me away was the entry of Irrfan Khan. The majority of audience [me included] was not expecting him to be in the film, and the director shows his entry with such class, and swagger; we are left awestruck. Shraddha Kapoor's performance, as always, seems very mediocre.

WARNING - A SPOILER AHEAD. READ IT THOUGH, IF YOU KNOW HAMLET'S PLOT

This film is a remake of the play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, and Vishal Bharadwaj perfectly presents it to the Indian audience. What would be more intriguing to the Indian audience than a story revolving around terrorism and revenge? Yes, a case could be for nonsensical comedies made year round, but lets leave it at that. The plot of Hamlet has been perfectly replicated here with Haider [Shahid] looking for vengeance against his Uncle [Menon], who has had Haider's father killed and also started a romance with his wife [Tabu].

Such is the complexity of Haider's character that at time we wonder if he has actually gone nutty due to trauma or it all a farce. Bharadwaj also adds a touch of comedy to take off the seriousness of the film by the introduction of the characters of Salman and Salman, who love the 'Bhai', and spend their time watching movies of him, and also try to behave like him, one of them being quite successful in doing so. Also, the scene where Irrfan Khan points out how the psyche of the people living in the state has become that they feel the need to be checked at every point is quite sardonic.

Another element I really liked about the film was the filmmakers ability to mix the present and flashback scenes perfectly.

Also the soundtrack as well as the background score are quite brilliant. Loved how aptly the song Bismil plays into the sequence of the movie. And again, what a performance by Shahid during that song.

One point that bothered me was the song 'So Jao'. Yes the song is quite good, but I cant comprehend the dancing/enacting of the song in the movie. It was quite absurd.

Don't miss this gem of a movie. My Rating - 8.5/10