In its promotion, Firaaq claims to be ‘A work of fiction based on thousand true stories’. However today, the SIT (Special Investigation Team) of the Honorable Supreme Court of India has dismissed many of the cases as false stories. SIT says witnesses were tutored to give evidence about imaginary incidents, which have been doctored by activists like Teesta Setalvad. (Ref Economic Times, Delhi Edition 14th April 2009 “Setalvad in dock for ‘cooking up killings”).
I am not a Narendra Modi supporter nor am I here to dispute the so-called facts depicted in Rraaq. I was personally deeply hurt by what happened in Gujarat at Godhra and the post-Godhra riots. Not because Hindus were killed or Muslims were killed. My pain was more, if I quote Nasseruddin Shan from Firaaq itself, “Mujhay gham iss baat ka hai, ki insaan insaan ko maar raha hai (I am pained by the fact that a human is killing another human). Nandita Das is a fine actor and a good director. Firaaq
is actually a well directed movie. However the activist in her overshadows the director.
Firaaq is a completely biased version of the Godhra riots, painting almost all Hindus and the police force with the same brush. It projects all Muslims as victims and conveys the message that being a Muslim in Gujarat (and probably anywhere in India) is a crime. I am not contesting what Firaaq had depicted is true or false. And that is not what hurt me. Even if it was true, what one has to consider is the motive behind such a movie and the display of gory details.
In the current times of hostile environment in our country, far from leaving a message of possibility of peace, mutual
respect and amicable future, Firaaq leaves open wounds. It leaves Muslims with the feeling that they have been discriminated against, challenged, killed, raped and are unwelcome anywhere. At the same time, it leaves Hindus with the feeling that it is not over yet. Muslims will get back at them; revenge is pending. While some critics had called the much-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire ‘poverty pornography’, I think Firaaq is social and communal pornography. Ms Das has tried to make a Schindler’s
List on Gujarat.
Firaaq is very well acted. It has some of the finest performances by Deepti Naval as the helpless woman who cannot come to terms with the brutality around. Naseer is great as usual, as an eternal believer in love and peace. Sanjay Sun has played the role of a confused urban Muslim with finesse. Shahana Goswami continues to inspire with her acting. After Rock On!!, this
is one more brilliant performance from her. Nandita has to learn that she would need to separate the activist in her from the director.
Debutant director Nandita Das has had a difficult task making a movie like Firaaq on the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots. This is a fictional account set one-month post the riots and unveils through multiple parallel narratives. Nandita begins her movie with a mass grave being dug for the people killed in the riots. Incidentally, the gravediggers recognize friends, family and neighbors when they unearth the limbs and torsos of the riot victims.
Critically analyzing the movie, we find that it reminds us of Nishikant Kamat’s Mumbal Meri Jaan. Like Kamat’s film, Firaaq also depicts the stories evolving post the event. However, the character conflicts and their dialogue aren’t as sharp as in MMJ. Though Nandita’s characters are effective, they tail to lead to solutions. Also. Sanjay Sun’s overnight acceptance of his true identity is beyond persuasion. Deepti Naval depicts her character very well and this once Paresh Rawal isn’t his usual comic self.
Nandita isn’t pessimistic in showing violence and hatred. She had tried her best to end her film on a positive note. Though not flawless in subplots and pace, the movie succeeds in conveying its message of cordial relations between the two historically divided communities.
Abhinav Srivastava is a creative entrepreneur who is at the moment making a Music Portal on Bollywood songs for Music Lovers. His creative accomplishments span across the production of several hundred animation projects, casual games, music compositions, cartoon animated series and virtual worlds for kids.
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