This was the first movie of 28-year-old director Sharique Minhaj, and as evident from IMDb, his last too. With a central conflict (hero & heroine stuck in the middle of Hindu/Muslim riots) somehow similar to that in "Mr. & Mrs. Iyer", the two still differ very much. In style, but not too much in value.
The film was first rejected by India's Censor Board, one of the reasons being that the Chief Minister (of Gujarat) actor bore "an uncanny resemblance to Narendra Modi". Wikipedia tells more about Modi's career and the controversies around him (he was last reelected as Gujarat CM in December 2007). So beside the tragedy unfolding, this movie also has a strong political message (that the chief minister let the rioters go unchecked), which is also echoed in other news resources on the Web. About the riot representation, Minhaj was quoted as saying "If there is one incident where minorities are being targeted, the next shows Hindus being attacked". His message, from the first to the very last shot, is an appeal to unity among Indians, regardless of religious affiliation.
In second instance, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal again refused to let this movie be shown. - I'm not sure about the ensuing story, (I read one quote by the director: "The board asked us to cut seven out of the total 16 reels. When we sought revision, we were asked to cut nine reels and re-shoot portions elsewhere."), but it finally got released sometime later, and even made it to be dubbed and subtitled in German, which is how I could get it.
I watched it twice, and the second time around I liked it more. Part of the music is fascinating (the schoolchildren's song&dance is touchingly patriotic, but quite too long and repetitive though), and Faisal Khan provided an interesting face (which in the light-mooded first half was surprising, but in the dramatic parts impressed me much). The Sikh clowns (police and train conductor), obviously thrown in for comic relief, didn't appeal much to me. But in general, I found this movie very viewable (many train scenes, too :^) and thought-provoking, especially after some research on the back-story.
I cannot call it bad. Pity it seems to have ended his director's career immediately...
The film was first rejected by India's Censor Board, one of the reasons being that the Chief Minister (of Gujarat) actor bore "an uncanny resemblance to Narendra Modi". Wikipedia tells more about Modi's career and the controversies around him (he was last reelected as Gujarat CM in December 2007). So beside the tragedy unfolding, this movie also has a strong political message (that the chief minister let the rioters go unchecked), which is also echoed in other news resources on the Web. About the riot representation, Minhaj was quoted as saying "If there is one incident where minorities are being targeted, the next shows Hindus being attacked". His message, from the first to the very last shot, is an appeal to unity among Indians, regardless of religious affiliation.
In second instance, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal again refused to let this movie be shown. - I'm not sure about the ensuing story, (I read one quote by the director: "The board asked us to cut seven out of the total 16 reels. When we sought revision, we were asked to cut nine reels and re-shoot portions elsewhere."), but it finally got released sometime later, and even made it to be dubbed and subtitled in German, which is how I could get it.
I watched it twice, and the second time around I liked it more. Part of the music is fascinating (the schoolchildren's song&dance is touchingly patriotic, but quite too long and repetitive though), and Faisal Khan provided an interesting face (which in the light-mooded first half was surprising, but in the dramatic parts impressed me much). The Sikh clowns (police and train conductor), obviously thrown in for comic relief, didn't appeal much to me. But in general, I found this movie very viewable (many train scenes, too :^) and thought-provoking, especially after some research on the back-story.
I cannot call it bad. Pity it seems to have ended his director's career immediately...