Haider (2014)

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Haider the VB version of William Shakespeare's Hemlet. This man VB(Vishal Bhardwaj) is real magician,he know how to take out juice from the script and how to best utilize Shahid Kapoor in row. Kashmir problems are very well casted in the story.and fetch knowledge to those who are unaware of day to day life in Kashmir. As per me every inch of the movie is the outcome of perfection.great performances by actors, thanks to Shahid,Tabu,Irfan,Kay Kay Menon.Music is very close to heart and background score is again give complement to screens. Kashmir shown in the movie is beautiful which actually drag you from screen to fresh hills. Choreography for the song Bismil is at its best,generally you will see such type of work in Ashutosh Gwarikor's movie but here at Haider you will find some fine work in choreography, Best thing; awesomestoryline and acting performance. Weak thing:movie little bit allow you to take Quick nap in middle.When you have khan then please allow some more time to him on screen. Why to watch: if you really want to know how is the life of Kashmir's and what are there daily requirement which is generally not as per our requirement.

As a subtle philosophical tinge that cinema is a powerful tool for political mobilization and mass persuasion, Slavoj Zizek notes beautifully that, "It doesn't give you what you desire, it tells you how to desire." Haider is the adaptation of Shakespeare's famous Tragedy Hamlet; and the latest Bollywood movie about Kashmir. Question is whose tragedy is Haider? Why many people waited for Haider to release, and see the latest take of Bollywood on Kashmir? There are two reasons why Haider had generated some curiosity among Kashmiri movie lovers: One, it was the adaptation of a play, the story and plot of which was already known to many literature lovers and Shakespeare fanes. Two, its script was co-written by Basharat Peer and directed by Vishal Bhardawaj; Peer known as pioneering English fiction writer amongst Muslims of J&K, and Vishal a successful director for adapting Othello and Macbeth as Omkara and Maqbool respectively. Basharat Peer––whose memoir Novel Curfewed Night gave him unprecedented popularity as a writer of the 'ordeal' of Kashmir Conflict. More than Bhardwaj's credentials it was Basharat's involvement in the script writing that many envisaged a change in the routine Bollywood rhetoric. Haider is a typical Bollywood feature film, no different from: Gangster, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns or Gangs of Wasseypur. It doesn't offer anything on the reality of 'what' is happening inside (or with) Kashmir. Rather, it makes a serious attempt to showcase how a real struggle can be reduced to a family feud under the garb of (mis-informed) adaptation of a Shakespearean classic. In the midst of its mis-informed adaptation it lets the Zizekian tinge (of how to desire) creep in. Film adaption as a derivative work needs to be creative so that the "thin red lines" between the original and its adaptation are respected. An adaptation needs to take care of the background, which forms its foundation–––more so when the background is highly political and sensitive setting like Kashmir. In a new backdrop and setting it needs to take note of minute details such as culture, historicity, contemporariness, traditions, dialect and so on. The question is how far has Haider been successful in adaptation of Hamlet in a highly political backdrop of Kashmir? Is the attempt artistic or political? If it is political, whose politics does its serve? And why do we need to ask these questions at all? Some Kashmiri friends feel highly obliged that Haider has depicted some fractions of conflict. In a Kafila blog, Suhas Munshi writes that "for faithfully adapting the violence done to Kashmiris," Basharat would have to "script a pornographic narrative for screen." The point is not whether Haider succeeds or fails in faithfully portraying the victimhood of Kashmiris from all angles of conflict (structural, political, torture-al etc). This can be a one vantage point to see how far Haider has successfully been able to portray the ordeal of Kashmir that falls within the limits of its frame. And how Basharat ventured to associate the limited frame that forms Haider with its outside–––the power relation(s) that are so central to the familial relations of Haider's characters and yet so distant (and mysteriously absent) from its frame. For the relations between Haider (Shahid) and his uncle Khurram (K. K. Menon), Arshia (Sharddaa Kapoor) and her father Pervez lone (Lalit Parimoo) are not mere personal relations. They have a deep political nature, which Haider has not endeavored to look into. The invisible hand of sovereign amidst these relations is absent in the frames of Haider. Instead the film attempts to cut a slice from these deeply political relations and present it to the audience in an altogether different avatar–––an avatar which reduces a struggle for aspirations and a fundamental right (Right to Self-determination) to a revenge saga. See the full review at http://sanhati.com/articles/12422/

Haider is one of my most awaiting movie of the year., I must say this is the best work done by Shahid Kapoor in his whole career. Tabu is natural in her role. The supporting cast Kay Kay Menon is good. Shraddha is also good.The relationship between Tabu and Shahid was far beyond than Imagination. Their Chemistry rocks and binds the viewers by their Performances. The story, screenplay, and dialogues are very good. Songs are superb. The track Bismil becomes too good with Shahid Dance and Expression. The Psychotic role in second half rocks. The guest appearance by Irfan Khan is superb. The back ground score is good.All in All I say this Movie is must watch. Ten on Ten

Director Vishal Bahradwaj's 'Haider', the talented filmmaker's third brilliant Shakespeare adaptation, sets the story of 'Hamlet' in 1995's war-torn Kashmir (Northern India). Not only does it shed light on the civilians' plight, the military atrocities and rising tensions in Kashmir during that period, but also explores the lead characters in such unique light, especially, the mother-son relationship; the sexual undercurrent is maintained well, quite nuanced.Haider's character might deviate a bit from the original story, but his development is intriguing and apt for this story. The film not only gives us a strong Hamlet (Haider), but also gives us a memorable Gertrude (Ghazala); she's the more mysterious character, we never know what's going on in her mind. These characters are strong because of the excellent writing and the terrific performances by the two actors, Shahid Kapoor and the ever-so-beautiful-and-sensational Tabu. Kay Kay Menon is excellent as always, and Shraddha Kapoor also gives a commendable performances.The cinematography by Pankaj Kumar is just spectacular; he has captured Kashmir with such elegance. The music composed by the Director himself (as always) is quite mesmerizing; they certainly add to the charm of the film. I liked the rage-filled stage-play song ('Bismil'), and really loved the grave-digging song ('Aao Na') as well. The only annoying thing was the particular score from 'The Bourne Ultimatum' which was used twice in the movie; it was a bit distracting.After the movie is over, everyone would very well remember the word 'chutzpah'; the satirical references of this word with the military's (AFSPA) actions were quite hilarious. The Salman Khan and 90's songs references may not be understood by people who don't follow Hindi cinema.It's mainly a political drama, and has an interesting opinion on revenge, and among all this, it was interesting to see how Bharadwaj created these Shakespearean moments at crucial points in the story.Ultimately, it's not Bharadwaj's best film, but it's certainly one of the best adaptations of 'Hamlet'.