Haider – Don’t look here & there – It’s Haider. Gold****

Haider – Don’t look here & there – It’s Haider

Vishal Bhardwaj’ adaptation to the HAMLET is intense,
engaging, performance oriented and breath-taking. One of the finest
performances you would have seen from Shahid in the recent past or would see in
future. He plays the character he would reminisce in the coming years down the
line.

If you have the flair for this kind of real Cinema which
Vishal brings in on the celluloid – this one should be on your Must List this
weekend. With the actors such as Tabu, Irrfan Khan & Kay Kay the canvas
just gets bigger with their finesse performances. Shraddha Kapoor fits in the
skin of the role she is chosen for & does pretty well in it. Plus you have
perfect fillers bringing the humor live in this dark drama – Two Salman’s
making you laugh out loud.

So somewhere in this play you are taken a back in 1995 in
the valleys of Kashmir; breathe-taking cinematography with the Intense
background score setting up the right mood; unveiling characters and in 10
minutes you feel you have entered into the great era.  Harboring militants is not a good sign in the
valley which is tensed with activists. Through one of the random checks
Shahid’s father is picked & their house blown. Just before this they say
“What would happen to Haider – if anything goes wrong” – Brilliantly you come
out of the dark tunnel revealing the Movie Title On Screen Haider & at the
offset you would see the innocent Shahid Kapoor coming live on screen. Soon he
is caught at the security check for stating he is coming from Islamadabad; Shraddha
Kapoor escorts him out & they reach to the Haider’s blown house. Here you
are taken into Haider’s flashback showing his childhood. Up next Shahid heads
to see his mother Tabu. To his surprise; where she would be mourning – she is
sighted; reciting duet with Kay Kay – Khurram – Haider’s Uncle. Shahid
confronts both of them; however; Vishal’s talent of keeping the curiosity on –
is just fine to keep you engaged rather than you concluding anything. Shahid
ahead stays focused with his goal of searching his missing father at various
hidden camps in the valley with very little help. Just before you break for the
interval; it’s a grandiose entry of yet another class actor – Irfan Khan with
the perfect thump at the background with loud enough “Arey Aao Naa”. He plays
roohdaar with perfect tehzeeb with lines so difficult that it’s difficult to
recall & share some snippets here. These are the things which make a high
repeat value – for those who have flair for this kind of craft.

02

Roohdhar is more of a messenger & he is the one who
conveys Haider that he needs to seek revenge as aspired by his father. What
happens next is the series of madness coming live on screen with Shahid’s
changing patterns be it in his looks or his moods. Focused on what needs to be
done next – the drama has a high adrenaline rush at times continuously in sync
with the background score. The vulnerability Shahid Kapoor brings in- in his
relationship with his mother Tabu – is something which stays with you for long.
The helplessness expressed brilliantly. The creation of complexity done by
Vishal is his characters is something which no other craftsmen could do. Kay
Kay as Khurram stands out in his shade and plays his role at ease.

Bismil Bismil would probably remind you of the Karz Climax
“Ek Hasina Thi” narrating the story. Yet Bismil has its own class of narration
& amazingly choreographed bringing Shahid’s best abilities in vision.
Choreography which doesn’t let you move – keeping you engaged throughout. Next
somewhere you come across 3 Old men while digging graves sing aloud “Arey Aao
Nao …ki jaan gayi” will make you laugh out loud and this is something you would
say only Vishal Bharadwaj can do.

Cinema is Madness – Bringing the Madness live on Screen is a
craft & Haider is Madness. Haider is Cinema.

Go for it. It was rightly anticipated as Gold Verdict.

PK Verdict: GOLD ****