Movie Review: Firaaq
Producer: Percept Pictures Company
Director: Nandita Das
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval, Sanjay Suri, Tisca Chopra and Shahana Goswami
 Nandita Das’s much-awaited directorial debut ‘Firaaq’ is released now. The film is based around the dreadful communal riots of Gujrat happened in 2002. Nandita has very brilliantly and with utmost sensitivity delivered it all on the screen. The movie star the veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval, Sanjay Suri, Tisca Chopra and Shahana Goswami in the main leads.
Firaaq’s main focus in on exploring the aftermath of the horrifying 2002 Gujarat riots. The reels unzip with a hard-hitting mass burial followed by the scene where a truck discards more dead bodies depicting the ruthless sight in Gujarat during the riots.
The saga makes rounds across several important characters. Muneera (Shahana Goswami) is a struggling person, who is to restore her life while trying to uncover those ugly faces; who had set her house on fire. The flick also pours the light on a very sensitive issue in which a Gujrati housewife (Deepti Naval) who closes the door on to a Muslim woman, who was seeking safety from a Hindu gang. She tries very hard to get over this guilt.
A modern Muslim couple (Sanjay Suri and Tisca Chopra), under these dreadful circumstances, decides to change the place, as the husband does not want to disclose his true identity and is much scared of doing this. On the other hand, a pious musician, Raghuvir Yadav (Naseeruddin Shah) manages to maintain his calm and remains optimistic about the situation and his retreating student count until his idealism is traumatized. Amidst all, a kid who has lost his whole family in the riots emerges as a witness to the city set on fire.
Nandita Das impresses a lot for picking up a sensitive issue to present it on the celluloid. She is an exceptional storyteller. Ravi K. Chandaran attracts with the camera work. Naseeruddin Shah is fantastic. Deepti Naval is appealing. Shahana Goswami enacts well. Sanjay Suri is great. Rest of the cast too fits the bill.
On the whole, ‘Firaaq’ is a brilliant directorial venture of Nandita Das. A great attempt to deliver the sensitive issue on the screen. A thought provoking film in every respect.
RS Rating: 4/5
Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn
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