 Perhaps, right on the first frame you’re sure to get grisly frizzled with an appalling pictorial of truck throwing down innumerable dead bodies for mass burial. On the front, it’s clearly implying the directorial touch of how things are gonna be hard throughout the show. 6 parallel stories based on a scandalizing incident; is it an unparallel plotline? Nay! Precisely, ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ strode on those lines. But there’s something more relevantly churned out nearly 6 years ago. Titled – ‘11'09"01 - September 11’(based on 11/9 attack of WTC) – it was a compilation of 11 short films spelled by 11 renowned world famous filmmakers. And getting on for more analysis, each flick composed of 11mins, 9Secs and 1 Frame.
Would this have urged Nandita to pick one such shocking incident in India (Gujarat riot in 2002) and project it on the screens? Not sure about it, you’ve got to ask her. ‘Firaaq’ blemishes the blasphemies of this event that turned once-the land of Mahatma into deadly graveyards. There go 6 parallel stories of various characterizations that never turn-up encountering each other.
Firaaq is an Urdu word that means both separation and quest. The film is a work of fiction, based on a thousand stories.
The story is set over a 24-hour period, one month after a campaign that took place in Gujarat, India, in 2002. It traces the emotional journey of ordinary people- some who were victims, some perpetrators and some who choose to watch silently. As an ensemble film, it fo9llows multiple narratives that are at some times interconnected and at times discreet, yet all are united by their spatial and emotional context.
A middle class housewife closes the door on a woman desperately seeking refuge, and then struggles to overcome her guilt. The loyalty of two best friends is challenged in times rife with fear and suspicion. A group of victimized young men seek revenge as a way out of their helplessness and anger. A modern day Hindu-Muslim couple struggle between the survival instinct to hide their true identities and the desire to assert them. A boy having lost most of his family in the riots wanders through the streets searching for his missing father. A saintly musician clings on to his idealism until an evidence of civil strife shakes his faith.
 Through these characters we trace the ways in which violence impacts both inner and outer lives. Violence spares nobody. Yet in the midst of this madness, some find it in their hearts to sing hopeful songs for better times.
Nandita Das – she’s prodigiously fantastic on her narration as well depicting the characterizations. Few parts that never fade out from your memories post-the-show is all about Paresh Rawal and his brother, young couple planning to flee and Naseeruddin Shah. These characterizations are so impregnably tailored. What’s off-the-wall is an ‘Open Ending’? Not so common in Indian Film Scenario. Well, miniscule groups may perceive this to be more commendable, but not the following groups and they may take it bit tenuous.
A flawless role-playing by everyone on the screens goes as foremost attribute. Sharp characterizations and weaving them with script for couple of hours is yet another top-notching effort by Nandita.
Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography and Sreekar Prasad’s editing enhance the visual quality to the best extents.
Bits and pieces of flaws don’t hit your cognizance. Yeah! You don’t spot them through the course of riveting screenplay.
On the whole, it’s a must worth-watchable flick of this season.
Verdict: Fabulously stupendous….
Rating : *** ½
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