Lamhaa

Actors: Sanjay Dutt, Biapasha Basu, Kunal Kapoor

Director: Rahul Dholakia

The dialogue writer of this film is weirdly inclined towards banal repetitions. Among words he chooses to drill in to his audience’s ears again and again – “Operation ’89”, “Kashmir, the most dangerous place on earth”, “Is this a political gimmick?”.“Kashmir ek bahut badi company hai” (Kashmir’s a huge company) seems a perennial favourite.

It refers of course to the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir (either side of the line of control) as a thriving ‘industry’, where interested parties from all corners tend to profit from its eternal flame.

How green is this valley, the film argues, can be gauged from the sheer number of vested interests involved, besides local and international politics, and the military-industrial complex located both in New Delhi and Islamabad. The situation is overwhelming for sure. The film appears even more overwhelmed. It's not easy to make sense of Kashmir. It's harder still then to make sense of this film.

The movie rightly traces the origins of ‘cross-border terrorism’ to 1989, when the American sponsored Mujahideens were high on confidence, with Russia’s defeat in Afghanistan. They flirted with an aggressive move eastward. Kashmir’s little children were recruited to fight in the name of God: “Agla jhumma Pindi mein (“Next Friday prayers in Rawalpindi,)” they cried to moving cameras. Certainly, General Zia’s radicalised regime in Pakistan, fat on Saudi cash, could take care of the accounts. Indian state’s own excesses in Kashmir would have contributed to the Valley’s anger.

The pitch now is queered further still. Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the good) is the leading voice of militancy: “Aai aai Lashkar aai, Bharat teri maut aai” (“Lashkar’s come. So has India’s death.”). Such are the loud words of the street, though years of fighting fatigue have made peace a positive option as well.

State election is on its way. A crack commando from Indian military intelligence (Sanjay Dutt) walks in to the Valley with pre-knowledge of a conspiracy “bigger than’89”. What worse could happen to a region burning anyway is hard to tell.

The brooding MI operative shadows a female fidayeen (Bipasha Basu). Her political boss (Anupam Kher) has had 17 attempts on his life. The last one was a bomb blast the commando investigates, posing as a journalist. He even steals documents from the state police, revealing wheels over wheels within the nation’s security ring itself. Local politics is divided over participation in the elections. A young reconciliatory leader (Kunal Kapoor; quietly convincing) chooses to. His former mentors disapprove.

Dutt, the ‘MI 1’, keeps a lone, private eye over all: old leaders (Mahesh Manjrekar), key informants (tailor, scribe etc). The camera simultaneously touches upon the issue of over 10,000 missing young in Kashmir; Pandits who turned refugees in their own country; frustrated Indian soldiers who make Rs 8,000 a month, buy their own uniforms, long for freedom… The film, in its movements and background score, adopts a tone of serious urgency. Neither however can conceal the nothingness, or immeasurable vastness (take your pick) within. Over-research is an issue: over-reach, an obvious outcome. An aspiration to make that literal, major statement remains ever the movie bitch.

The film’s crackling, shaky shooting style, perhaps for the backdrop, reminds you immediately of Michael Winterbottom’s A Mighty Heart (2007). That phenomenal narrative was so strong on a singular plot that while you knew its subject Daniel Pearl -- the abducted Wall Street Journal reporter -- was no more; you almost believed he could come back.

It seems here, they figured the scattered footage or grand theme first; chose to post a hollow plot around it after. Sometimes the sheer authenticity of a location makes movies worth the trip. This brave effort, shot largely in Kashmir, is certainly no exception on that front. But that’s hardly a reason to recommend a full-length feature.

It is a common sight in India. Whenever there's an accident, people gather around. Those in vehicles stop to watch, from a distance. Yet, very few among them dare to engage with the victims or the incident. The valley of 'Kashmir' is that roadside accident to rest of India.

Indians have for decades continuously stayed in denial about the most militarised place on the planet, Kashmir. Ask anyone in the nation, and all they have to say is the usual government rhetoric, that Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so.

Ask anyone about the 100 thousand who have died there, or the 10,000 men who have been abducted by the security forces and have then gone missing, and you'll see a shrug. Kashmir is a 'political' problem. But a political problem has a human dimension to it, no one understands, or if they do, they don't care.

"Lamhaa" makes an attempt to infuse the personal with the political. The army gets wind of some big operation by militants in Kashmir. Elections are about to take place there and not wanting to take any chances, they involve Major Vikram (Sanjay Dutt), who loves the beautiful valley, to investigate in disguise.

Haaji (Anupam Kher) is the biggest leader in the state who has been guiding the state since the 20 years. Opposing him is his once right hand man and an ex-militant who has turned to peace, Atif (Kunal Kapoor). After the death of Haaji's colleague in 1989, he had adopted his daughter Aziza (Bipasha Basu) and raised her as his own. When an attempt is made on Haaji's life, both Vikram and Aziza try to find out why, even as the valley comes to a boiling point. What the two discover is a web of conspiracy that threatens to derail Kashmir's only hope, and Aziza's love interest, Atif.

Rahul Dholakia has made a name for himself as an 'activist' filmmaker. First with "Parzania" and now with "Lamhaa", he proves that his heart, and even his politics, is in the right place. One only hopes that his filmmaking craft were as well.

"Lamhaa" suffers from too many conspiracies and characters because of which the pace of the film quickens. There's not enough time to meditate on a character, or a tragedy. Audiences might find it little difficult to follow the many twists and revelations in the film.

However, Dholakia gets his politics and writing right. The film is filled with such obvious truths, which sadly due to the one-sided approach of the media, not many know. Facts like it being the most militarised place in the world with the average people to army ratio being 15 to 1, or that it is indeed the most dangerous place on the planet.

It is the duty of art to raise issues that no one else does. Yet like the rest of the nation and media the arts, even cinema, has treated Kashmir as an anathema. Considering this point itself, Rahul Dholakia's "Lamhaa" deserves a million accolades. New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The timing couldn't be more coincidental. National Award-winning director Rahul Dholakia's film on Kashmir "Lamhaa" comes just at a time when the state is facing a crisis following violent protests over the killing of youths in police firing.

Produced by GS Entertainment and distributed by PVR Pictures, the movie set in Kashmir releases Friday. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher. "It is a film that is pro-humanity, a film that makes you think...'Lamhaa' is different from other films made on the plight of Kashmiris... It is from the point of view of the people of Kashmir," Dholakia had told IANS.

"The reason why I decided to make a film on the (Kashmir) valley was that during one of the screenings of 'Parzania', I met a few Kashmiri students. They said Kashmir is a beautiful prison. That's something that caught my attention," said Dholakia, who earlier made "Parzania", a film set against the backdrop of the 2002 riots in Gujarat.

In "Lamhaa", Vikram (Sanjay), a retired paracommando, is sent to the valley to eliminate Pasha, the man controlling the mayhem in Kashmir. But little does he know that what would be an in-and-out operation will change his life and that of the Kashmiris forever. Pasha's on ground network is extremely strong and everyone seems to be an informant. To crack this, Vikram unites with Aziza (Bipasha), who works for an organisation fighting for the freedom of Kashmir.

The intensity of their beliefs and their will to survive all odds creates a special bond between them. Soon they find themselves embarking together on a journey full of intrigue, suspicion and betrayal.

Kunal Kapoor plays a young politician in the film. With hope as the basis of existence in Kashmir, the movie questions if wisdom would prevail in the valley, so that the Kashmiris are not crucified in the crossfire of politics. Not many know that Karisma Kapoor was earlier chosen to play the female lead in the film, but she opted out in the last minute because she feared shooting in the troubled valley. Bipasha, Ameesha Patel and Sonam Kapoor were then considered for the same role, which landed in the Bengali beauty's kitty.

Bipasha fled from the valley during shooting fearing the agitation in the valley. But she resumed shooting with tightened security. Dholakia, however, emphasised that there were no problems while filming in the valley. "We faced no problems in Kashmir. Omar (Abdullah), the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is my friend and he provided us with full security. Also there was full support from the people," he said.

After his sensitive handling of the Gujarat riots in "Parzania", expectations are high from Dholakia's film on Kashmir as well.