Directors: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Rishi Kapoor(as Murad Ali Mohammed), Taapsee Pannu(as Aarti Malhotra/Mohammed), Prateik Babbar(as Shahid Mohammed), Rajat Kapoor(as Danish Javed), Ashutosh Rana(as Santosh Anand), Manoj Pahwa(as Bilaal Mohammed).
Crew: Anubhav Sinha(Writer, Director, producer, Screenplay), Prasad Sashte, Anurag(Musician), Ballu Salija(Editor), Deepak Mukut(Producer).
Language: HindiCrew: Anubhav Sinha(Writer, Director, producer, Screenplay), Prasad Sashte, Anurag(Musician), Ballu Salija(Editor), Deepak Mukut(Producer).
Release Date: 3rd August 2018
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Story-Byte:
Based on a real-life story, Mulk revolves around the struggles of a Muslim joint family from a small town in India, who fight to reclaim their honor after a member of their family takes to terrorism.
Murad Ali with his joint family lives in a densely populated area of Varanasi. His daily chores include a tea from the 'Chaurasi Tea Stall' and a long chat session with his Hindu friends. His son is settled in London and his 'Hindu' daughter-in-law Aati is visiting them for some reason. Thier life turns upside down when his nephew is found guilty of for a bomb blast that killed many innocent lives. What happens next is the main story. Will he be able to cleanse the blame that his brother Bilal is equally guilty for they produced a terrorist?
Overall Movie Review :
Before entering the cinema halls, be ready to be challenged with the question of who is 'hum' and who is 'woh'? Aren't we meant to be 'us'? At the time when Indian Muslims are equally treated like a terrorist for any terrorist act, Anubhav Sinha is with his 'Mulk' trying to challenge the misguided belief that 'all the Muslims are terrorists'
Anubhav Sinha who until now has been busy making fluff-stuff movies like Ra.One and Dus, has joined the wagon of making social movies and made this political-masterpiece which attempts to humanize a community that has been demonized by some negative elements in the society. And it would be safe to say that Mulk doesn't take sides, doesn't make the Indian Muslim community a portrait of injured innocence.
Mulk right from the beginning holds an interesting plot thanks to Anubhav Sinha who spend time developing and capturing the culturally and communally harmonious Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb, Where a Hindu is seen starting their day with a sound of azaan and a vegetarian Chaubey can eat kebabs on the sly at his Muslim neighbor’s home. The cinematographer has proved through his camera the everyday chaos and harmony residing in any community. The strength in the Hindu-Muslim relation is shown so harmoniously that at one point you could guess that this is what is going to be the toll in the chapter. And that is what happens. A small spark of jingoistic nationalism and all amity down.
The plot of the movie takes the actual pace when Shahid Mohammed, son of Bilal Mohammad was proven guilty of a bomb blast that killed many innocent lives but he refuses to surrender to the police. This incident was enough for the Mohammed family's life to turn upside down. Shahid’s father, Bilaal Mohammed (Manoj Pahwa) is taken into police custody under suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities. All the neighbors and distant family relation turns foe thus leaving Murad Ali with no option but to defend his brother and prove that they are equally loyal and honest as any Hindu in the country.
Mulk is heavily used to throw light on how people fall prey to political agendas that intend to divide the country on the basis of ‘us’ vs ‘them’. Through the dialogue-driven movie,it is said again and again repeatedly that 'terrorism has no particular religion.'
Rishi Kapoor, as a patriarch in the role of Murad Ali, looks absolutely brilliant. For a moment you would not be able to differentiate that in real life he is a non-muslim. The pain in him for his family is visible throughout the movie. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Rishi Kapoor in his second inning is getting better day by day.
While Rishi Kapoor was a treat to eyes in his character, Bilal's character, played by Manoj Pahwa is no behind. He is equally amiable. Pahwa as the terror-accused father of a jihadi will make your heart melt with compassion and gullibility.
Also brilliant is the ever-capable Kumud Mishra as the judge presiding over a case that in many ways, changes the way we look at terror-accused families, not to mention court proceedings in our films.
Tapsee Pannu is another actor who through her courtroom scenes proves her steel. Although she delivers the best-written dialogues she at a time fails short, delivering monologues. Ashutosh Rana as a prosecutor is the best in himself. He knows exactly how and when and where a word or phase in a dialogue needs the attention while delivering it.
Prateik Babbar and Rajat Kapoor had some small screen shares but they do their work honestly and leaves no spot complaint.
Indeed being a seasoned actor, usp scenes were mostly given to either between Pahwa and Kapoor or to Pannu and Rana.
Talking about the music, it was the weakest part of the movie being having only a 'kawali' that interested us. Although we felt it was never a need. The screenplay was commendable which looked great accompanied by the good dialogue deliveries. Background score in the courtroom was another plus point.
The fight in conscious, between 'them' and 'hum', went well.
Final Spill Verdict :
Overall, 'Mulk' is a struggle of a Muslim-family, who wants to challenge the misguided belief that 'all the Muslims are terrorists'
The final question ' Is it the 'hum' vs 'woh' that we wanted to see? Does it worth a watch?'
Overall, 'Mulk' is a struggle of a Muslim-family, who wants to challenge the misguided belief that 'all the Muslims are terrorists'
The final question ' Is it the 'hum' vs 'woh' that we wanted to see? Does it worth a watch?'
- Yes, not only because it's a perfect entertainer but because at one point or other we all have made some different meaning of religion and reiterated it with extreme-patriotism rather jingoism.
- Somewhat no, only if you are one who doesn't love to watch an eye-opening movie or is not a part of a human community. Because we, the human always have some kind of pre-build belief and one such is that Muslims are terrorist.
Should I watch?
There is be no particular reason why you should not watch this movie. With the great performance of Rishi Kapoor and other star casts, it's a cherry on the cake. Go watch it for whatever reason. We at least loved it.
There is be no particular reason why you should not watch this movie. With the great performance of Rishi Kapoor and other star casts, it's a cherry on the cake. Go watch it for whatever reason. We at least loved it.
It receives three and a half spill batches from us +half batch more to Anubhav for making a movie on this Sensitive topic:
Do watch the trailer>>>
Do watch the trailer>>>
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