Sarthak B
"why do skulls keep grinning?
because it is only after death that you know you never lived fully and it never stops even after death."
Haider's got everything. Vishal Bhardwaj directing Shakespeare, Gulzar Saab writing lyrics, Tabu, hard-hitting monologues, breath-taking setting, Tabu, deep and dark political undertones that'll shake your beliefs and question what you know and what you don't until you deep dive through articles and articles and articles and realise how messed up the world really is and... Tabu.
so, how does a film based on a play from 1599, set in 1995, released in 2014 and rewatched in 2022, still manage to be awesome? the answer is quite simple. TREATMENT. Instead of showing us the regular Kashmir Ki Kali that Shammi Kapoor would dance around in, the film takes the state's politics and history and wraps it up quite neatly in very very very high Shakespearian drama. In school, nothing was more boring than Shakespeare, but in the hands of veteran Vishal Bhardwaj, it all feels fresher than ever.
the film does follow the basic storyline of Hamlet, but the meticulous craft with which Bhardwaj manages to inculcate the separatist situations and the nation's reaction to those situations is just brilliant. None of the subplots feel like they shouldn't have been a part of the film because frankly, all of them buildup to an explosive and satisfying climax which I've rarely seen in Indian Cinema. to summarise, the film follows a chain of events that is driven by one mission and one mission only. INTEKAAM (REVENGE).
the acting is just phenomenal. it's in the film, that you notice, what an actor with a caliber of Shahid Kapoor can do in the hands of a good director. the हम हैं की हम नहीं? (Are We or Are We Not?) monologue is still etched in my brain due to the sheer impact of it's writing and the way Shahid delivers it in the film. he's always been good, just his film choices haven't been so "Shaandaar". Then comes in Kay Kay Menon. he is so good as the antagonist Khurram that even when he's acting all innocent, I wanna punch him in the face (he owes me a laptop btw). sometimes, you feel that Shakespeare wrote the part specifically for him. okay, let's talk about Tabu. she needs to be stored in a gold vault and protected forever. it is impossible to take your eyes away from her when she's in a scene. now, talking about the show stealer, Irrfan Khan. his character in the film is brief but, he still manages to steal every scene he's in (as usual). also, his entrance scene might just be one of the best entrances I've ever seen in out of all the 7 pieces of artform in existence.
Vishal Bhardwaj also manages to sneak in the Oedipus Complex that was also quite evident in the original novel without making it seem cringe. this adds an extra layer to Haider's character in manifesting his hatred for Khurram. because, Khurram has done what Haider subconsciously always wanted. kill his dad and marry his mom, which essentially is the definiton of the Oedipus Complex. this also makes the ending somewhat open to your own interpretation as to why Haider chooses to do what he does?
now, talking about the music. It's just mind-boggling. Bismil, Aao Na, Jhelum Jhelum, each and every song is just marvelous. Especially Bismil and a rendition of Aao Na before the very end of the film. Gulzar literally said, I'll take on Shakespeare and write my own version of the song sequence where Hamlet reveals his true desires to everyone. and my god, Dil Dhadke Dil DIl Dhadke indeed.
I think everyone needs to watch this film atleast once in their lives not just to see the brilliance of Vishal Bhardwaj's adapting techniques but also to see the brilliance with which he does it. This also is my favourite among Bhardwaj's so called Shakespeare Trilogy each of which is a brillaint piece of work on it's own.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/13/23
Full Review
Advaith R
A wonderful adaptation of 'Hamlet' with its own twists that may not feel like the original play, but gives an alternate version of it. The main leads did a fabulous job. For me personally, I felt very few parts just dragged a little bit but the movie never failed to engage me.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
07/29/22
Full Review
Audience Member
Very Great & Very Good "Chutzpah" Movie...
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/25/23
Full Review
yash b
The most impressive thing about "Haider" is that it uses a story like "Hamlet" to portray something socially relevant. The movie is a well-made story that works because of its strong performances. The movie does tend to feel like it has a lot of things going on and sometimes I felt myself in and out of interest in the story. Nonetheless, it builds up to a very entertaining and engaging final act that makes it worth the journey. I admittedly have very little experience with "Hamlet" but I am certainly intrigued to watch another version of the classic story after seeing this Bollywood version.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Based on Hamlet, son of revenge to the father's death was murdered by his uncle
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Haider is a good movie but it has its own problems viz., the villain does not show the required emotional depth(is sometimes reflected on other characters) that story expects him to show, moreover, some issues with editing and sharpness of screenplay(at times) impair its quality.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
Full Review
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