Shikara movie review: Vidhu Vinod Chopra's noble intentions are bogged down by a lazy script and surprisingly tepid direction
Films on sensitive, real-life subjects are always tricky and trickier so when it comes to Bollywood, as our masses crave for entertainment (as a result of their already hard lives), regardless the grim reality of the subject. Very few films like Parzania, Maachis, Hey Ram, Manjhi The Mountain Man, Black Friday, Talvar and Neerja have managed to toe this fine fine like. Now, you'd expect a filmmaker of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's caliber, who's delivered classics like Khamosh, Parinda, 1942: A Love Story and Mission Kashmir to be up to the task. Sadly, Shikara, his directorial comeback 13 years after Eklavya: The Royal Guard is marred by a lackluster script and unimaginative direction.
Scroll below to read our full Shikara review:
What's it about
As evident from the trailer, Shikara tells the story of the brutal killings, leading to the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley forcing many of them to live as refugees across other parts of their own country through the eyes of one couple (Shiv Kumar and Shanti Dhar), and how their love story survives insurmountable odds.
What's hot
A few portions like the attacks on the Pandits, their overnight flight from Kashmir, the PTSD experienced by Shanti at a wedding and Shiv Kumar nipping the roots of communal hatred among a bunch of fellow refugee kids hit hard and leaven the desired impact. Shikara's subject matter on hand though needed several more such hard-hitting and impactful moments. Rangarajan Ramabadran's camerawork is another saving grace of the film.
What's not
The combined talents of Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi (in collaboration with one Rahul Pandita) pen a shockingly by-the-numbers screenplay, with abrupt and jagged time jumps, leaving us aghast at how they squander a golden opportunity. With each periodical advancement of Shiv Kumar and Shanti's story, our interest in what happens to them also periodically wanes. Making matters worse is VVC's well-intentioned but ultimately lackluster direction, which leaves you with an understanding of what the Kashmiri Pandits had gone through, minus the ability to feel for them (on screen that is). You almost feel guilty for not feeling for them.
Vidhu's editing, too, along with Shikhar Misra, drags the film, compelling you to steal glances at the time. Vidhu Vinod Chopra the writer, Director and editor all falter big time in Shikara, forcing you to question if a once great talent has lost his touch. It also doesn't help that the two leads, Aadil Khan and Sadia, deliver strictly one-note performances, further disconnecting us from their trauma.
BL Verdict
Shikara is a huge missed opportunity for a subject that screamed for a better film. The Kashmiri Pandits certainly deserved better both on and off screen. I'm going with 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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