Mulk
*ing: Rishi Kapoor, Prateik Babbar, Rajat Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Manoj Pahwa, Ashutosh Rana, Neena Gupta
Rated: 8/10
Once in a while, a stark movie comes along showing you the mirror, compelling you to introspect, question your prejudices, castigate the society you’ve built around you and in the process redefine the meaning of burning issues — issues like terrorism, patriotism, development, society, bigotry and religious divide.
Mulk is one such movie and it does all of the above without playing to the gallery or getting abducted by jingoism. Anubhav Sinha leads the introspection beautifully and astonishingly well enough to draw a house full first day second show too, that too in days of 1,000 screen releases and 20 per cent occupancy.
Mulk is a stunningly good movie on many counts even other than its rock solid story and clear purpose. It unfolds before you an equally solid starcast, boulder big issues, biting realism and exploding of perceptions and myths around polarisation, violence, terror, jihad, agendas and societal divide.
A Muslim family living harmoniously in a gali of Varanasi is suddenly hauled into hell after one of its son’s goes astray and is found to be the main guy behind a deadly bus blast in which 16 persons are killed. There is no doubt that this boy Shahid (Prateik Babbar) has committed the heinous crime.
But after he is encountered and killed, what happens to the family is the premise which sets up the process of introspection. Murad Ali Mohammed, a retired lawyer, lives with his and his brother’s family with a lot of bonhomie with his Hindu friends who attend parties, savour the meat cooked by him and discuss the usuals over the morning cup of tea in a gali chai ki dukaan. All seems well till Shahid pulls the rug from beneath their feet. Suddenly, the family which has a Hindu bahu in its midst (Tapsee Pannu), is branded terror sympathiser and taken to court in a case that sullies their respect, acceptability and existence.
Shahid’s father Bilal (Manoj Pahwa) is picked up as co-accused because he runs a mobile phone and SIM shop and 4 of the 14 missing SIM cards from his facility are traced to Shahid’s terror operation.
The film is divided into two distinct parts which a powerful climax helmed by Pannu. The first half is all about the incident and the second about a tainted family’s difficult quest for justice. The arguments put forth in court are intense and apt and tear the veneer of faulty perceptions that we cloak ourselves with.
Director Sinha makes you think about those Muslim families whose sons and relatives have tread the terror terrain without their knowledge or consent, and, how these families get tagged as terrorati because of the wrong deeds of one among them. The ba izzat bari fight in real life is sadly often lost, mostly because of prejudice and delays.
Mohammad, played brilliantly by Rishi Kapoor, shows you the mirror to one such struggle of one such family. Even refusing to give permission for the errant son’s body to be brought back home for burial, does not help a mother vindicate herself or save her innocent husband picked up for the son’s misdemeanour.
Most importantly, Mulk redefines the concepts of terror and terrorism. Quoting law, it asks you is terror only jihadiij And surprisingly the answer is no. As per the law terrorism is an act of violence against one or group not necessarily tagged to religious intent. So poverty is violence against society as are many other social fault lines. These and many other mirrors polish this meaningful and relevant film at most junctures.
The performances are powerful and arresting. Pahwa as the terrorist son’s father stunningly embodies shock, betrayal, helplessness, fear, shame and police persecution. Pannu flowers in the climax. Rajat Kapoor as the Muslim cop explains how the community has to be more loyal than the king to prove itself.
Neena Gupta as Murad Ali’s wife plus the role to the hilt. And Ashutosh Rana makes a killing as a stridently Hindu lawyer in the prosecution and last but not least, Kumud Mishra as the quizzical and humourous but seasoned judge gives the much needed relief in the proceedings.
Mulk is a movie all must see, internalise and appreciate. A rare gem from Bollywood.