Vishal Bhardwaj described how he imagined his Hamlet in the Valley. He says that Indian cinema has been grossly unfair to Kashmir. By Karan Bhardwaj
While the second day kicked off on a dull note, it ended with literary fireworks. The session ‘Hamlet’s Dilemma’ saw an interesting discussion among filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, author Basharat Peer, UK professor Jerry Brotton and theatre director Tim Supple. Vishal, who won critical as well as commercial success with Haider, described Shakespeare as the most dramatic writer of all times. “I can live my life on Shakespeare’s works which is why I made a trilogy on his plays. Haider happens to be my first movie which brought my money back. When I was reading Basharat Peer’s Curfewed Nights, I could relate Hamlet to the place. There’s betrayal, darkness, depression, anguish and love. In no time, I found my Hamlet in Kashmir,” he said.
During the conversation, the audience took an active participation and asked some ‘uncomfortable’ questions to the panellists. One of the questions criticised Vishal on ignoring the plight of Kashmiri Pundits while showing only one side of the Valley. “Kashmiri Pandit tragedy is no less. So many people were thrown out of their houses overnight. However, my film’s time period didn’t allow me to focus on that tragedy. The movie was based in mid 90s while the exodus happened in late 80s. Having said that I do not understand why I am grilled time and again while other film-maker get away so easily. Why doesn’t anybody question Vidhu Vinod Chopra who made Mission KashmirIJ” said Vishal.
Peer made an important point that substantiated the “absence of Kashmiri pandits” from the film. “The book is based in 1995 and we had to have situations and events that could fit into the story of Hamlet. And frankly I could have done ‘tokenism’ to tell their story, but this is not a quota system. It is a great human shame. It is the shame on the nation who haven’t made a film on the plight of Kashmiri pandits. We were making a film and not a visual documentary on Kashmir,” he added.
Vishal added that Indian cinema has failed miserably to highlight Kashmir on celluloid. “We haven’t been able to capture the entire reality of Kashmir in cinema. We have been unfair to the state. Realities like half-widows are painful. In cinema, we don’t do our job properly. If Kashmir had happened abroad, at least 200 movies would have come from Hollywood. But we have chosen to underline and underplay the human tragedy in the Valley,” he said.
Vishal confided that he was scared while making Haider. “But when I look back, I see we got away with many things. I was expecting backlash on the scene where a mother kisses his son on lips,” he said. Peer, the scriptwriter of Haider, who won accolades for presenting the true picture of Kashmir, could visualise Hamlet’s juncture in Kashmir at all levels. “We all know what happened to the Valley in mid 90s. Brother pounced on his own brother, Kashmiris were killing Kashmiris. In the entire conflict, doctors were the unsung heroes. That’s how our Hamlet became the doctor. Kashmir had a sort of colonial law where military had a license to kill men,” said Peer.
Brotton lauded Haider and said that movie has updated Shakespearean work in literature as well as cinema. “At University, many students relate to Hamlet’s multiple interpretations in movies. There is a worldwide fascination for Hamlet in Soviet Union, China, Africa and Asia. I think Hamlet is great flexible figure who is being adapted from the times of colonialism, anti-colonialism to Arab spring,” he said.
The heated debate ended with the large gathering cheering and supporting the expression of cinema and celebration of Shakespeare.
Pun intended
Moderator Suhel Seth took a jibe at British theatre director Tim Supple during the conversation which perhaps left Supple embarrassed. Supple was pressing that theatre and texts are a better way to present Hamlet to the audience citing differences between ‘cinema adaptations’ and ‘theatre translations’. He said that Shakespeare, who was born in England, has been rewritten in different languages by different people. Suhel, known for his witty and candid remarks, immediately responded by saying Indians now know better English than the British. “Most people in India speak correct English than the English themselves. We still believe in Wren n Martin book of grammar while you have ditched it long back. We now contribute more words to Oxford dictionary so we are introducing you to the English language,” said Seth. An amused Supple got up from his chair and banged the floor jokingly.