Review: ‘Lamhaa’ has a unique take on Kashmir issue

Spicezee Bureau

Director Rahul Dholakia seems to have a penchant for recreating real life experiences on silver screen, as post the National Award winning ‘Parzania’, Dholakia has once again come out with a hard-hitting film ‘Lamhaa’, based on the burning issues of Kashmir. Starring Sanjay Dutt, Anupam Kher, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor, ‘Lamhaa’ is a story based on the trials and tribulations of the valley people, grappling with the demons of religion, politics and terrorism. If you think that ‘Lamhaa’ offers a panacea to the problems of Kashmir, the answer is no, as it offers no welcome respite to the age old issues of the valley. For once, you might sympathise with its characters, but in the end, you are repelled by the mindless bloodshed in the name of sham morals and freedom, as portrayed in the movie. ‘Lamhaa’ is the story of Vikram Sabharwal/ Gul Jehangir (Sanjay Dutt), Indian military intelligence officer, who harks back on the Kashmir of 1989, which is torn by bloodshed and violence. However, with election season around the corner, intelligence officers come to know that terrorist groups are plotting an evil scheme to disrupt the peace on the valley. Finally, Jehangir is roped in to foil their evil plans and comes across separatist leader Haji (Anupam Kher), and scores of characters who promise to help him for a price. On the other hand, Aziza (Bipasha Basu), an outspoken Kashmiri girl, undergoes a complete transformation, when she comes face to face with reality. In the flick, almost all characters are fighting with their own concept of freedom (azadi). If Haji seeks freedom through his separatist ways, Aatif (Kunal Kapoor) comes across as a stubborn rebel, who dreams of freedom by fighting an election. Like all other films on Kashmir, ‘Lahmaa’ too harps on the violence faced by Kashmiri Pandits to the extent of romanticising it. In terms of acting, Kher and Dutt are commendable and Bipasha and Kunal have delivered an average performance. In all, ‘Lamhaa’ lives up to Rahul Dholakia’s serious filmmaker image, as the movie ends up as a hard-hitting flick on the struggles of valley. Ratings: Three cheers for this one!