Living a PAKISTANI DREAM.
Yes, Mira nair is exactly doing
that. Not living an American dream and rather living a Pakistani Dream. What a movie and what a performance!!! A movie
to showcase life of innocent pakistanies to be considered and falsely convicted
as terrorist or criminals. The movie uncovers the true emotions of such a man
who goes through all the brutalities of victimization by totally stupid
intelligence personals. The same is shown in one of the scene in the movie
where an officer repeatedly asks the protagonist same question about him being
a terrorist. As if he will change his answer. The nerdy and procedural
stupidity of americans is also shown in many other scenes where the protagonist
is held under surveillance and troubled every now and again without any
particular reason. Since the Americans
have a habit of following specific procedures so they also want everyone to
follow the same. That is how the theme of the movie is built up.
Changez khan (Riz Ahmed) is a
bright Pakistani lad who has cracked into the financial industry of America and
started following the FUNDAMENTALs of the system. He started following what he
is told. Being the brightest pays him with the fastest promotion. He gets a gal
of relations to his boss. He is away from his family but he is LIVING THE
AMERICAN DREAM. When he is on a trip to Phillipines, a devastating attack on
twin towers occurred. On his return, everything is changed for him. At the
airport itself he goes through a thump on his self esteem and then the
receiving American girlfriend asks him “why do they do it”. He starts realizing slowly that he is not
living his life and it’s a borrowed life and a borrowed dream. Mira nair has
captured the emotions very nicely. She has showcased the emotion through
various incidences he goes through with his colleagues, friends, girlfriend and
of course the stupid system. His self respect is completely shattered and self
believe also shambles which is why he misinterpret the efforts of his
girlfriend to celebrate their love. Totally out of self confidence, full of
disgust and embarrassment he decides to come back to where he belongs, to his
own country, Pakistan. Though shattered by American system he is still proud
enough to be Pakistani and being honest. And does not want to prove hard himself
right, honest or innocent by removing his beard or doing whatever they ask for.
This attitude and the feeling of revenge make him join a college to teach
students – FIND PAKISTANI DREAM AND LIVING IT.
Mira Nair has presented a well
crafted movie here. She has captured exactly what she wants to tell –which is
absolutely NOT THE REASON WHY PEOPLE BECOME TERROIST, like most of such movies
show. The movie is really moving and touching. I tried my best to watch it with
a view of filmmaker but could not do it and got so indulged in the emotions
that I started to relate the situation to the real life. Kudos to Mira Nair to
capture the little little things very nicely. And of course a big big kudos to
the Guy - Riz Ahmed. Man, he has acted.
Deserves an award for this one. His act through the transition from a bright
ambitious AMERICAN financial entrant to a PKISTANI activist professor is smooth
and non dramatic. It is as natural as it can be. Fantabulous job by Riz.
Mira Nair has used very raw
cinematography for the film. She has not shown even a single glossy frame which
gels well with the theme of the movie. The make up is very subtle and gives the
original and natural look to the characters. Both of these aspects gives a
feeling of watching a documentary on the real event. Art direction is also very
good. The locations of Lahore looks very real and skyscrappers of Newyork
captures the wall street looks. Some of the frames where the images on lift
doors or burning twin towers of
background on the mirror are really awesome. Essence of Lahore is captured very
nicely by camera which actually goes in the back ground but gives it a original
look. A particular frame where a small girl is walking towards a office to drop
a parcel shows the peculiarity of Lahorian neighborhood. And you can see one
person using 4 filters to filter tea. The background score or music goes with
the theme of the movie. Especially the lyrics of the songs in the background
are actually depicting the situation going on the screen. All in all, the
efforts of Mira Nair to tell a touching, not a routine terrorist story are
commendable.
But Alas,! Hollywood does not
like such movies. Hollywood or America promotes the movie only which go ga ga
over the efforts of Americans to fight the terrorism no matter how big the
collateral damage is. Argo or zero dark thirty are the best examples. Though
the movies were really good. but all the pro American military or pro American
government movies only get appreciated not only by the Hollywood but by the
public, the Americans also. From Indian and Pakistan they just want to see how
we fight our poverty – Slumdog Millionare. So finally this movie will not
feature anywhere in any of the award ceremony of Hollywood. I hope it changes
this time!!!
By the way, on my way back from
the movie at night around 1 o clock I was stopped by the cops twice in the
offence of wearing the helmet and not racing the bike. They unnecessarily
harassed me by asking all the papers and asking all the absurd question at
night one o clock but mind it, they never checked whether I was drunk!! So no
matter it is America or India, innocent people are always harassed for no
reason at all!!! LIVING AN INDIAN DREAM.