Ladies and Gentlemen, please pull up a seat as the review of, the intense, Haider, the film, is about to begin.
About Haider.
Haider is described as a romance/drama. The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and is in fact very similar to Hamlet. Sometimes an adaptation can be a bit vague, but this apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Some of the most famous scenes are still included in the film. These include the gravediggers scene, the performance within a play and the final tragedy. This film is a good adaptation to watch if you’re into action or war films. The film is set in the Kashmiri conflict and manages to merge this political movement with the classic Hamlet well. Vishal Bhardwaj, the director and composer of the film, is simply brilliant at putting the puzzle together. Bhardwaj allows enough uniqueness that a Shakespeare fan would find it interesting. But they also add enough action to entertain those who aren’t a lover of classic play texts.
Haider’s Soundtrack.
Bhardwaj also includes just enough music that it doesn’t become annoying. However, I would argue there too much to say that this isn’t a musical. Jhelum and Bismil are two of my favourite songs from the film. Both songs are featured proudly on my ‘Train Journey’ music playlist. The music is perfectly impactful as well as nice to listen to. The perfect combination of cinematic and musical in my opinion.
Shahid Kapoor is an excellent Haider. The transition from sane to arguably insane is done so well it is kind of scary. There are moments, within the film, where I simply forget that he is acting and it gives me the shivers. Tabu does an excellent job at being Haider’s mother and has some rather impressive scenes.
All round, the cast is really well put together. The film is a very intense and nail biting viewing experience. The action is mixed with some very interesting artistic techniques, such as dance, song and puppetry.
Dolly Ahluwalia is the costume designer for the film and is said to have designed each individual item. This really shows in the film, where colours play a huge role in the characters status.
There are twists, turns and explosions everywhere you look. The story is combined with a very powerful political event and it is married together so incredibly well.
The Rating!
To conclude, I think this film is a must watch film, and I know it will remain one of my favourites for a while to come.
I give this film a 5 star rating! The first 5 star here at StageSideUK!
Have your say!
What do you think? Have you seen Haider? Do you agree with this review, or do you disagree? Let me know in the comments section below!
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