No Fathers in Kashmir Movie Review: Ashvin Kumar Delivers a Thought-Provoking Film With Fine Performances

Whenever I have read stories about people staying in Kashmir, I have often come across this phrase 'half widows'. They are the women whose husband's have disappeared. They might be killed either at the hands of the army or the militants, but no one knows, and these women live a life where they can't be even called widows. Oscar-nominated film-maker Ashvin Kumar's No Fathers in Kashmir shed light on their situation, but doesn't make it the movie's main plotline. No Fathers in Kashmir is also a teenage love story and is about the loss of innocence in the turbulence of the Valley. Mahesh Bhatt Questions CBFC’s System of Censorship, Supports Release of ‘No Fathers in Kashmir’.

Noor (Zara Webb) is a Kashmiri girl brought up in Britain by her mother Zainab (Natasha Mago). She was told her father had left them when they used to stay in Kashmir, never to return. Noor returns to her village in Kashmir with her mother and her would-be step-dad to meet her grandparents (Kulbushan Kharbanda and Soni Razdan). There she finds out that her father has actually been 'picked up' by the army after being accused of a militant. With the help of Majid (Shivam Raina) a young Kashmiri neighbour boy who is infatuated with her, Noor sets out to find what happened to her father only to witness the harsh brutalities that the people face there.

It is a bit tricky to write a review for a film based in Kashmir that talks of the struggles of the people there, when all you know about the state is through newspapers and channels. Like Noor's sagely grandfather tells her in this film, 'you really don't know the truth unless you have been out there'.

Last month, Hamid tackled a similar theme where a child seeks out his lost father through a phone call to a wrong person.  What makes No Fathers in Kashmir special is the love story, or rather the threadings of it. Noor and Majid's innocence and how certain events make them get closer only to drive them apart later form the crux of the film. Their bonding built through playful but ill-advised cosplay (where Majid dresses up as a militant just to appease Noor for a picture) to a tender, intimate moment in the woods is endearing. Which is exactly why the rest of their scenes feel heavy on your heart.

Particularly interesting is Noor herself as a character. An outsider to the politics of Kashmir, and yet with a connection with the place, Noor is essentially our eyes of the film. Her search for her father turns out to be our search for the truth there - what exactly do Kashmiris want from India. Being a teenager, Noor is as believable as a teenager of her age could be - driven, sometimes manipulative and over-inquisitive - qualties, that lands her and her close ones in some very tight spots. At one point, she is shown so frightened that she even ditches Majid in dangerous plight, seeking the safety of her own skin, only to repent later and rectify her actions. Through her experiences in Kashmir, Noor shows off the same behavioural characterisations as the adults near her, something she used to despise earlier.

The characters around her who show her the reality of the situation are equally fascinating, Like her mother who wants to ditch the 'half-widow' tag so that she can move on to live with another man. Less fortunate is Majid's mother, facing a similar predicament, but is unable to make ends meet and almost resorts to prostitution. There is Arshid (director Ashvin Kumar himself), a fanatic who seeks freedom for Kashmir for the sake of his faith, but has no answer, when asked what will he do if he manages to get azadi. Yet, when the movie digs deeper into his past, there are some dark scars that changed him for the way he is, just like the ones he has on his back. It is a gutsy move to offer a three-dimensional view for a fanatic Kashmiri character in an Indian film, yet Kumar manages to do so without making Arshid's plight sympathetic. He is portrayed as an opportunist, and he stays that till the end, albeit with a humane factor. There are also some very powerful, poignant dialogues, as well as subtle attempts to generate smiles.

Just like there are troubling issues in Kashmir, but there are quite a few in the movie. The pace is slackening especially in the first half. It is towards the concluding portions that No Fathers in Kashmir gets a firm grasp over its narrative. Also, the character of Arshid, while intriguing and crucial to the plot, get a little more screentime than needed. Some self-pandering from the director, I must say! No Fathers in Kashmir Trailer: Ashvin Kumar’s Film Finds Love and Hope Amidst the Conflicts in the Valley – Watch Video.

The rural characters in the film speaking clean English feels jarring. I can understand Noor and her mother doing so, considering they are settled in Britain. But when Noor's grandmother, who talks to her in Hindi usually, uses English terms flawlessly during a conversation, as well Majid's own conversations with Noor, it feels difficult to digest at times. Broken grammar cannot hide how smooth their English sounds. No Fathers in Kashmir also has a very cynical outlook towards the Indian army. At one point, a young army Major (Anshuman Jha) talks about how they are fighting in the dark when it comes to the enemy there. But have to say, that the Indian army doesn't come off as nice guys here!

The Performances

All the actors, be it the newcomers and the veterans, have done a good job. Both Zara Webb and Shivam Raina are convincing as the youngsters. Kulbushan Kharbanda gets to deliver some of the best lines in the film, the veteran actor is in fine form here. Soni Razdan lends a credible amount of grace as the pained mother who is still coming to terms of her missing son. Ashvin Kumar is convincing as the fanatic leader who motivates others to go for the jannat, while he watches from the sidelines. Natasha Mago, Maya Sarao and Anshuman Jha are all well-cast.

Yay!

- The Performances

- The Love Story Set Against A Turbulent Backdrop

- The Gutsy Narrative

- The Third Act

Nay!

- Slow Pace

- Some Subplots Get Stretched

- The Usage of English By Some Characters

Final Thoughts

Ashvin Kumar's No Fathers in Kashmir is a thought-provoking drama that offers a peephole into the bitter truths of India's northernmost state and the people living there. The performances are good, and the love story is believable. Do watch!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 03, 2019 03:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).