Sikandar - Movie Review

Cast: Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur, R Madhavan, Sanjay Suri, Arunoday Singh

Director: Piyush Jha

Producer: Sudhir Mishra, BIG Pictures

Music: Sandesh Shandilya, Jutin-Uday, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Rating: ***
 
Everyone who has ever watched the news or read newspapers or has a quaint idea of what happens in areas like Kashmir probably have their opinions too on the happenings. Everyone has someone else to blame. ‘Sikandar’ tries to delve into the valley and how things may actually happen. And it does give a pretty clear message.
 
There have been films on Kashmir and terrorism. But where ‘Sikandar’ stands distinct is that it brings the turmoil into a child’s dreamland. Terrorism is not an adult’s only game anymore. Children are caught early and moulded in some way so as to create weapons out of them. Works easier than brainwashing an adult…
 
‘Sikandar’ is about a 14-year-old school student played by Parzaan Dastur and how he finds himself holding a gun. It is about how he is used as a pawn in the goals that some adults cherish – ranging from terrorism to political gains. There is a sharp contrast shown in the way the adults and the children react. The change in Sikandar’s (Parzaan) attitude from when he comes across a gun first to when he learns to use it comes across really well.
 
However, there may be an argument put forward in the way Piyush Jha uses the character of the girl Nasleem (Ayesha Kapur). The closeness between Nasleem and Sikandar in a closed Indian society is unreal. And the problem is that the film won’t stand without the relationship. Other drawbacks include overused and sometimes distracting background music and a rather average performance by Ayesha Kapur.
 
‘Sikandar’ does manage to keep you interested because of some nice ‘twists in tale’. There are three turns which leave you figuring what next. Especially the turn at the interval completely surprises you. Another great point about the film is its cinematography. The film takes you beyond what most Hindi films have ever shown you of Kashmir. It takes you into a village, dirt tracks, and football field surrounded by snow capped mountains, rusticity and no Dal Lake. It made up my mind to make my trip to Kashmir at least!
 
Strong performances and characters make this film worthwhile too. Good dialogues are delivered well. The director also does a good job keeping track of the Kashmiri accent as much as possible. Words like washing machine pronounced ‘waashing maichine’ are hilarious as well as authentic. Parzaan Dastur comes up with a great performance holding the film throughout. R Madhavan and Sanjay Suri hold restraint and deliver well. Debutant Arunoday Singh is good too.
 
Overall ‘Sikandar’ is a film which deserves a watch, despite its drawbacks. This is not a film for the masses, but it is a story which needed to be told and has been told to degree which I would say is ‘good’.