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Fiza:
A promising start and a slow finish
The suspense
is finally over. The much-awaited and talked about Fiza has
been released. Apart from a few flaws such as a slow second
half, the film does live upto the expectations one had from
the critic-turned-director Khalid Mohamed.
Fiza is the story of a Muslim family comprising Jaya Bachchan
(Nishatbi), Fiza (Karisma Kapoor) and Amaan (Hrithik Roshan).
The happy, close-knit family is thrown into turmoil when Amaan
goes missing in the Mumbai riots of 1993. Even after six years,
Nishatbi is unable to accept her son’s loss and lives
in the hope that he will come back to her one day. Fiza, on
the other hand, refuses to live in the illusionary world.
She completes her graduation and begins looking for a job.
One day she spots Amaan on the busy streets of Mumbai and
her hope rises. She then sets out on a mission to find Amaan
and promises her mother that if he’s alive she will bring
him back.
The first thing she does is get an article published in a
newspaper. As soon as it appears, politicians belonging to
different religions and parties try to cash in in the garb
of promising to help Fiza. The fiery Fiza sees through their
pretensions and decides to conduct the search on her own.
She even refuses to take help from her boyfriend Aniruddh
(Bikram Saluja) who informs her that Amaan’s name figures
in police files as a terrorist residing on the borders of
Rajasthan.
After days of struggle, Fiza finally finds Amaan and forces
him to return home. Though he’s reluctant at first, Amaan
succumbs to his dear Aapa’s persuasion. The desolate
mother is overwhelmed to see Amaan who is equally delighted
to be reunited with her. However, after a few days, frustration
creeps over Amaan and he’s longing to get back to fight
his jehad. Whether Amaan goes back or stays is something you’ll
have to find out for yourself.
Fiza is a beautifully shot film - not surprising because award-winner
Santosh Sivan has done the cinematography. Direction by first-timer,
Khalid Mohammed is commendable. Some of the dialogue is noteworthy.
Sharmishta Roy’s sets blend with the narrative, and even
tell a story all their own. Choreography is shared by Farah
Khan, Saroj Khan and Ganesh Hegde who have done a wonderful
job. Songs by Anu Malik specially Aaja Mahiya and Rahman’s
guest song Piya Haji Ali are catchy. Even the title song is
good, though it doesn’t quite jell with the theme and
appears to be an afterthought padded on for the sake of picturising
a song on Bikram Saluja. In fact, even Aaja Mahiya is not
really situational. Also, one is not entirely convinced that
Fiza would dare to go to the borders on her own to look for
her terrorist brother. Besides, the second half is a bit dragging.
That apart, the film is worth a dekko. It’s a mature
film and the transformation of Amaan from an innocent boy
to a terrorist has been beautifully brought out. Jaya Bachchan
looks every bit a Muslim woman and has etched out her character
superbly. Karisma Kapoor as Fiza is at her best. It’s
her next best role after Dil To Pagal Hai. Though it’s
a deglamourised role, she looks good even in the most simple
outfits. But it’s Hrithik Roshan who touches you with
his marvellous performance. Be it the innocent, playful boy,
the grief-stricken man who witnesses and is a victim of the
mayhem or the terrorist who’s in a dilemma, he’s
just great.
Newcomers Bikram Saluja and Isha Koppikar are sincere but
Neha as Hrithik’s girlfriend is a letdown.
Chaya Unnikrishnan
Also
see: Preview--Fiza: A strange of strong human feelings
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