'Lamhaa': pictures worth more than words - Movie Review
July 19, 2010
Starring Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Kunal Kapoor, Anupam Kher
Kashmir is the most beautiful place on earth, many say, and the most dangerous. Its heaven/hell dichotomy—from soaring snowcapped mountains and serene valley waters to barbed-wire coils and bombed-out buildings—is captured with moving effect in Lamhaa by the cinematography of James Fowlds.
Lamhaa is unusual in that it was even shot in Kashmir. Once a common setting for romantic musical numbers, the picturesque locale was largely abandoned by Bollywood two decades ago because of unrest—and lovers trysted in the Swiss Alps instead. Not that Bollywood has ignored Kashmir's troubles—it's been the subject of many films, such as Roja (1992) and Fanaa (2006)—but both were shot elsewhere.
In Lamhaa, the images say more than the story; the extras more than the leads. Such small-minded violence amidst such natural grandeur; so many children and nearly as many women fill the frames while men are notably absent—they're either dead or plotting in the shadows.
Kashmir is a region that's been disputed by India, Pakistan, and China since Partition in 1947, and there's also a separatist movement within it. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over it (in 1947, 1965, and 1999) and an armed insurgency has existed there since 1989. It's like every other hot spot in the world—the leaders on all sides don't really want peace because the conflict is the source of their power, and the people caught in the middle are endlessly manipulated and victimized.
Which is the point of Lamhaa—the film doesn't take sides, but merely shows the utter corruption and hopelessness of it all. But realism doesn't always make for much of a story. There's no real conflict in the narrative, other than the overarching conflict of the situation, and even though bullets are flying and bombs exploding, there's no tension or suspense.
Lamhaa is so balanced that even the blatantly bad guys veer toward sympathetic. Tremendous character actor Anupam Kher plays Haji, a firebrand separatist leader, with such sincerity that he almost seems reasonable.
Bipasha Basu as Haji's adopted daughter Aziza is no bombshell per usual, but a burqa-wearing Lara Croft. Fierce has always been Basu's forte, but even when she's reduced to a whimpering weakling later on, she steps up to the emotional demands of the role.
Kunal Kapoor plays Aatif, a former insurgent turned political candidate. He's earnest, idealistic—and so milquetoast it's impossible to believe he was ever a militant. He doesn't make for much of a peaceful leader either—inspirational he is not.
Sanjay Dutt plays Vikram, an undercover military intelligence agent who must stop an impending terrorist attack. The story is told from the perspective of this impervious bear of a man. He is the outsider; he is us, the audience, looking in on the mess, disturbed by it, but not a part of it.
Lamhaa is Worth Watching.
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