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Haider:  A Film That Glorifies Terrorism



Haider:  A Film That Glorifies Terrorism

Haider:  A Film That Glorifies Terrorism

Review by Meenakshi Raina

Indian movies have always influenced the audience and some outstanding films have set a real benchmark. As an expectation, historical films should respect the History of that time and depict the true story but the recently released film Haider by Vishal Bhardwaj is disconnected with the facts. The movie begins straight from 1995 thus making an effort to run away from the original historical fact of mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) in 1990. Vishal Bhardwaj has tried to sympathize with the people who actually where the supporters of militancy in Kashmir.

It is very disheartening to see that a film producer like Vishal Bhardwaj did not do his research correctly in order to know as to what led to the turmoil in Kashmir. While Vishal Bhardwaj was in the making of Haider, I wish someone would have gifted him the classic book ‘My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir’ by Dr. Jagmohan, former Governor of J&K. Even first fifty pages of the book were enough for Mr. Bhardwaj to understand that his film Haider would be questioned by the audience.

For those readers who are not familiar with the mass exodus of Kashmir Pandits it is important to mention that in the year 1989-1990 the separatist movement in Kashmir started with the anti-India slogans, hoisting of green flags, the pro-Pakistani sentiments and the exploitation of the youth by the fundamentalist leaders. The mosques which were meant for religious prayers were used to hide arms and ammunition. There was a well-planned strategy that started with selective killings of prominent Kashmiri Pandits in order to create fear, and it was followed by brutal mass killings and persecution of innocent Pandits. The women were stripped and molested. There was rise in kidnappings and merciless killings. The bodies of kidnapped and murdered Pandits bore the marks of torture, burn injuries, hangings and mutilation. Many bodies were found with their eyes gouged out and broken fingers. Threatening letters asking Kashmiri Pandits to leave Kashmir were pasted at their doors. Given the threat most of the Hindu community left their land of ancestors in 1990 and took refuge outside Kashmir.

Vishal Bhardwaj has tried to change the history and has created his own unique historical fiction Haider. He has no right to fiddle the historical facts to his advantage and send wrong messages through his film. Haider is a manipulated story where Indian Army is portrayed as a villain. The atrocities by the Indian Army bear no reference. There is no mention of how the separatist violated law and order and repeatedly ambushed the Army personnel. As per Mr. Bhardwaj’s theory of Haider, Indian Army in Kashmir should have been governed by the separatist? The film-maker has added an emotional quotient to the film by showcasing the half-widows and their disappeared husbands. The burnt homes and the grave yards are focused to show the brutality of Indian Army towards the Muslims of Kashmir. How could Vishal Bhardwaj miss on the merciless killings of Kashmiri Pandits and the ashes of their burnt homes? How could he neglect the fact that around half a million Kashmiri Pandits were forced to abandon their homes due to threat to their lives by the so-called ‘azadi’ fighters?  The Bismil song filmed in the ancient Martand Sun temple (built around 8th century) shows a terrorist dancing in the temple which is purely unacceptable and has created controversy.

Haider is simply a biased film and glorifies terrorism. The movie, has failed to capture the complete story of Kashmir. Film industry has many patriotic and veteran film producers like Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Madhur Bhandarkar, they should come forward and think beyond Haider and create a film on Kashmir, with an authentic story-line and that is the only way to wipe the misleading notions created by Haider. Indian Army deserves respect and Mr. Bhardwaj should know that.










Sridevi as a child actor in Thunaivan.

Sridevi as a child actor in Thunaivan.



Sridevi as the quintessential Yash Raj heroine in Chandni.

Sridevi as the quintessential Yash Raj heroine in Chandni.












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