Director-producer Anubhav Sinha is best known for his film Tum Bin (the 2001 film not the sequel), a tragic love story, and then the actioner Dus. His direction of Shah Rukh Khan's sci-fi superhero flick Ra.One was more like doing a job the way your employer wants you to rather than putting your soul into it. From now, Anubhav Sinha will also be known for Mulk, if enough people go and watch it in theatres.
Mulk begins by showing how Hindus and Muslims lived in harmony in a same middle-class colony in the religious city of Benaras. Rishi Kapoor plays Murad Ali, a lawyer whose 65th birthday is celebrated at home with Hindu and Muslim friends. Cliches of both sides towards each other are shown in a fun manner.
Murad Ali has a happy, secular family. A loving wife Tabassum (Neena Gupta), a younger brother Bilal Mohammed (Manoj Pahwa), sister-in-law also called Tabassum (Prachi Shah Pandya), and a daughter Aayat (Vartika Singh). Murad's son Aftab (Indraneil Sengupta) is away in London, but his wife Aarti Malhotra Mohammed (Taapsee Pannu) comes home for her pa-in-law's birthday. There is one shy guy also in the family, Bilal's son Shahid (Prateik Babbar).
Aarti is a Hindu and has adjusted well into the Muslim family who have accepted her with open arms. But she is taking time away from Aftab, as the two can't decide what religion their unborn child should follow. She is about to break the news to the family.
All is generally well, though. The real problem begins when one member of the family, Shahid, goes on the path of terrorism. As a result, the entire family gets caught in a mire and especially Bilal who is in custody and Murad Ali who is also charged with aiding Shahid.
Overnight, friends from the colony turn foes, the same people who had helped Murad's family in the 1992 riots. Aarti takes it upon herself to save her father-in-law by fighting it out in court as a lawyer. Does she succeed? The second half of the film is all about that, although it becomes a drag to watch towards the end with endless court proceedings. Imagine how it must be in real life for people fighting cases for years.
Rishi Kapoor the veteran shines through as Murad Ali Mohammed, but it is Manoj Pahwa and Taapsee Pannu who deliver. Prateik, Vartika Singh and Neena Gupta play their part well, but Ashutosh Rana steals the show as the dramatic lawyer Santosh in court. Rajat Kapoor as the anti-terrorist squad cop Danish Javed looks a bit uncomfortable, or maybe that is how his character was - shown to be prejudiced towards his own community. His name is revealed much later in the film. Kumud Mishra as the judge does a good job.
The question is, will Mulk be watched by people it is targeted for? Or will they shy away from it? With about 12 people in the theatre to watch a morning show, how do the makers hope to drive home the message? There are also reports of the film being banned in Pakistan, although there is just maybe a mention or two of the country. The director is urging the people of Pakistan to watch Mulk, even if they download a pirated version.
Now, is the desperation to make people watch Mulk there to show the directorial skills of Sinha, or does he think it is the best film to watch in the wake of some communal incidents on both sides of the border, is best left to the viewers to interpret.
The cinematography by Ewan Mulligan makes the film a pleasant watch.
Verdict: The bias of society, the police and the system towards people of a particular religion are shown in Mulk without hammering it in. To Sinha's credit, the film is an easy watch and does not seem propaganda from either end. It preaches peace and brotherhood. What ails society as far as religion is concerned is shown in a new light while also keeping the cliches.
