Aao na aao na Jehlum mein beh lenge
Vadi ke mausam bhi
Ek din toh badalenge
Kabhi kabhi aas paas chand rehta hai
Kabhi Kabhi aas paas shyam rehti hai.
*.Begining
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.” *-St. Augustine
Yahaan is definitely about love - a love that’s not just between a man and a woman but for one’s fellowmen and homeland. The story unfolds in the misty valley of Kashmir during the in late 80s when the trouble started brewing in the valley due to influences by outside forces. Small terrorist outfits emerging everywhere. This is when a well read journalist Shakeel(Yashpal Sharma) gets influenced by a terrorist leader and becomes one of the militants who want an’azad Kashmir’ by the tip of a gun. From here the movie fast forwards to a few years when Captain Aman(Jimmy Shergill) gets his first posting in the valley. He is an officer of the Rashtriya Rifles, who has been assigned to tackle terrorism and bring the misguided youth to the mainstream.
*.Love unfolds
*Aman is from Pune, and is first time viewing the emergency situation from so close. During one of his patrols in the backwaters of a Kashmiri lake, his paths cross with Adaa(Minissha), a beautiful Kashmiri girl. Its love at first sight for them, but no one says anything. Aada has an adopted Hindu sister Shree, who lost her voice in a terrorist attack when her whole family was killed, a loving granny(Dolly Ahluwalia) and a father who is distressed due to changing fortunes in Kashmir. Still, it’s a family happy who want to live life and spread love regardless of the situation outside.
As luck would have it, Aman’s patrolling post is set outside Adaa’s house. They talk for the first time when Aada hands him over some tea in a basket from her window by the means of a rope, during a cold night. Love blossoms slowly and silently between them.
*.But
*While their love is blossoming in the lap of the paradise, the terror in the valley continues to show its ugly face with bullets firing and bombs exploding every time when peace seems to be just a distance away. Along with this, another problem comes up, an unwritten rule of the valley- Army and locals are not allowed to form any love relationship due to mutual distrust. Aman and Aada finds themselves at the crossroads of making a hard decision – whether to carry on their love or part ways.
*.Love against the odds
*Adaa finds love, warmth and compassion in the eyes of an ‘outsider’, which she failed to see in Shakeel her brother, her own blood. She refuses to accept gun culture as a way of life. She has seen with her own eyes what untold hardships her brother has caused to the innocent people. She appreciates the spirit and courage of Aman which gives her strength to stand tall and all alone, defending what she holds true. Believing in the power of true love, they combat the rigid structures of a complex situation, decades in the making. When things start looking up, there is a bomb explosion in the market caused by Shakeel, and Aada is witness to the terror strike. Due to some turn of events, Aman is captured by the terrorist and Aada finally manages to free him. His other companions get killed in the event. One of his colleagues, Major Rathod(Mukesh Tiwari) points finger on his mysterious escape and involves him in a sedition case, resulting in a Court Marshal. Aada is portrayed as a strong willed lady, who moves heaven and earth to prove his innocence and get him acquitted of the false charge.
*.The movie
*As a debutant director, Shoojit Sircar handles the subject with care and at most of the times makes his message clear to the audience. People have a glimpse of Kashmir, the Paradise on earth, affected by mindless violence and killings, day in and day out. Reading about it in newspapers or watching on television channels is different, but the movie has shown how terrorism has been affecting normal life there for decades. How the helpless people having no other option, has to bear with the terror everyday.
After a long time the beauty of Kashmir is stirred again with this film, which has been shot in the areas of Kashmir that perhaps nobody has ever seen in Hindi movies. Gulzar’s lyrics complimenting Shantanu Moitra’s music and Sameeruddin’s background score create the perfect ambience . The music is indeed melodious and soul stirring, with "Naam Adaa Likhna" as a soft highlight. The high point of the movie is the way it has been shot. Excellent camerawork coupled with mind-blowing cinematography by Jakob Ihre, a Swedish cinematographer is mind blowing. The hand-held camera and its ensuing effect on the large screen lends the movie a documentary touch - something like a journalistic account - while the songs and colorful dresses, provide the dreamy, fictitious element. The blue shades accompanying every frame of the movie creates magic on screen while transferring you to the reality of the valley. Most of the action sequences are authentically shot that get enhanced with a brilliant sound design. Technically speaking, the movie presents one of the most fulfilling experiences in the genre of war movies.
There are lighter moments as well like this conversation,
"It’s hard to believe Shammi Kapoor danced here once" comments Aman wrily in the freezing cold of militant vigilance.
"Who’s Shammi Kapoor? And why did he dance here?" wonders a child who overhears the army man.
The movie has presented the views of both the sides on a equal level. The militants too are imagined with a fair amount of dignity and compassion. Their anger and actions are given a reason. Thankfully the movie, inspite of being heavily revolving around an army camp in Kashmir, doesn’t indulge in pseudo-patriotism and sticks to its basic subject.
One of the best performances by Jimmy Shergill, the movie rests on his shoulders. Minissha is sweet and adepts to the role well.
*.The end
*The climax, obviously inspired by the militant siege of the Hazrat Bal mosque in Kashmir is done with considerable élan. Like every movie has flaws, this is also not an exception. In the climax, when Minissha approaches the television channel to prove Jimmy’s innocence, looks pretty inconvincing . A melodramatic speech by Aada with all the fine hindi words in place, makes one think she reads it out of a cue card. Besides, placing the speakers outside the mosque so that Shakeel has a change of heart, appears formulaic and filmy.
"Yahaan" isn’t an outstanding romantic parable on the politics of love and its consequences. But its aesthetic content is high enough to make you smile. It is able to linger on your mind long after you have finished watching it. And that’s the real essence of the movie.
If you want to experience the beauty of the Valley and the fragrance of love, go watch the movie. It certainly stirrs the emotional chord somewhere deep inside.
Souces:
https://movies.indiainfo.com