Dear Friends,
I would like to bring to your attention some reasons why I wished to see ‘Haasil’ (meaning to acquire, to gain) ever since its promos started flashing on the idiot box.
I had heard that ‘Haasil’ was a story of campus politics. Some years ago I had written a screenplay called ‘Raj’ for a producer friend of mine. The story too revolved around campus politics and the setting was Lucknow. This story never got filmed. I just wanted to know whether ‘Haasil’ was an ‘adaptation’ of my story.
The setting is Allahabad. The director (Tigmanshu Dhulia) hails from Allahabad. I too was born in Allahabad
Tigmanshu was the student of a very close friend. He had directed Tishu (as Tigmanshu is known by close associates) in a play written by his wife, the famous journalist, Nikhat Kazmi.
The cinematographer, Rafey Mehmood is a first-cousin, and … so you see the connection.
My brother had attended the trial show of ‘Haasil’ and he was all praise for the effort.
The media was exceptional in its treatment of ‘Haasil’. It won good, if not rave reviews.
So, I basically had not one, but six good reasons to see ‘Haasil’. My expectatoions soared like the eagle in Lord Tennyson’s poem of the same name.
The story
‘Haasil’ is the story of two lovers, Jimmy Shergil and Hrishita Bhatt whose love castle almost collapses in the face of university politics. ‘Haasil’ is the story of Irfaan Khan and Ashutosh Rana, two goons who vie to become the President of the Student’s Union in Allahabad University. After being on the run for some time, Irfaan kills Ashutosh. For some reason, he manages to win the win the confidence of Jimmy, much to the chagrin of Hrishita. He falls for Hrishita, and implicates Jimmy in an attempt-to-murder case. Jimmy goes to Mumbai, discovers that Irfaan is not really his benefactor that he is claiming to be, returns to Allahabad, and aided by his friends (what else are filmi friends for?) seeks refuge in a mausoleum, sings a ditty with the faqirs there, fights with Irfaan at the Kumbh Mela on the banks of the Sangam (confluence of the rivers Ganga and Jamuna), kills him and gets acquitted of all charges.
My verdict
· ‘Haasil’ is, thankfully not based on my story.
· ‘Haasil’ is a good theme gone awry.
· I think Tishu got confused. He started off making realistic fare; midway converted it into a political drama; and finally sprinkled a lot of soft romance in between.
· The screenplay is jerky and full of unanswered questions. One big question that boggles me is why did Hrishita’s father (Sharat Saxena) reject Jimmy and opt for the universally (pun intended) notorious, Irfaan?
· Jatin-Lalit have lost it. Their music is totally out of tune with the mood of the film.
· On one hand, people are praising the film for its realistic portrayal of the underbelly of university politics. I too have studied and lived for six years in a university notorious for its ‘extra-curricular’ activities. But not once have I witnessed violence as gruesome and excessive as portrayed in ‘Haasil’. ‘Haasil’s’ violence is definitely exaggerated and very filmi.
· The performances are competent. Jimmy Shergil is pleasant but one wishes that he discard the SRK influence in his acting immediately. Hrishita Bhatt looks pleasing. But the real acting honors should be shared by Murad Ali, Ashutosh Rana, and Irfaan Khan. Irfaan Khan is brilliant as usual, but I think that the media is going overboard in praising him. He was better in ‘Gunaah’ an atrocious movie from the Mahesh Bhaat camp.
· Rafey Mehmood’s cinematography is excellent and mind you, I am not playing favourites.
· Even though I do not exactly recommend ‘Haasil’, I would laud it for its attempt at originality. It falters in trying too hard and loses on crucial brownie points there.