Introduction
I always love watching movies based on real-life events with dramatic storytelling. These films offer an inspirational glimpse into the lives of remarkable individuals. I enjoy them because they allow us to learn about the real-life stories of special people. Such movies uniquely combine the inherent interest in true stories with the emotional engagement of a well-crafted narrative. I was very excited to hear about the release of Haq, a courtroom drama inspired by the real-life case of Shah Bano. Another reason for my excitement was the comeback of the beautiful actress Yami Gautam, who has done an excellent role in the film.
The Story
The movie revolves around a woman, Shazia Bano(Yami Gautam), who fights for her rights after her husband Abbas Khan(Emraan Hashmi) abandons her and their children after taking a second wife by pronouncing triple talaaq. It’s really super entertaining and eye-opening the way her struggle becomes a national debate on religious versus secular law and womens rights, inspired by the real-life 1970s Shah Bano Begum case in court to fight for maintenance, leading to a major legal battle over faith, equality, and justice in modern India. The movie has beautifully shown the powerful and emotionally charged narratives that avoid being preachy.
Performances
Yami Gautam, the lead actress of the movie, has shown a remarkable performance throughout the movie. She has done the best acting of her career in being Shazia Bano in this movie. But still, I feel she would have done a little work on her conviction and emotional depth to make her character more powerful. Apart from her, Emraan Hashmi has also performed very well in the movie. His character as Abbas was truly one of his finest, humanizing a potentially unlikable character without seeking sympathy. The performance of the character cant be complete without mentioning the lesser but noteworthy performance of the supporting cast, such as Vertika Singh, Sheeba Chaddha, and Danish Husain. I personally liked the extremely powerful role of these characters as well, especially Danish, who has brought compassion to the story in his role as Maulvi Basheer.
Technological Aspects
Directed by Suparna S Verma, the movie avoids the fast-paced storytelling and allows breath through long, uninterrupted takes that heighten emotional truth and immerse in the unfolding drama. The scenes have beautifully portrayed the common life of a woman struggling to come out of injustice. The background music perfectly serves the story functionality, but it’s not particularly memorable on its own. I feel it could be even more soothing and impactful. Also, if I talk about the editing of the movie, it would have prioritized the deliberate pace to allow the complex theme and character arc to develop naturally rather than rushing through the narrative.
Whats Good Whats Bad
Although the theme of the movie is really good, as it tackles the issues of faith and justice in our society, the performances of the lead actors, especially Yami, are outstanding. However, I feel the movies atmosphere could have been more intense to better engage the audience. It has also faced some controversy for allegedly targeting a particular community, which I believe is baseless. The film can be watched by everyone, including members of that community, as it portrays the struggles of a woman affected by the unjust law of Triple Talaq.
Final Verdict
Lastly, Haq is truly a wonderful movie inspired by the landmark Shah Bano Begum vs Mohammed Ahmed Khan case, which took place in the 1970s and 1980s. It explores the tension between religious and secular law, a womans fight for dignity and equality against patriarchy, and resilience. I loved the way Yami has performed as Shah Bano, which never looked boring or over exaggerated on the screen. The first half of the movie is quite simple and elegant, while the second half is full of energy and entertainment. Each dialogue of the movie is well-written and beautifully delivered by the entire cast in the movie. Overall, its a must-watch for people who love movies based on the real-life history of any individual, and for the whole society to understand the issues women face struggling with any secular law, which should not exist.