It is said that a soul chooses its body when it decides to becomes a part of the mortal world. The decision apparently is based on the journey that it must take to continue in its learning, growth and more importantly attain that divine state that is referred to as ‘moksha’ when it is done with the multiple cycles of life and death. Well it’s a theory. The practicality of which cannot be tested.
Now whether you reach that finish line (and even if there is one) is debatable but what I understand is everybody has to go through the grind, in their own time, over several life times. I can live that.
All said and done, what is by far the greatest creation that can be tested, proved and has stood the test of time is the human brain. Always has been and will continue to remain a marvel even in the coming Artificial Intelligence dominated world. I believe if anything exists in your brain, it exists. I mean if your brain is capable of telekinesis, need I say more.
Thus whatever thoughts, ideas and beliefs you feed your brain it will simply replicate the same forming your world. However the raw material is taken from the environment that you have been born and raised in. That’s where your soul, mind and body come together. And that’s where the difference of cost and worth of anything and everything in the world lies.
So what is the cost of a human life and what is the worth of nation’s security and its people? A question best answerable by the soldier or spy that risks their life for their people. I assume, they will continue as long as they understand its worth. And we will stand by them indebted to their services and their lives as they secure ours.
Based on Harinder Sikka’s ‘Calling Sehamat’, Raazi narrates the work of an Indian spy who passed on critical information about Pakistan Navy’s movement during the 1971 war. Sehmat played by Alia Bhatt is married to Iqbal (Vicky Kaushal) who belongs to an influential Pakistani military family, with the objective of gaining access to confidential information. What unfolds is how far and beyond Sehmat goes to retrieve and pass on top secret information back to her homeland.
Alia bhatt has played the brave yet vulnerable spy essaying the role of a 20 year old girl whose life was set in stone by her father’s decision but agreed upon by her as well both delicately as well as with vigour bringing out the essence of the character. Already proving her mettle as an actor before, Alia has done a splendid job if not outdoing her previous roles. The story carries so much emotion and drama on its own and along with her sincerity and effort in the role supports the movie nicely bring it closer to the audience. Vicky Kaushal who I had first seen in ‘Love per Square Foot’ a Netflix film, has made his presence known by this film in mainstream Bollywood and what looks like a start of promising journey.
Directed and scripted by Meghna Gulzar, Raazi’s characters and their direction are spot on but the film lacks pace and thus can easily get away from you if you are not putting an effort from your side, to stay committed to it. Yeah kind of a two way street this one. I think ‘New York’ was the last film that I saw a director use as much as extreme close ups, if not more, as Meghna has used to bring out the intensity in the story. Personally I’m not a fan of that shot thus it takes me away from the screen. However, the emotions come through as unadulterated as possible, be it the love towards your country, your parents or even your life partner. The conundrum of all these emotions from Sehmat’s perspective have been beautifully depicted by the director through the second part of the feature film and is what is its USP.
My all-time favorite music directors, Shankar Ehsaan Loy come on board after a long time to create the melodious soundtracks for the film that add the perfect dose of musical whimsy that is required by the drama embossing the emotions further. Along with their soul touching music and Gulazar’s unbeatable poetry the music album is kept minimalistic yet powerful checking all the parameters possible.
Raazi does a good job in the way that it brings awareness to the general public of how far and beyond ordinary people can go to save the lives of millions who they have no connection to other than the fact that they share the same citizenship. There are thousands and lacs of whom we will never know off but whose bravery and efforts have resulted in the secure life that we live today, will always have a cost that cannot be price tagged, as it was and always will be worth as they believed, more than their lives.
Comments