Raazi

The film starts with a subtle introduction of 20 years old Sehmat who eventually makes the entire storyline. It is based on a true story and director Meghana Gulzar does an excellent job of portraying the patriotism of Sehmat in the film. The film also depicts the part of humanity in patriotism. Alia and vikcky have prefectly got their character in the film and does a wonderful job! Very thrilling and motivational!

**Minor spoilers**

We often laud our soldiers who have died trying to protect our Nation from enemies.Poems and songs are written.Laurels are given.Deservedly so.However,what about the people who are unnamed(and will probably remain so),but still served a pivotal role in protecting the Nation..and maybe even died doing so? 'Raazi' tells the story of one such character.

Among other things,the central purpose of 'Raazi' is to outline the sacrifices spies make.As one character complaints in a rather vicious manner,"Na rishton ki qadar hai..Na jaan ki"(you neither care for relationships nor life) The Nation comes first for these people.So much so,that even some personal relationships need to be sacrificed(atleast in this movie's case)

It is very,very rare to find an Indian movie that doesn't callously demean the 'enemy'.Usually,the audience is just supposed to hate the other side.Our side is always the best and the people involved think the same.Manipulative music,spoon-feeding the audience,cliched dialogues and extremely one-sided narrations usually plague Bollywood's attempts at patriotic movies.'Raazi' steers clear of all these issues.On the contrary,this movie demands an attentive viewing.The viewer is expected to remember certain details.The movie is buoyed by a taut screenplay and a brilliant central performance.Interestingly,this movie respects the patriotism on both sides.Neither side is made out to be a villain or a Hero.All characters are trying to do what's best for their country(ies)

I am delighted that such a movie has come out of India.There are some minor plot holes,but they don't affect the movie in any important way.Kudos to Meghna Gulzar for trusting the audience with such a screenplay and Kudos for bringing such a story to the public.

P.S.: There is something for Breaking Bad fans here too.I also got Homeland vibes from some scenes.

Until the interval, the film was slowly boiling but felt like something was missing. But a powerful scene just before the interval explained the whole film in a go. Sehmat undresses herself after a killing, stands under the shower and cries - the cries crack up the heart. One surrenders to the nation irrespective of the in-depth emotions, until Raazi came up the films relied more on nation. But, Meghna Gulzar proves, Emotion is greater than Nation.

The complex nature of the film might come across as a defect, beneath the surface the heart is rapidly beating and the conflicts underline every character. The borders cease to exist, writers Bhavani Iyer and Meghna Gulzar team up to built a strong sense of emotional play. And this is just what I always expected from a war-torn film. The dynamics of "Ae Watan" play in context to both the countries, there's no hero or villain - humanity is. Bollywood has often patronised the term "patriotism", Raazi steps beyond it by taking up the humanistic approach brilliantly. And then, the following dialogue works as a paradox- "Watan Ke Aage Kuch Bhi Nahi, Mohabbat Bhi Nahi (there's nothing beyond a nation, not even love)", says Iqbal Syed.

Sehmat played by Alia Bhatt carves into emotion during the shower scene, often her anxiety comes across childish which just stands as a mould. Watching the film with a peaceful mind might help to digest the thought properly, and I guess, our nation needs such a thought owing to the present "nationalist" agenda.

A great movie! What's surprising is, Raazi doesn't dwell into traditional bollywood subplots. It doesn't have any dance numbers, nor does it have any melodramatic romance. It stays true to what it sets out to do right from the beginning. The lead actor Alia Bhatt manages to get into skin of the character so comfortably that you forget that you are watching a movie, instead you feel the pain she is emoting.

What is brilliant about the film is that you keep expecting that every scene is leading you to a traditional Indo-Pak friendship kind of an ending with a stong social message. But what astonishes here is that the movie manages to remain a BRUTAL story of spy carrying out its mission through out. An out and out hardcore spy thriller with a women protagonist, so beautifully crafted that you are left spellbound.

Meghna Gulzar captures the simplicity of characters with so much depth that you are bound to sympathize with every character. Take a bow!

All actors are at par. Direction is superb. Camera work is crisp. Background score is perfect. This movie is a gem.

Well .. Alia Bhatt knows how to cry in the reel world and boy she does it really well, like really well .. amongst all other 'acting' things .. And Meghna Gulzar surely knows how to direct a movie .. to be honest, there was no question after talvar but yeah raazi did put a stamp once again .. The dialogues have been really thought and worked upon when you could hear the "kh" from the epiglottis :D

Also, I am loving this age of cinema where not just the star kids or the prodigies are coming to play hero or, let us say, act .. but people have started taking it as a profession and they are getting breaks too .. Vicky Kaushal is one such example ..

Movie brings life to a book titled 'Calling Sehmat' by Harinder S Sikka and never through the entire length would you find a need to go back and read it .. you know what I mean .. it is stitched quite beautifully. I did not notice any gaps in there.

Would not want to add any more details as they tend to become spoilers more often than not .. but Raazi should be certainly given some of your time, in a theater. This is the best way to appreciate a good movie.

And yeah .. we have got a new independence day song .. badly needed and is a good one after a long long time :)