Garm Hava

The DVD cover of this film says "Most memorable movie of Balraj Sahni"...well guess what, not just the most memorable movie of Balraj Sahni...but probably one of the greatest of the great movies ever seen in in Indian film industry and a landmark performance in the history of Indian cinema.

The best movie on the India-Pak partition. The movie based in Agra deals with the social issues amongst other issues related to the partition and the repercussions of the partition on the society in general and looking at the problems within one family, both internal and external!

The features and expressions of Balraj Sahni and his portrayal of Salim Mirza is too good to be true! Words cant describe his performance! It is said that Dilip Kumar was first offered this role. Good support from Farooq S, AK Hangal, Gita Siddharth and many others!

Great Script by Kaifi Azmi and sensational stuff by the director M.S.Sathyu. Exceptionally realistic, hard hitting and a bonafide classic! 10 out of 10!

This film showcases great acting performances. Balraj Sahani, Geetha, and Shaukat Azmi play extremely complicated characters with great skill and poise. Of course a film like this would never be nominated for Oscars or any other major prize because it would be considered an off beat film. Nevertheless, the film portrays the political and cultural changes that affected innumerable common people right after the partition of India and Pakistan. I would definitely recommend this film to everyone. If you are looking for spontaneous acting that moves you and makes you want to revisit that historical era, this is the movie to go for!

All those involved with this movie have done a service to Indian people, who are interested in history, partition, Hindu-Muslim relations etc. It does not matter whether this movie was declared hit, semi-hit or average, but it has left an incredible mark on one's psyche. It moves oneself to see those Muslim people who chose to stay behind in India, with their plight and dilemma. It definitely plays a big role to arouse sympathy and a soft corner for Muslim brethren who chose to stay in India, despite all the odds against them. All those associated with the story like Ismat Chugtai, Kaifi Azmi & Shama Zaidi have given an unbiased portrayal of that time. The story seemed to be too real. One loves to see the Muslim family in the movie sitting together and having their meals, where everybody participates in the discussion of the circumstances. Like the story, acting was natural all across the board, the only regret being, one expected some memorable songs, at least one or two, which were not there. Music is like dessert to an Asian mind, which adds to the lasting taste of the meal. With good music, this movie might have been declared a commercial hit too.

One of the best movies made on the most debated subject in South Asia - the Partition!. It portrays life of a Muslim family in post-partition India. The family elder fights the temptations to move out to the newly-formed country called 'Pakistan' and the family faces the challenges that come on their way. Most of the clues and warnings set out at the outset manifested themselves in the latter years and decades and still continue to haunt both sides of the border.

Balraj Sahni has carried it through. A. K. Hangal and Gita Siddharth (Kak) were superb. Farooq Shaikh can be seen in his early years of act.

The land is divided, Lives are shattered Storms rage in every heart; It's the same here or there Faith has lost all meaning; Here or there.

The partition not only affected those who were displaced but also those who decided to stay back. And the minorities who decided to stay back amongst the majorities found themselves in a strange situation; suddenly they were outsiders in their own country and people viewed them with suspicion. 'Garam Hawa' deals with such issues with great sensitivity and perhaps is one of the best movies ever made on post partition.

Salim Mirza, brilliantly played by Balraj Sahney, is one such Muslim who stays back in India. India is a new democracy and has its problems of poverty and unemployment and Salim Mirza and his family has to fight to find its identity and respect in the country they chose not to leave. Sikandar, played by Farooq Shaikh, is Salim Mirza's unemployed son who is often told on his face that he might have a better chance in Pakistan but like his father he is determined. The family suffers a great deal for its decision but doesn't give up. I am sure everyone who was present during those days can identify with something in this story.

The grandmother wanting to die in her ancestral home and her whole life flashing before her eyes before she dies is an unforgettable scene.