Garm Hava

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.

Garam Hawa Directed By M.S.Sathyu...First Movie As A Director ..The Direction Is Flawless..Written By Kaifi Azmi & Shama Zaidi....They Have Done Extremely Well ...The Story is About Struggle Of A Muslim Family After The Partition Of India Pakistan in 1947....Deals With The Dilemma Of Whether To Move To Pakistan Or Stay Back....How The Family Face The Problems Of Being A Muslim In Their Own Country..A Tragic Love Story Also Takes Place In The Middle Of These Events...Finally How They Face Such Situations & Overcome....

Balraj Sahni As Salim Mirza is One Of The Memorable Performance By Him...Geeta Sidharth As Amina Daughter Of Salim Mirza ...Gives A Excellent Performance...Her Character Of A Lover Is One Of The Complicated Characters...Then We Have A Very Young Farooq Shaikh As Sikander Mirza....His Debut Film...He Has Done Well...The Others Badar Begum As Granny....A.K Hungal As Azmani & Jalal Agha As Shamshad Are Well Written Characters...

Music Is Not Important In This Movie...But Still Have A Single Song i.e "Maula Salim Chisti" A Qawwali By Aziz Ahmed Khan...

Overall A Great Attempt To Show Effects Of Partition On People In India...There Are Few Memorable Scenes In The Movie Which Makes It Worth Watch ...A Kind Of Art Film....A Must Watch...:)

All in all a genuine presentation of a sensitive social issue! right from the director upto the actors have done exceptional justice to characters and the plot. A must watch i'd like to say...in order to understand the sociological effect of the Partition in its true sense. in fact the difference of principles between the two characters - Halim and Salim Mirza reveals much about the contemporary ideological flow. Again a huge chunk of kudos goes to the director Mr. Sathyu for his superb plot treatment esp. the elements of humor (in the form of dialogues of granny which also acts as sarcastic material) that he has blended up with the overall sensitiveness of the plot talks about his strategic acumen!!

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!