Garm Hava

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.

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!

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.

This is an outstanding film and should be considered a landmark in Indian cinema. The subject matter is the 1947 partition of British India, into India and Pakistan. The story is about a Muslim family in Agra, and the central figure is that of Salim Mirza (Balraj Sahni in his memorable last role). The film deals with the state of Muslims in the Hindu India immediately after the partition, when the situation is full of anger and passion (hence the name Garam Hawa, meaning Hot Winds) resulting from people uprooted out of the political decision to divide the land based on religion. While his brother, sister and the older son decide to move on to Pakistan, Salim Mirza stays in India to live and fight for his rights as a citizen. Along with him is his younger son, who had just finished college at the time of the partition and he joins the activists demanding proper & just government of this new born democracy. The film is no doubt influenced by Satyajit Ray's work (and of De Sica) in use of actual locales, using many non-professional actors and staying away from the trade mark Hindi-film song and dance numbers. Balraj Sahni is the main stay and delivers a superb performance, although the supporting performances are equally wonderful. M.S. Sathyu as the director deserves to be remembered just on the basis on this single effort. Color cinematography is very good and the background of Taj Mahal in Agra and the old Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri has been well used. Music by Sarode maestro Ustad Bahadur Khan adds to the value of this production. This film, with English sub-titles, is now available on DVD in US and Canada. Definitely a must-see.

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!!