![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
Khamosh Pani
« previous entry | next entry »
Mar. 22nd, 2006 | 11:51 pm
mood: 
thoughtful
Little wonder that this film is an award winner. Set in Pakistan during 1979, the story leaps back and forth between the current and 1947 and climaxes in 2002. It is about a Sikh woman “Veero” (deftly portrayed by Kirron Kher) who refuses to be pushed into the jaws of death during the partition, when emigrant Sikh fathers killed their own daughters for fear of their being taken away by Pak Muslim men. She runs for life from the village well into which was being forced to jump - into the arms of “Afsaan”, who gives her solace, a new name “Ayesha”, marital status, the Islam religion and a son “Saleem”. She is in fact so terrified of going to the well that other women fetch water for her everyday. Ayesha is fondly called “chachi” by the inhabitants of Charkhi. Saleem is an aimless tramp and Zubeida, his lady love is a woman with a steely ambition.
So far so good. Until the tentacles of fundamentalism start encroaching this sleepy village. When self proclaimed guardians of religion start mobilizing ignorant masses, including the rebellious Saleem, in a war against “infidels”. All the kinship between the Sikhs and the Muslims is wiped out. Women are forced to drape dupattas and cover their heads. They are cossetted in the enclosure of their homes in the name of protection. Mother and son are in total disagreement. There is no love lost between Saleem and Zubeida too, after frequent skirmishes.
When Saleem comes to know of his mother’s Sikh connection, the two have a tussle and Veero goes back to the same old village well and ends her life.
Well this is just the story. There are several questions to be raised. Why do men always make the rules and compel women to carry them out? Why is it that few women can have their own way and others simply follow set routes – like Zubeida who makes a career for herself whereas Veero inspite of best efforts, succumbs to her fate? Why do politicians have to use religion as a weapon to come to power?
These are certainly burning issues in a few countries even today. And the film acts as a superb sensitizer in this direction.
So far so good. Until the tentacles of fundamentalism start encroaching this sleepy village. When self proclaimed guardians of religion start mobilizing ignorant masses, including the rebellious Saleem, in a war against “infidels”. All the kinship between the Sikhs and the Muslims is wiped out. Women are forced to drape dupattas and cover their heads. They are cossetted in the enclosure of their homes in the name of protection. Mother and son are in total disagreement. There is no love lost between Saleem and Zubeida too, after frequent skirmishes.
When Saleem comes to know of his mother’s Sikh connection, the two have a tussle and Veero goes back to the same old village well and ends her life.
Well this is just the story. There are several questions to be raised. Why do men always make the rules and compel women to carry them out? Why is it that few women can have their own way and others simply follow set routes – like Zubeida who makes a career for herself whereas Veero inspite of best efforts, succumbs to her fate? Why do politicians have to use religion as a weapon to come to power?
These are certainly burning issues in a few countries even today. And the film acts as a superb sensitizer in this direction.