A powerful tale told poorly by the makers
MULK
Direction: anubhav Sinha
Actors: rishi Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Rajat Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu Rating:
Mulk is a film you really want to like. It is an important film in a disturbing time; a voice of reason in chaos. It has strong performances — Rishi Kapoor as Murad Ali Mohammed, a Muslim patriarch fighting for the dignity of his family; Taapsee Pannu as Aarti Malhotra, Murad’s daughter-inlaw, who argues their case in court; Rajat Kapoor as an anti-terror cop.
It attacks Islamophobia by arguing against the common prejudices. It counters the propaganda of hate efficiently, with facts and emotion. It is also true to its context. The sets of the film don’t lie. The police stations, courtrooms and streets transport you small-town Uttar Pradesh. But there is a crucial element of storytelling missing — surprise. In this 140-minute courtroom drama set in Varanasi, every situation seems to have been engineered to say the ‘right’ things. And there’s nothing you haven’t heard before.
Like a lot of stories burdened with a purpose, Mulk is a slow starter.
The narrative gathers pace and flesh in the courtroom.
This film takes an important step in defining terrorism and underlining the differences between a suspect and a criminal. It succeeds in intent and purpose, but sadly fails when it comes to storytelling.