FIVE FILMS THAT BRIDGED DIVIDE

GARAM HAWA (1973)

It was one of the most poignant films on the aftermath of Partition of the nationalist Muslims who chose to stay back. MS Sathyu’s Garam Hawa was also the first film to focus on the impact of the divide on people. Based on Ismat Chughtai’s stories, written by Kaifi Azmi and Saba Zaidi, it had Balraj Sahni playing Mirza Sahib who chooses not to migrate to Pakistan and the repercussions of the decision on his own family told with subtle pain. It was set in Agra and is considered to be one of Sahni’s best roles. Supporting actors included Shauqat Azmi, Geeta Kak, Farooq Sheikh and Jalal Agha. The film went on to win a National Film Award, three Filmfare awards and a nomination for Palme d’ Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Sheer poetry in celluloid, it is considered one of the most serious films on the theme of the Partition.

TAMAS (1988)

Govind Nihalani’s Tamas, a television film made on an epic scale, brought alive the saga of Partition along with the impious politics of the times seen through the eyes of a low-caste tanner, played with finesse by Om Puri. Based on a 1974 novel by Bhisham Sahni, the film brought alive the displacement of millions of people as India was split into two. The film had talented theatre actors even in small roles and Bhisham Sahni was in a key role himself. The film bagged three national awards, including the Nargis Dutt Memorial Award for National Integration, and is considered a document on the tragic divide.

EARTH (1998)

The film was the second part of director Deepa Mehta’s famous trilogy, Fire, Earth and Water. Based on a novel by Bapsi Sidhwa ‘Ice Candy Man’, it sees the macabre drama of communal violence through the eyes of a child. It was set in Lahore and told the story of a little girl’s pretty Hindu ayah (maid) Shanta, played by Nandita Das, is the muse of Ice Candy Man Dil Navaaz, played by Aamir Khan, and the masseur Hasan. When riots break out, the little child in innocence reveals that Shanta is still there and she is abducted and sold as a prostitute. The child holds herself guilty and narrates the story as an adult. The film won several international awards.

PINJAR (2003)

A multi-layered film, based on a novel by Amrita Pritam, about the relationship between Hindus and Muslims and land rivalry that leads to the abduction of Puro (Urmila Matondkar) by Rashid (Manoj Bajpayee) to avenge the defiling of the latter’s grand aunt by Puro’s grand-uncle. However, Rashid does not force himself on her and she runs back to her parents who refuse to take her back because of social taboos. Partition intervenes and by then Puru is wife to Rashid. When her brother Trilok and former fiancé Ramchand come to rescue other girls, Puro too is given the choice. The liberal Ramchand is still ready to marry her but she refuses because her home is with Rashid. It had moving lyrics by Gulzar and the poem ‘Ajj aakhan Waris Shah nu’ by Amrita. It was directed by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi.

KHAMOSH PAANI (2003)

The same year Pinjar was released came another film from across the border called Khamosh Paani. Directed by Pakistani director Sabiha Samar, it had actors from both sides of the border. The only Partition feature film by a woman director, it told the story of the abduction of a Sikh girl who is eventually married to a Muslim. Her son, Saleem, turns into an Islamic fundamentalist. Around that time, Sikh pilgrims visit Charki village and one of them is looking for his sister. When Saleem realises that his mother was a Sikh, he rejects her. Kirron Kher playing the lead role resisted suicide then, chooses it now. The film, shot in Pakistan, won many international awards, including best actor for Kirron.