Story of Kashmiri boy & jawan wins hearts
What happens when a seven-year-old Kashmiri boy dials a jawan posted in the conflict-ridden Valley.
It is the premise of ‘Hamid’ that portrays a deep bond between the two protagonists. The film captured hearts on the concluding day of the 7th Dharamshala International Film Festival on Sunday.
Aijaz Khan’s film is set in Kashmir, where Rehmat Ali lives with wife Ishrat and a seven-year old son, whose name is the title of the film. Rehmat is a boat-maker, who goes missing one night. While his wife runs from pillar to post in search of her husband, his son Hamid dials a number in a bid to connect to ‘allah miyan’ and coincidently calls a CRPF jawan, Abhay Kumar.
Hamid requests Abhay to send Rehmat back. Abhay, who is already reeling under emotional stress, ignores him, but later gives in.
The CRPF jawan becomes the voice the child wants to hear.
Hamid and Abhay develop an unconventional relation where Hamid doesn’t bat an eyelid before taking alms from a beggar to call Abhay or offering his father’s shawl to him. Abhay is benevolent too, who listens to Hamid, sings for him and goes on to trace a list of disappeared people in the Valley, only to land himself in a soup. Hamid wants to learn the craft his father had mastered, he tells Abhay, and shares how he wished to paint his boat red. After failing on all fronts, Abhay confronts Hamid and tells him that his father is dead.
But for Hamid, the reality acts as a closure. He buries his father’s belongings and moves on. However, few days later, Hamid receives a parcel, with two tins of red paint — a gift from the jawan.
Hamid as a movie focuses on the bonding between two individuals who rise above the conflict of religions and countries.
Aijaz Khan says, “I cannot fathom the depth of the Kashmir conflict, but can always offer such heart-touching stories through my camera.”
Tapan Aggarwal, one of the viewers who was present at the screening, says, “Hamid beautifully brings to the fore perspectives of both the public and the security force. Stories like these put the spotlight on humanity.”