Sarfarosh (1999)

सरफ़रोश

In 1947, in the process of yielding the governance of Hindustan, Britain divided the subcontinent into primarily Hindu India and primarily Muslim Pakistan, formalizing a religious and nationalist divide that has caused millions of deaths and that today still dominates politics within the two nations.  Part of the legacy of Partition is a host of entangled relationships among numerous Hindu majority communities in India, the Muslim minority that stayed in India after Partition, and various communities in Pakistan.  The complexities of these interactions are both fascinating and of vital importance to the region.  And so it is no surprise that they are a fertile source of material for good movies, like Sarfarosh, that explore them. 

When Ajay Singh Rathod (Aamir Khan) is a young college student, his brother is killed and his father gravely and permanently injured by terrorists.  Ajay is inspired to enter law enforcement - every criminal, he says, reminds him of the men who tore apart his family - and quickly rises to the rank of assistant commissioner.  He is assigned to crack a weapons-smuggling operation that is arming bands of village militiamen, backed ultimately by Pakistani intelligence service, with the assistance of a network of local elements within India.  On Ajay's investigative team is a brooding Muslim police inspector named Salim (Mukesh Rishi).  Ajay also meets a contemplative, philosophical ghazal singer whom he has admired since boyhood, Gulfam Hassan (Naseeruddin Shah), and enjoys a sweet romance with Seema (Sonali Bendre), a girl he had a crush on in college.  As Ajay's investigation gets closer to the truth, he comes into greater and greater peril, and learns that some of his friends are not as trustworthy as he thinks. 

Sarfarosh means "one who is prepared to die for a cause," and indeed, Sarfarosh is most compelling not for the story itself (which, though it provides an interesting glimpse into the infrastructure of terrorism, is not particularly suspenseful), nor for the fight scenes (which are violent and plentiful), but rather for its variations on the themes of religious and national identity.  Inspector Salim is passionately patriotic, but as a Muslim he suffers from the prejudice and unwarranted suspicion of his fellow officers.  When one of the smugglers escapes after a shootout with Salim, the inspector is accused of allowing the culprit - a fellow Muslim - to escape, and temporarily removed from the investigation.  Salim is deeply wounded, and lashes out with a moving speech in which he admonishes Ajay to "never tell a Salim that this is not his country."   

Gulfam sahib's story also raises the identity question.  He is a Muslim whose family was driven from its ancestral palace during Partition; he fled across the border to Pakistan.  He is revered as one of Pakistan's national treasures, yet, he tells Ajay, even fifty years later he is still held apart as a muhajir, a refugee.  He is no longer Indian and yet not fully Pakistani as well.  He is an engaging character, and the sad eyes and smile of the perfectly cast Naseeruddin Shah add depth to the sense that Gulfam sahib is something of a lost soul.

The gun-running story provides the canvas on which Gulfam sahib's and Inspector Salim's inner conflicts are painted.  Indeed, the film could have been even better had it been more about them, and less about Ajay, who is too fresh-faced to be believable at his elevated rank in the force, and too flawless to be a compelling character.  Ajay's romance with Seema, while very charming, is a distraction that is completely unnecessary except perhaps to provide a few moments of peace - for both Ajay and the audience - between rounds of gunfighting.  (In one delicious scene, Seema teases Ajay for being old-fashioned when he comments on her short short skirt; moments later, she blushingly insists that she can't meet Ajay's mother that day because "my skirt is too short!")  Also enhancing the mood is some beautiful desert cinematography and a hit-and-miss assortment of songs by Jatin-Lalit.  The standout here is the song that plays over the opening credits,  "Zindagi maut na ban jaye" ("may life not become death"), an upbeat and patriotic call to arms that plays over the films opening scenes, which are a menacing overview of the smuggling operation's clandestine transport of automatic weapons.   The film has some weaknesses, but on balance it is a solid and substantial piece. 

My thanks to Amit for comments that helped refine my initial impressions of the film.

Sarfarosh is available for free download at Jaman.com. 

Comments

[maajhi]

Someone as delicious as Sonali Bendre can never be termed "completely unnecessary" :). I loved the romantic relief in what was quite a pressure-cooker script.

And it is quite a crime to avoid mentioning that excellent item number by Sush: mehboob mere. It was stunning against the desert backdrop and quite catchy too. I'm genuinely mystified how that could escape anyone's review..

I loved this movie. Loved Aamir in it, obsessed over Sonali, and found the entire proceedings quite interesting. To most Indians, the movie served as documentary record of what most knew was going on.

[maajhi]

By "entire proceedings", I'm referring here to the terrorism plotline, of course.

[carla]

Maajhi ji, I didn't mention "Mehboob mere" because that song is in a different movie. :) The truth is that I didn't mention it in my review of *Fiza*, either, which is the movie it came from. I saw *Fiza* very early on in my filmi wanderings, and remember being totally underwhelmed by the music. I've not rewatched it or any of its songs since, though.

I agree completely about the yumminess of Sonali Bendre; the movie would have been tauter without the plot-line but "don't mind". :) And your comments echo my friend Amit's in most respects - I especially appreciate hearing how the mechanics of the gun-running operation appears to an Indian audience. I did enjoy this movie very much, in case that wasn't completely clear from my review.

[maajhi]

Re. mehboob mere being in a different movie: so it is :). Sorry!

If Aamir Khan is a watchable actor for you (I noticed that your previous review was an SRK candyfloss so I'm not sure if you're part of that brigade - it tends to be either-or for some reason), check out Akele Hum Akele Tum, a lovely mature movie about couple problems. Somewhat channels the classic "Abhimaan" (Jaya and Amitabh B) but still highly touching - both the stars do well in it. And the songs are very good (if you know some Hindi since the beauty is more in the lyrics than any disco beats).

[carla]

A great suggestion, maajhi ji - *Akele hum akele tum* is available at www.jaman.com and I will definitely watch it in the foreseeable future.

Your comment about the SRK-brigade gives me confidence that my reviews are even-handed. I am not a Shah Rukh fan; I do like Aamir Khan very much.

[DJ]

This is one movie that i've really been longing to watch. I'm with Maajhi regarding Sonali, she is gorgeous. It's a shame that she's been off the screen for so long.

Nice review, Carla. Ciao.

[maajhi]

Carla, meant to say this earlier: You don't need to address me with a ji. In Hindi, this would be fine and in fact, natural. In English however, we usually just adopt the English usage and use people's names directly :).

[carla]

Thank you Maajhi - with your permission I will drop the affectation of using "ji" to address you! :-)

[rinku]

Sarfarosh is best movie it's all time fav....movie.

Hi Carla

Akele Hum Akele Tum is the desi version of Kramer vs Kramer. I simply loved K vs K coz it starred two of my fav Hollywood stars - Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

I have seen Akele Hum yrs ago on the big screen in India during a hoilday. I was not impressed although i enjoyed some of the songs and Aamir is a good actor.

Meera

[Rick]

Nobody has mentioned Upasna Singh, the actress that played Mala, not to give anything away but she has a really important role in this film. Does anyone know if she did other roles this pivotal? She makes a great spy.

[Cybersupam]

Hi Carla,
I am not impressed by ur opinions on Sarfarosh, but liked how u wrote the story shortly. So far I haven't met anyone who dislike this all time watchable movie (even met some people whose favourite, though not urs). They appreciate mostly simple but serious role as ACP Rathore. In some points there r similarities with 1995's Baazi starred by Aamir again.

[Cybersupam]

I meant they appreciate Aamir's role as simple but serious ACP Rathore.