We Are Faheem & Karun

I watched this film in jagran film festival 2024, and I'm absolutely blown away. It's been a while since a movie captivated me this much - every moment was amazing, spectacular, and mind-blowing.

From start to finish, the film grips you with its masterful storytelling, brilliant performances, and breathtaking visuals. The attention to detail and the seamless direction made each scene immersive and emotionally resonant. The cinematography was stunning, and the way the narrative unfolded kept me engaged, constantly surprising me. The pacing was perfect - not a single moment felt wasted.

This is more than just a movie - it's an experience that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll. If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend that you do. It's a masterpiece that deserves all the praise it can get!

Onir Sir, Hats off to you and your vision, keep shining.

This feature will feel personal if you are a human who has been in love amidst chaos. The story takes you on a beautiful journey of two humans who fall in love only to realise it's not their time. It's not because they are two men, but because of the lives they are living.

With Akash and Tawseef effortlessly becoming karun and faheem, you smile with them when they look at each other, are happy at any chance to see or meet each other. Two boys who are bound the minute they first meet and how their hearts keep pulling the strings taking them through each phase of their story and bringing them together. Moving with them you will feel like a teen who has found love and there is a happy skip to your feet and you cry with them when you see the two lovers grow up to the reality, theirs and the people around them.

This movie is not just a love story of Faheem and Karun, it's also a beautiful love letter to Kashmir and it's people. You can feel the joy, warmth, pain, anger and helplessness of the people.

Mir Salman, who plays Zaid, has also given a great performance bringing to life the youth which is raw and even scary at times, still bringing a softness of an elder brother who is protective of his young gay sibling.

Onir has captured the air, water, the landscape, the people who brilliantly as if the essence is bottled and comes to life when on screen. You are there, you are with them and you feel everything.

Brilliant!

Romance is in the nuances - giving a small chocolate to your lover, keeping an apple for him, sitting with him at the doorstep, gazing at him without saying anything.

Onir sets the movie in a background of a conflict zone - how it affects love, especially a queer one. How it manifests in real life - through the mundane and ordinary. At check posts, at small eateries. It's not in grand gestures, it is in small conversations and waiting. While a sense of dread and strain always persists because of the background, the butterflies don't go away.

The last scene of the movie with no dialogues, says so much, I wish more people watched it and talked about it.

"We Are Faheem & Karun" is a beautifully crafted film directed by Onir that resonated deeply with me, especially as someone who spent part of my childhood in Kashmir. Set in the breathtaking Gurez Valley, the film tells the tender love story between Faheem, a local college student, and Karun, a security force man from Kerala. Their relationship unfolds amidst the stark realities of conflict and societal challenges, highlighting the complexities of love in a region often defined by turmoil.

Having lived in Kashmir, I found the film's portrayal of the landscape and culture to be both nostalgic and authentic. The cinematography captures the stunning beauty of the valley, evoking memories of my own experiences there. The film's exploration of friendship, duty, and the quest for connection amid adversity struck a chord with me, reminding me of the warmth and resilience of the people in the region.

Onir's masterful direction combined with heartfelt performances from the cast, create an emotional journey that is both relatable and profound. The themes of love transcending boundaries and the pursuit of happiness in the face of conflict are universal, yet they hold a special significance for anyone who has called Kashmir home. Overall, "We Are Faheem & Karun" is a moving tribute to the spirit of Kashmir and a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the human side of this complex region.

It was indeed a wonderful experience watching this movie on a special screening. Although movie was about same sex relationship but issues like pollution , Caste related issues etc were also shown very subtly and artisticly. The way director showed kashmir , its beauty , culture and people are very raw and realistic. Actors have done their work very well. Im presonally impressed by the performance of Akash Menon and Mir Tawseef. As an Actor and theatre artist I can say movie is very artistic and I recommend that it must be available on some ott asap. Wish to see more movies like this in mainstream cinema and ott!!