Mission Kashmir

"Mission Kashmir" (MK) was one of the most anticipated films of 2000. The film was hyped even before its release and compared to the other big-budget blockbuster of the year - "Mohabbatein". Frankly, I think MK has outdone "Mohabbatein" on most counts. The story of MK is about a Altaf, a small boy orphaned by masked police men headed by a dedicated officer, Inayat Khan (Sanjay Dutt) when they kill Altaf's defenceless family during a firefight with militants. However, Khan tries to make up for this tragedy by adopting Altaf as his son. Just as Altaf is slowly recovering from the terrible shock of losing his real parents, he realises that Inayat Khan is the same masked officer who killed them. In anger and frustration, he flees the house and grows up to be Altaf, the militant (Hrithik Roshan). Altaf is brought up by famed guerilla fighter Hilal Kohistani (Jackie Shroff) and returns to the beautiful valleys of Kashmir 10 years later to perform the top secret 'Mission Kashmir'.

What makes this is a great film to watch is its technical brilliance and good performances by its actors. Sanjay Dutt has given an outstanding performance in the film, supported well by Hrithik Roshan, Jackie Shroff and Sonali Kulkarni. Sanjay Dutt proves his versatility with this film and so does Hrithik Roshan. With just 2 films before this one, Hrithik exudes confidence equal to that of a veteran actor. Sonali Kulkarni, in her cameo role, has done a pretty good job, stressing the fact that if there are good roles in Hindi films, you can expect good performances. Preity Zinta, who plays Sufiya Parvez is also pretty good as Hrithik's childhood sweetheart. But Sanjay Dutt really steals the show. The action scenes are the one of the best I have seen in Hindi films and the film is technically sound. The music is satisfying, but could have been better. Having directed great films in the past (eg. Parinda, Khamosh and 1942: A Love Story) Vidhu Vinod Chopra does a great job once again.

Overall, this film is a welcome break from other Hindi action films. Although it did not do as well as expected at the box-office, I believe "Mission Kashmir" is worth watching!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Reviewed by: Mohammad Ali Ikram

There are certain movies that are inherently difficult to rate. I know I have had this dilemma in the past with movies like Ishq and Dil Kya Kare. The former because the glamour, comedy and the performances were just too fun that I initially forgave all the melodrama and the beaten-to-death story-line. (On repeated viewings, I usually skipped the post-interval proceedings.) The latter suffered from a commercial-look wannabe syndrome, but the performances and the hard to comprehend motivations of the characters were most enticing. Now, Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Mission: Kashmir puts me in the same boat again. Undoubtedly, this is a very good film from one of our top directors, but Chopra's choice of story to complement the magnificence of every other aspect of his movie, brings the film down a few rungs from Classic status.

So first the down-side. The tale commences with Inspector Inayat Khan (Sanjay Dutt) and his wife, Neelima (Sonali Kulkarni) living in eternal bliss amongst the beauty of the disputed territory. Or so it seems until their only child dies of a domestic accident because no doctor is willing to medically attend to him as a result of a fatwa by a radical separatist (Puru Raajkumar). The Inspector is expectedly angered and troubled by his son's "murder" and in his police force's mission to eradicate the separatist clan, they unfortunately let loose also on a family of innocents. Altaf (a young Hrithik Roshan), is orphaned and traumatized in the police act, and Neelima insists Inayat and she adopt the young child to fill the void in their own lives. (And to compensate for the Inspector's guilt.) So far, so good. There's trouble in paradise (pun intended) when Altaf quickly discovers the identity of his family's killer and devotes the rest of his life to the cause of eliminating Inayat Khan from the planet. He joins forces with Hilal Kohistani (Jackie Shroff), a materialistically minded terrorist, who will help the bachcha in exchange for Altaf spear-heading Hilal's treaturous Mission Kashmir, a plan to enable Kashmir become an Independent State.

Now you hopefully see my problem. The movie lapses too quickly into the sub-plot of terrorist without a cause and it dwells on it too long. For a movie about Kashmiriyat, the narrative focus on terrorism is too much. (Yes, terrorism is undoubtedly a problem in the region, but other recent directors have already tackled this topic numerous times in Roja, Maachis, Dil Se, Hu Tu Tu and most recently, Fiza.) So if you can forgive the familiar story-line, you're in for a major treat elsewhere. Vinod Chopra uses enough other pawns to keep you glued to your seat for each and every minute of his ode to Kashmiriyat.

First witness, the unparalleled technical quality of the movie. Symbolism and metaphors (courtesy screenplay assistance of a US university professors and novelist) compliment the visuals, serving as blessings in disguise to the numbed brains of commercial film-goers such as myself. Of course, Binod Pradhan's cinematography of each and every breath-taking crevice of Kashmir helps demonstrate how we South East Asians are destroying one of God's greatest gifts to mankind.

The editing is sharp and quick in The Matrix-inspired action sequences, yet soft and transitory in the more dramatic and emotional moments of the movie. (The action sequences are a major highlight, particularly the awesome and stylized climax-based ones.) And the music, above all, is apparently authentic Kashmiri-folk. (The dances are unique, though I will admit I found some of them a bit too unusual to my naive tastes.) Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy know how important it is to use musical background themes to enhance a scene's mood and punctuate the dialogues.

Performances too, are first rate. I have never seen Sanjay Dutt give such a raw and heart-felt performance. He is the true star of the movie. (Here's an actor who has learned that it is never too late to defy convention and type-casting in his acting career.) Hrithik is raw and effective, excelling most in the action sequences (but most will notice how this role is almost an extension of his angry young man act from the recent Fiza.) Preity Zinta is gorgeous and disarming as always with her natural effervesence in the supporting role of Altaf's childhood love, Sufiya Parvez. And Jackie excels in a brooding and menacing performance which is unfortunately underwritten. (Then again, Jackie always steals the scenery in Vinod's films.) Only Sonali Kulkarni disappointed. What I found distracting about her talent is that her face and body language is most emotive, which is a rare aptitude for even the biggest talents, but her voice is stunningly wooden. She needs a quick course in voice modulation.

What then to conclude about Mission Kashmir? Yes, it is a must see, and likely one I will watch at least a half-dozen times more in the future. And so it will grow on me, a rare quality for movies which usually fade in their appeal over time. I must commend Vidhu Vinod Chopra for always making films from the heart. The problem remains for him that the average filmgoer wants instant gratification, not a movie that takes time to sink into your system. Let's see if this Mission proves me wrong.

I decided to continue my phase of watching Bollywood movies which I have not seen in a while and I stumbled upon Mission Kashmir , although I try to avoid very sensitive subjects regarding this the issue of Kashmir and the way Bollywood has a reputation for portraying Muslims these days I had decided to put these views to one side and view this movie and to my surprise it was nothing what I had expected it to. The film has elements of love,faith,hate and other various things so cleverly woven into it that it fits in very nicely and moves the film along at a good pace. The movie also wasted no time in getting under way with plenty of twist and turns and some good dialogue and truly some moving scenes and not to mention the fact that it was beautifully shot giving us the flora and fauna of Kashmir and the grim , ugly depiction of war. The acting from nearly everyone was up to scratch including Hitrik Roshan who I felt was a little cheesy and mousy at times but he carried him-self well, my only complaints were that the songs in this one were a little too long and that caused the film to drift a bit and I felt the Islamic terrorists were well again a little tooo clichéd as if Bollywood has been watching Hollywood a too much. But having said that , Mission Kashmir was defiantly an entertaining but yet at the same time moving, thought provoking picture which is must be checked out by Bollywood fans.

MISSION: KASHMIR - 8.5 OUT 10

TWO BRAVE MEN BATTLE EACH OTHER ...AND PARADISE BURNS!

Going into the movie, I expected a lot from it. In fact, to be very honest this was only the second movie after Border for which I was waiting so eagerly. This was also my first, first day-first show movie....so the excitement was unparalleled for me, to say the least. And, the movie.....well it was all I thought it would be and much more.....it just could not have been any better. Right from the unparalleled technical quality of the movie, symbolism and metaphors (courtesy screen play assistance of a US university professors and novelist) to the outstanding performances from just about everyone in the movie. This movie is perfect, no flaws whatsoever......and when talking of being flawless, i think we got to talk about Hrithik, the guy is just amazing. I think he is the first and to date only complete actor of Bollywood. The guy is great in every aspect of acting. He looks good, he dances well, and yes he can act as well (surprised, well....trust me its true!!!!)......apart from him, I think Sanjay Dutt has given the performance of his life. Preity Zinta is gorgeous and disarming as always with her natural effervesence in the supporting role of Altaf's childhood love, Sufiya Parvez. And Jackie excels in a brooding and menacing performance which is unfortunately underwritten. (Then again, Jackie always steals the scenery in Vinod's films.) But, the real surprise package of the movie is Sonali Kulkarni. I don't know if this was her first movie or not, but it surely was the first time I saw this amazing talent act on the big screen. I am using the word "act", but in the movie I, not even for second felt that she was acting, it was all so real and natural. Take my word, watch out for her. She, for sure will go a long way. What then to conclude about Mission Kashmir? Yes, it is a must see, and likely one I will watch at least a half-dozen times more in the future. And so it will grow on me, a rare quality for movies which usually fade in their appeal over time. I must commend Vidhu Vinod Chopra for always making films from the heart. The problem remains for him that the average filmgoer wants instant gratification, not a movie that takes time to sink into your system. Let's see if this Mission proves me wrong.

English Audio dubbing has been made available on the DVDs that can now be rented at Hollywood Video & Blockbuster.

The dubbing is flawless! And I think the movie is a true neutral view of the Kashmir Situation.

Good job!