Pinjar: Beyond Boundaries...

Many of the reviewers have made it a point to note that Pinjar is unlike the run of the mill films produced in Bollywood. While this is true, Bollywood films in general are geared to a specific audience and should be appreciated for accomplishing their aims in this regard.

However,Pinjar is an excellent film for those seeking a change from the normal equation based Bollywood film. Set during the time of Partition between India and Pakistan, Pinjar focuses on a Punjabi girl who becomes the victim of societal and cultural attitudes toward the treatment of women in her time. Paro, the protagonist, is forced to choose between a life with a man who has abducted her and the fleeting hope of a life with her family back in Indian ruled Punjab. More than an issue of Hindus and Muslims, Pinjar addresses and defines a woman's role as a daughter, as a wife, and as a mother in India and Pakistan in 1947. Unlike typical Bollywood films which are escapist in nature, Pinjar is a film that makes its audience contemplate these issues during and after the film.

In a word...amazing.

I initially was not too keen to watch Pinjar since I thought this would be another movie lamenting over the partition and would show biases towards India and Pakistan. I was so totally wrong. Pinjar is a heart-wrenching, emotional and intelligent movie without any visible flaws. I was haunted by it after watching it. It lingered on my mind for so long; the themes, the pain, the loss, the emotion- all was so real.

This is truly a masterpiece that one rarely gets to see in Bollywood nowadays. It has no biases or prejudices and has given the partition a human story. Here, no one country is depicted as good or bad. There are evil Indians, evil Pakistanis and good Indians and Pakistanis. The cinematography is excellent and the music is melodious, meaningful (thanks to Gulzar sahib) and haunting. Everything about the movie was amazing...and the acting just took my breath away. All were perfectly cast.

If you are interested in watching an intellectual and genuinely wonderful movie...look no further. This movie gives it all. I recommend it with all my heart. AMAZING cannot describe how excellent it is.

wow wow wow wow wow

This unquestionable loss of words is what I felt like when I saw Pinjar. Going in not expecting anything from the movie was a good way to stay objective, but having watched it, it really makes you think of all the suffering and torment that went on during partition. Being born and brought up in the west, one tends to forget the pain and the struggle that our forefathers and mothers must have gone through. I would have to quote this as one of the most serious art movie that bollywood has made in some time. Although in my view an art movie, it managed to churn out wonderful cinematography, narration, characters and pace. Before this movie I was very dismissive of Urmila and this had made me change my view on her acting capabilities.

A definite movie to watch on a Sunday afternoon with a nice cup of chai.

I was haunted for days after watching this movie. Spent several nights tossing and turning. What makes this movie stand out is the authenticity. Since the movie is based on a novel by Amrita Pritam, a woman who experienced the trauma of partition first hand, the original story was bound to have a soul. Add to that Dwivedi's penchant for perfection, and we have a classic.

Urmila's relation with Manoj Bajpai, and the way it evolves, could not have been portrayed more authentically. The guilt on Manoj Bajpai's face makes your heart reach out to him. You want to go there and console him, tell him its not his fault.

Lilette Dubey's lullaby (original poetry by Amrita Pritam), can bring tears to the eyes. The scene where Urmila self aborts or the one where she tries to wash away the tattoo from her hand, stand out. The way she rescues Sandhali Sinha brings a sad smile to your face. And the climax is so poignant, there are no words to describe it.

This movie should have been India's official entry for the Oscars and should have participated in each and every film festival anywhere in the world. In fact, Amrita Pritam deserves a Nobel prize for this one. I have never seen a better Bollywood movie, and don't think ever will.

If you like movies with any sense and leave movies like Kal Ho Na Ho and Main Hoon Na for dodos then this is the movie for you. The movie shows the real plight suffered by the people from both side of the border during partition without being biased. There are no chest-thumping dialogues that make your blood boil. But instead it has sensible script that makes you think on whatever happened during partition was it really necessary.

All the cast has put a commendable performances. The director has done a stupendous job first by selecting a topic so volatile and then portraying it in such a beautiful way. Hats off SIR!!!!

Over all a fantastic movie!!!! Rating 9 out of 10.

PS: Here I would like to make a point to the people who make & watch movies like Kal Ho Na Ho, Main Hoon Na, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai. What are you trying to achieve by making & watching eye-candies that don't have any sense. Because of these kind of brainless and baseless movies, good movies like Pinjar goes unnoticed. I think its time for people to decide who deserves more credit Pinjar or Main Hoon Na?????