We Are Faheem & Karun

Onir's surprisingly hopeful film WE ARE FAHEEM AND KARUN was spellbinding from the get go - the timeless landscape of Kashmir, the uncertainty etched on the faces of the young and old, the excited visitors... and in the middle of everyday life in Gurez are Faheem and Karun. Wide-eyed Karun is new to Kashmir and falls deeply in love with radiant Faheem. Their tragic love story unfolds slowly but surely without ever feeling balanced on the tropes of a queer romance set in an occupied land. Faheem smiles and shares his dreams with his dad, Faheem's mum laments but for a second about her dreams, and Faheem's brother dreams of release from his sense of desperation and enslavement. Stellar performances by Kashmiri actors Sana Javed (Faheem's mum), Mir Salman (Faheem's brother Zaid), and Tawsif Mir (Faheem) power this Kashmiri/Urdu film as it hurtles towards its inevitable ending. I'm left wondering what next as I stare at Faheem's stoic face, which is about to crumble under the weight of a love lost.

Onir is masterful storyteller and skilled filmmaker, but rarely do we find inspiring humans at the helm of films - he is someone who is able to carve a human story, a story of longing, of pain, and of hope in the face of insurmountable odds. This was not just a queer love story, it was a love story. I was proud to see Kashmiri talent shine on the silver screen. Thank you. Thank you, Onir.

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!!