Haasil

Firstly,I'd like to know more about this director Tigmanshu Dhulia.And why hasn't any producer taken notice of his talent till now.The lad has made such a fine movie that from what I see,this has put the Oscar winners to shame!And no freaking major recognitions for this movie in the country in which it was made and also which it has depicted so perfectly in its lens.Such movies are hard to make,and probably even tougher to get recognised.Isn't it?Irfan Khan has broken all the acting fronts through his debut performance as Ranvijay Singh,a wannabe politician,who takes up against the reigning student leader in his university,the character being portrayed so flawlessly by Ashutosh Rana.Irfan Khan has immortalised the character and the movie itself,at least in the hearts and brains of the ones who've seen this flick.Despite hailing from the state of Rajasthan,he's played the part of a UP guy and perfected the accent so easily,it makes you stand up,take notice and applaud the efforts.Jimmy Sheirgill is good as the lead,but Hrishita Bhatt leaves a lot to be asked.She was arguably the weakest link in the movie,which was dominated by the great performances and the dialogues of its characters.When I saw this movie,I became Irfan Khan's fan,and I can assure the same fate for any other cinema lover!This movie is as realistic as it can get and I simply love that for Indian cinema.

Haasil is not just a film-it's an authentic portrayal of Northern India's socio-political landscape, marking a powerful directorial debut for Tigmanshu Dhulia. Set in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), the film masterfully blends love, politics, deceit, and the harsh realities of student politics, offering a gripping narrative rooted in the region's culture.

The story follows Aniruddha (Jimmy Shergill) and Niharika (Hrishitaa Bhatt), two college students who fall in love. However, their peaceful lives take a dangerous turn when Aniruddha gets entangled with Ranvijay Singh (Irrfan Khan), a charismatic yet ruthless student leader locked in a power struggle with his rival, Gauri Shankar (Ashutosh Rana). As the battle for political dominance intensifies, Aniruddha finds himself in deep trouble, threatening his love and future.

Irrfan Khan delivers an electrifying performance, embodying Ranvijay with raw intensity and flawless dialogue delivery in Allahabad's local dialect. His transformation into the character is seamless, making him one of the most memorable antagonists in Indian cinema. Jimmy Shergill shines in a role that allows him to showcase his acting prowess beyond conventional romantic leads. Hrishitaa Bhatt convincingly portrays a conservative college girl, making her character highly relatable to many North Indian audiences. Ashutosh Rana, despite limited screen time, leaves a lasting impact, while veteran actor Sharat Saxena is perfectly cast as a concerned father grappling with societal norms.

One of the film's biggest strengths is its authentic dialogue, which captures the raw essence of Allahabad's linguistic and cultural nuances. The supporting cast adds further depth, making every scene feel genuine and immersive. The film's pacing is impeccable, transitioning from a simple love story to a gripping political thriller with remarkable finesse.

Tigmanshu Dhulia proves that compelling cinema isn't dependent on star power but on strong storytelling, well-researched characters, and an unfiltered look at regional politics. Haasil is a must-watch, particularly for those who appreciate films driven by realistic characters and intense narratives rather than commercial glamour.

Highly recommended for lovers of raw, powerful, and socially relevant Indian cinema.

Its a cult movie , i have watched it numerous times , can watch again.

Politics. there are many of us who hate it and refuse to be part of it. Yet, politics is what runs a nation. To quote a fellow commenter, 'if we don't take part in politics, someone else less worthy will take the reins in their hands'. This is what Haasil does. While the more recent films like 'Rang De Basanti' which glamourizes violence or an insipid 'Yuva' which fails to get the message through due to its several weaknesses have been hugely successful (the former being a commercial success while the latter was a critical success), 'Haasil' is one film that received comparative little attention but excels both films (notwithstanding the fact that it was released before).

The screenplay is quite innovative and the narrative flows very well. Dhulia's storytelling is refreshing and he portrays the events with grit, realness and sensitivity. An example is the very gradual and somewhat subtle way he shows a carefree Anirudh's movement towards Ranvijay's party. Unlike 'Yuva' and 'Rang de Basanti' this one has no stars. It has actors, and that too, some of the best.

Irfan Khan is phenomenal as Ranvijay. While we see Ranvijay as a brave ambitious leader, we see his weakness towards the opposite sex, particularly the woman he desires. Shergill too is fantastic as the young and naive Anirudh who's slowly drawn into the web of politics. Both these characters are very well-written with different shades. Ashutosh Rana is strictly okay as his character borders on caricature. Hrishita Bhatt has a strong presence and she holds her own. She and Shergill have a wonderful chemistry and their love story is quite genuine and well-handled. Tinnu Anand is quite likable as the father who's unsuccessfully trying to bridge the generation gap between his son and himself. Rajpal Yadav doesn't have much to do.

The songs are quite nice but some could have easily been left out. For example, the Qawali sequence towards the finale, looked a little too dramatic and Bollywoodish. Actually the whole mosque sequence looks a little out of place. The screenplay is a little imbalanced. In the first half it balances the love story and the political chaos but in the latter half it shifts towards Ranvijay's obsession (why?) for Niharika. The sudden change in Irfan's character looks a little drastic, especially his outburst at Niharika's parents followed by his insane hunt. Then again, perhaps the outburst scene reflects his sexual frustration, a hint of which we see in an earlier scene when Anirudh jokes to him about his weakness with women. The ending too looks a little odd and rushed but one can understand why the director wanted to round it up this way. Also some situations required further development. For example, Ranvijay's attraction towards Niharika or how did Ranvijay manage to convince Niharika's father to marry her off to him?

'Haasil' is a brilliant effort in spite of its flaws. It isn't exactly a masterpiece but is a lot more real and effective than the other successful films (I already gave two examples) trying to convey a similar message. Worth the watch!

This movie is special for me as during our undergrad days, we were asked to learn each and every dialogue of this movie in ragging. I still remember 80% of the dialogue. Movie shows underbelly of College elections and how it impacts the students. One off of the best work of Irfan Khan.

Pros: Great script awesome acting well directed

Cons: Couple of unnecessary songs.