I didn't know that the 2002 Gujrat riots were actually a well planned genocide. This film was both enlightening and shocking in a way that it revealed a part of history that was kept hidden by media propaganda. Dholakia did an excellent and a very courageous job of unraveling the truth behind the brutal mass massacre.
As far as the actual story-telling is concerned, I would rate it average. I did not like the idea that the entire film was in English. The characters didn't seem credible. Also the characters were too stereotypical. The police officers, the right-wing Hindu Parishad members, the families. Everything was stereotypical, to the extent of being cheesy. The Parsi family was perhaps too loving, the police officers too brutal, the parishad members too crude, the music too sentimental, the American too stupid and self-righteous and the neighborhood too harmonious. The characters lacked depth, the story lacked layers.
But all in all it was an excellent effort. Great performances by Sarika and Naseerudin. And a great and a very bold effort of revealing the truth, which was perhaps kept hidden. I just wish that such an important issue was complemented by better film making. When I compare this film to Hotel Rwanda, this film falls flat on its face. But nevertheless I strongly recommend watching this film. It is an eye-opening film.
As far as the actual story-telling is concerned, I would rate it average. I did not like the idea that the entire film was in English. The characters didn't seem credible. Also the characters were too stereotypical. The police officers, the right-wing Hindu Parishad members, the families. Everything was stereotypical, to the extent of being cheesy. The Parsi family was perhaps too loving, the police officers too brutal, the parishad members too crude, the music too sentimental, the American too stupid and self-righteous and the neighborhood too harmonious. The characters lacked depth, the story lacked layers.
But all in all it was an excellent effort. Great performances by Sarika and Naseerudin. And a great and a very bold effort of revealing the truth, which was perhaps kept hidden. I just wish that such an important issue was complemented by better film making. When I compare this film to Hotel Rwanda, this film falls flat on its face. But nevertheless I strongly recommend watching this film. It is an eye-opening film.