Kismat (means Destiny, Fate, Wish of Allah), a film by Shanavas K Bavakutty, is inspired from the real life incidents which happened in Ponnani, in Kerala. It reiterates the challenges thrown in front of people falling in love from different caste / community. Our society is still not very much open about accepting intercaste marriages.
The story of Irfan and Anitha is also that of a 23 year old Muslim upper class boy falling in love with 28 year old Hindu Dalit girl. The opening shot of the film has Anitha travelling in police custody. She is unconsolable and crying. She appears to be threatened with the situation. Flash back tells us the story of Irfan and Anitha.
Irfan (Shane Nigam), a student, falls in love with Anitha, a Research Scholar (Shruty Menon). When Irfan's family learns about his affair, they oppose him and lock him in the room. But Irfan, with the help of his mother, is able to run away from home, and he meets Anitha and convinces her to get married to him. Both of them reach Police Station expecting help and protection from the police authorities.
At police station, they happen to wait for hours to meet SI Ajay C Menon (Vinay Forrt). What happens after they meet him? Does Ajay help them by giving them protection or helping them to get married ? What all events happen at the police station. How do their lives change ? Do the events take a different turn than the expected? What happens when the respective families learn about Irfan and Anitha';s elopement? What fate was awaiting both of them? Is the film another classic example of honour killing or some other destiny was awaiting them?
Shane and Shruthy as Irfan and Anitha respectively do project the vulnerability, sensitivity, fear, frustrations etc. with ease. Rest of the cast have also justified their roles.
It becomes difficult to review films based on real life events since somebody has lived that ordeal. How to rate such films remain my dilemma. But, if I try to review it as a piece of art, I felt that the pace of the film was very slow. No melodrama or exaggeration is there in the film, but the slow pace distracts. The focus of the film was more on to explore the events which happened after Irfan and Anitha reached the police station, but their bond, their love, progression of the relationship from an acquaintance to the soulmate is covered in 15 minutes through a song and glimpses of a few incidents. It is indeed shown that their non-conformist attitude costed them a lot. The film never tries to take sides, it is left to the audience to have the power of discretion. The film does justify the title Kismat i.e. the fate of such a relationship.
Kismat lacks depth and intensity. It is neither a Sairat (Marathi Fim which created history), nor a Ishaqjaade.
Kismat is a decent watch, but not very intense and deep. A simple story of two people from different religion, age, class falling in love against the societal norms and the destiny of their relationship.
The story of Irfan and Anitha is also that of a 23 year old Muslim upper class boy falling in love with 28 year old Hindu Dalit girl. The opening shot of the film has Anitha travelling in police custody. She is unconsolable and crying. She appears to be threatened with the situation. Flash back tells us the story of Irfan and Anitha.
Irfan (Shane Nigam), a student, falls in love with Anitha, a Research Scholar (Shruty Menon). When Irfan's family learns about his affair, they oppose him and lock him in the room. But Irfan, with the help of his mother, is able to run away from home, and he meets Anitha and convinces her to get married to him. Both of them reach Police Station expecting help and protection from the police authorities.
At police station, they happen to wait for hours to meet SI Ajay C Menon (Vinay Forrt). What happens after they meet him? Does Ajay help them by giving them protection or helping them to get married ? What all events happen at the police station. How do their lives change ? Do the events take a different turn than the expected? What happens when the respective families learn about Irfan and Anitha';s elopement? What fate was awaiting both of them? Is the film another classic example of honour killing or some other destiny was awaiting them?
Shane and Shruthy as Irfan and Anitha respectively do project the vulnerability, sensitivity, fear, frustrations etc. with ease. Rest of the cast have also justified their roles.
It becomes difficult to review films based on real life events since somebody has lived that ordeal. How to rate such films remain my dilemma. But, if I try to review it as a piece of art, I felt that the pace of the film was very slow. No melodrama or exaggeration is there in the film, but the slow pace distracts. The focus of the film was more on to explore the events which happened after Irfan and Anitha reached the police station, but their bond, their love, progression of the relationship from an acquaintance to the soulmate is covered in 15 minutes through a song and glimpses of a few incidents. It is indeed shown that their non-conformist attitude costed them a lot. The film never tries to take sides, it is left to the audience to have the power of discretion. The film does justify the title Kismat i.e. the fate of such a relationship.
Kismat lacks depth and intensity. It is neither a Sairat (Marathi Fim which created history), nor a Ishaqjaade.
Kismat is a decent watch, but not very intense and deep. A simple story of two people from different religion, age, class falling in love against the societal norms and the destiny of their relationship.