Atif aslam's movie Bol Review By Taran Adarsh
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By Taran Adarsh, August 29, 2011 - 17:16 IST
Shoaib Mansoor is one of the brightest names to come out of Pakistan. A
few years ago, his film KHUDA KAY LIYE, which tackled the theme of
terrorism, won wide acclaim and praise. The supremely talented
storyteller is back with another
bold and hard-hitting effort called BOL, which unmasks the dual
standards prevalent in the society. In fact, we make tall claims about
the rights of women and how they are equal to men, but if one looks
around, especially in the under-developed
countries, the disparity and inequality is for all to see.
Shoaib is indeed a courageous storyteller and this film must have
sparked off a debate when it released in Pakistan several weeks ago.
Like KHUDA KAY LIYE, BOL addresses the religious extremism in the
neighboring country. It's about a
daughter who stands up against her father, but most importantly, she
dares to defy the age-old societal norms that treat women as lesser
beings. The fact that a Pakistani film-maker has had the courage to
tackle this theme makes it all the
more commendable and praiseworthy.
BOL makes you peep into the lives of a family living in Pakistan, making
us aware of the predicament, the anguish, their determination to
survive against all odds. The family decides to solve their problems,
but get into deeper troubles gradually.
The struggle for life and death is what catches your eye.
BOL shocks and stuns also because of the sub-plots in the plotline and
the twists and turns in the story. Of course, I wouldn't like to reveal
the details and spoil the fun of watching this brilliant fare, but I'd
like to add that one has rarely witnessed
such themes on the big screen. It serves as a wake-up call for the
orthodox types on both the sides of the border.
BOL has a striking story to tell. It's about a Hakeem Sahab's quest to
have a son that sees his wife give birth to fourteen children, but only
seven daughters survive. The eighth is a hermaphrodite, much to Hakeem's
embarrassment. The film
throws light on this family's problems and how each member of the family
reacts to them, taking contradicting decisions and handling awkward
situations.
BOL takes you on a roller coaster journey of emotions. A story that
dares to bare the troubles of a certain society: the status of women in
the neighboring country, the life of a hermaphrodite and of course, the
quest for a male heir to keep the
family name alive. Admiring BOL and not appreciating Shoaib would be
doing a great disservice to the individualist film-maker. He deserves
brownie points for not just choosing a controversial subject, but also
handling it with aplomb. That's not
all, for Shoaib has extracted wonderful performances from the principal
cast.
Shoaib is a fantastic raconteur and you realize how talented he is at
several points of the narrative. The difference of opinion between the
eldest daughter [portrayed by Humaima Malik] and her father [Manzar
Sehbai] is electrifying. You can feel
an undercurrent of tension every time they share the screen space. Also,
the start of the film, when Humaima begins to narrate her story and the
way her story unfolds, is shocking.
On the flip side, the narrative dips, albeit sporadically, during Iman
Ali's portions. Besides, a song filmed on her wasn't necessary in the
first place and looks like a complete add-on. Even her performance isn't
as invigorating as the remaining
cast. Yet, despite the minor aberrations, BOL leaves you spellbound at
the conclusion of the story.
BOL belongs to both Humaima Malik and Manzar Sehbai, who stand out with
terrific portrayals. Both are splendid in their respective parts. Atif
Aslam and Mahira Khan don't get much scope and they are strictly okay.
In fact, Atif Aslam's screen
space is limited to a few sequences and a song or two. Shafqat Cheema is
exceptional; it's a character that works very well in the plot. Zaib
Rehman [the mother] is most effective.
On the whole, BOL is a courageous film that has the guts to expose
issues plaguing the society. It raises questions, challenges the age-old
customs and mirrors a reality most convincingly. A brilliant film
embellished with bravura performances.
Not to be missed!
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| Category: Atif aslam Reviews | Added by: Danoo (2011-08-30)
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| Views: 8254
| Rating: 8.2/534 |
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