KAAFIR

·         Dia Mirza as Kainaaz Akhtar
·         Mohit Raina as Vedant Rathod
 It is inspired by the true story of Shehnaz Parveen

     There are movies galore. In the movie theatres, on the television and even on the social media. But once in a while there comes a movie which zooms high into the skies and shines like a mega star .
I would certainly rate the movie ‘ Kaafir’ in this category.
Kaafir  was released in 2019. Though I see a lot of movies but I don’t know how I missed it.
Recently I saw it and was overwhelmed by its theme and message of humanity.
The movie is about Kainaaz Akhtar who strays into India from POK and  Vedant Rathore a journalist who helps her in getting back to her home. The journey back home for her is full of struggle and painful.
She is arrested by BSF and labeled as a terrorist and thrown in the jail. She undergoes 7 years of agonizing  term behind bars. She is raped in the prison and gives birth to a child. Vedant Rathore comes to her rescue. He fights numerous battles in the court to get her released. He fights with the bureaucracy , he fights with the groups who attacks her because she is a Muslim. He gives her shelter.
 
The movie forces you to think that whether religion  has put so much hatred in our hearts that humanity has no place in it. Should our actions towards others be determined by the religion which that person follows. But this is the tragedy of our times. Since the division of India in 1947 certain sections of our society have fueled so much hindu muslim hatred just to serve their narrow ends. Mostly for gaining  power . Both India and Pakistan governments want this hatred and division to continue. They forget that humans live in both countries. Humanity should rule our hearts and not hatred.
 
Coming to the movie now. Vedant and Kainaaz comes closer to each. They like each other and perhaps love each other. But they keep their feelings suppressed . They just fall short of expressing their feelings fully to each other. Their eyes and sometimes a tender hug or touch exposes the turbulence in their hearts. There is a barrier between them. She is a Pakistani and he is a Indian. She is a Muslim and he is a Hindu. We live in a system based on religion and not on humanity. God created humans but we wrapped humans  in foils of religion.

    Sometimes I think what good has religion done to us. It has provoked wars , murders and hatred. Infact everything opposite to what  religion  supposedly stands for. It has made us inhuman and bigots.
But why? The only reason for this which comes to my mind is because God never created religion. It is the humans which created religion. God resides in our heart. We fail to hear him. We follow  religion because it is more convenient to do so.

     In end I would only add  that there is so much in common between the two countries like language ,history ,cuisine, culture etc so why the hatred and mistrust. 
 
I have not revealed the end of the movie. Do  see the movie if you get time.
 
ASHOK KUMAR
 

 

AUNTY VIDYA

 

Let me remember . Yes it was the year 1971. I was in Vienna searching for a job. My visa was going to expire in a few days but I was not successful in getting a job. I uses to live in a paying guest apartment run by a Indian lady Vidya. The apartment was located in 3rd district – Landstrasse ,a sedate locality of Vienna . It was inhabited by middle class people who were not very well off.

But the rent was reasonable and I could afford it. The apartment was divided into four parts plus a small room. Vidya gave me this room . The cheapest I could afford.

She used to take special care of me since I was from India. She would ensure that I was well fed. And yes she was a fantastic cook. She came from India with her parents in 1945. Married and settled here. Soon afterwards her parents died and then some 5 years back her husband also expired. She became a widow. She converted her apartment into a paying guest accommodation to sustain herself.

I was not able to find a job and slowly whatever money I had just vanished. I was in a state of depression .One day Aunty Vidya was watering the plants on the balcony . I went to her and narrated my ordeal to her. She sympathically listened to me .

She told me " Ashok, life is not only hard but cruel. There are people who cannot carry the burden and collapse. But you are brave. I am sure you would succeed in life. Come with me.

"

She gave me some money and told me that her husband was working in a Bank in Vienna. She would talk to the Bank Chairman and see whether I could get a job there. In a few days I got a job. My visa was renewed. I stayed with Aunty Vidya for 5 years and took care of her.

Due to certain domestic compulsions I had to return to India. Due to my job experience in Vienna I got a good job in Delhi.

I would always remain indebted to Aunty Vidya for her compassion and helping me out in my most distressful times. She is no more now but she would always reside in my heart.

It is 40 years now since I met her . I have tried to paint her portrait from memory. A tribute to a great soul.

Thanks

ASHOK KUMAR

22.5.19