Story:
Shiv Kumar Dhar (Aadil Khan) & Shanti Sapru (Sadia Khan) are a Kashmiri Brahmin pair living in a refugee camp in Jammu for 28 years. Shiv has been posting a letter to various presidents of the United States since the time he was pushed out of Kashmir with his family.
In a flashback, we see how they both met and fall in love to get married. Scenes develop the relationship between the couple and also explores his friendship with Lateef who later turns into a militant. Rest of the story explains the exodus of his particular family.
Writing:
Vidhu Vinod Chopra has written a beautiful script keeping the balance between explaining himself politically correct and strengthening the connection with the love story. He writes each and every character with minute detail so they shouldn’t feel hollow.
Performances:
The lead stars Aadil Khan & Sadia Khan mark one of the best maiden performances ever witnessed in Bollywood. Aadil gives a controlled performance without going overboard. Sadia leaves no stone unturned in registering her charming presence in every scene.
Direction:
Vidhu Vinod Chopra obviously gets the city on-point and it’s visible with his direction. He has previously titled this as Love Letter From Kashmir and that’s what it is. He makes sure to give his everything in designing this film.
Music:
Papon & Shradha’s Mar Jaayen Hum is a haunting melody that stays with you long after you’ve watched the film. Aadil Khan narrates a poem Aye Waadi Shehzaadi which evokes goosebumps with its placement. The background score has AR Rahman written all over it.
Technical Departments:
Abhijat Joshi along with Rahul Pandita and Vidhu Vinod Chopra pens the screenplay for the film which is its soul. From capturing the beauty of Kashmir to displaying it as a destroyed state, everything touches your heart. Rangarajan Ramabadran’s camera does an outstanding job in capturing the essence of the city.
Verdict:
Overall, Shikara along with being a strong statement about Kashmiri Pandits’ situation also touches your soul with a heartwarming love story.
Critics Rating:
Box Office Review
Thumbs Up
- Direction
- Cinematography
