Kya Dilli Kya Lahore: Courageous debut by Raaz

Kya Dilli Kya Lahore
Starring: Vijay Raaz, Manu Rishi Chadha, Raj Zutshi, Vishwajeet Pradhan
Rated: 5/10
Vijay Raaz is one actor who has given meaning to cameos in most film as no other side actor ever. His has been a short but striking journey of small but powerful roles on the big screen. With this directorial debut, he has only enhanced his reputation of being a brilliantly edgy Bollywood professional. The film is a distinctly different effort on Indo-Pak aman ki aashaa among — of all the people — foot soldiers of the armies on either side of the border.
The harsh realities of the Hindus who crossed over from Pakistan and the Muslims who quit India are laid bare through the awesome histrionics of Raaz and Manu Rishi, two men who dominate the screen from start to finish.
It is a difficult proposition to tie up a movie into just two characters so it is to Raaz’s courage that he could limit his firstborn so intensely to a duo and a dilapidated house on the barren border. But, even though in this world quite removed from Partition, the film may not carry too much currency, it is a beautiful depiction of how officialese crushes any hope there might be to understand and embrace the common man’s plight on either side of the border.
It is Raaz’s emotional take on how we all are victims of Partition and how none makes an effort to understand this huge social angst of two populations.
A powerful and truthful film to which not many may warm up. But that will not take away from Raaz’s meaningful dalliance with direction. 
Source: Sunday Pioneer, 4 May 2014

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