Before the review. Review on Black Friday

Let me start by making it very clear that this is not the review of this film.So ignore the rating for now.These are some of my thoughts before watching the movie,after watching it and then thinking over it.

I will write the actual review only when the film is released.As per the latest judgement in the court case by Mumbai high court the next hearing is on 3rd February and the producers have moved to the supreme court.

Again I donno whether it has been released overseas.If it has been then some MS members might have seen it.But since it has been added here at the Mouthshut movie list, I thought of writing about it.

I saw Black Friday a couple of weeks back at Pune International Film Festival.I donno when all will see it(if at all you are able to see the movie released).Also the version which I saw was uncensored and then there might be some things which might not be seen at all.Anyway I hope whatever cuts censor gives do not disturb the soul of movie.

The film is based on 92-93 riots in Mumbai which led eventually to the Bomb Blasts in Mumbai on 12th March 1993.It is based on a book by same title by a journalist.

There are hell lot of films in English over such situations wars,civil wars and riots and I am happy that we are maturing as democracy to discuss these issues at least now.The first movie on 84 Delhi riots has come now in form of Amu.

I remember three movies seen on the same subject (There might be more,afterall I am not a movie buff but still make a point to watch all important,but if there is any missing you may point out).First was Bombay by Maniratnam which came in 1995,then Fida by Khalil Mohammed in 2000 and at last Dev by Govind Nihlani last year(2004).I watched all of them.

All of them had one thing in common that they were made by well known directors.I liked all of them.The difference with them and this movie is that there the riots came as just another insident which disturbed the life of otherwise happy family.It came as villan.More importantly all these movies did not justify them in any way or at least clearly gave a message that such things are bad for society and the human being.

Here we set to find out who did those riots(which ofcourse led to bomb blasts)how and more importantly why they were done.The movie advertisment in print quotes Gandhiji saying ''An eye for eye makes the whole world blind.''But does the movie give the same messgae ?It also said the True story of Blasts(which was later told to be dropped by court) but then what is truth?

And the most important question is that what should be the role of cinema in such cases?Should it be ideal one like in the films mentioned above where humanity and compassion have the final say or should the truth be presented as it is even knowing that it might strengthen the communal divide?And that is why I think this movie will be controversial.

Only thing I can say now is that ,I felt is that this is not a movie to watch,this is a movie which will make you to think about it.Saying anything more than this will be inappropriate at this time.