Books have inspired filmmakers to convert their content to reality and the latest blockbuster Raazi is no different.Director Meghna Gulzar, daughter of reknowned lyricist Gulzar Sahab has directed this film, based on an adaptation of Harinder Sikka's novel'Calling Sehmat'.
Plot:-
Set in the year 1971, the film initially involves the Indian Intelligence suspecting a Pakistani military attack on India and the strategies necessary to counter the attack.The focus then shifts on a Kashmiri resident, Hidayat Khan(Rajat Kapur), who meets his old time friend from Pakistan, Brigadier Syed(Shishir Sharma). The two talk of establishing relations by getting their children married off to each other's families. He then reveals to Brigadier Syed that he is suffering from lung cancer.
He calls his daughter Sehmat(Alia Bhatt), who is studying at Delhi University to come back home, with an aim to discuss about her marriage being fixed to Brigadier Syed's son, Iqbal(Vicky Kaushal).However, the main reason behind the marriage is for Sehmat to spy on behalf of India against Pakistan's military strategies.Her mother, Teji Khan(Soni Razdan) is initially reluctant about this but compels her to go ahead for the nation's benefit.
Sehmat is trained by India's Intelligence Wing RAW, before she migrates to Pakistan. Assisted by agents, Khalid Mir(Jaideep Ahlawat) and Nikhil Bakshi, she begins her mission as a spy, where she is taught to be remain alert at all times.
Sehmat, once married to Iqbal, commences her duty but is not all easy. She is able to sneak on information which shows Pakistan's plan of military action or strategy against India, which she passes to Indian agents.However at Brigadier Syed's home, Abdul(Arif Zakaria)one of the oldest and most trusted servants begins suspecting her. His suspicion becomes true when he is asked to get a file of confidential documents and finds out the morse code machine used by Sehmat in communicating important/confidential information to RAW in India.Sehmat, fearing her getting exposed uses a truck on the street to run over Iqbal as he runs out of the house.
Hospitalised and in a critical condition, Iqbal then calls for Mehboob Syed(Ashwath Bhatt), Brigadier Syed's older son to reveal the truth but breathes his last. The chain of suspicion continues as Mehboob reveals to Sehmat that Iqbal, before his death tried to reveal her name as a suspect. Sehmat then realises that RAW agents had provided her with an umbrella which is to be used as a weapon in injecting poison in a person as a last minute resort.She does exactly the same by disguising as a burqa clad woman and injecting the poison in Mehboob at the police headquarters which results in Mehboob's death shortly.
In the meanwhile, Hidayat Khan passes away due to his lung cancer which leaves Sehmat devastated.
The family, particularly Mehboob's wife Munira(Amruta Khanvilkar) lay in a state of shock after the unexpected events unfolded. Iqbal eventually realises the truth about Sehmat as he during security investigation in their house sees an anklet of Sehmat in Mehboob's room as she had earlier sneakingly kept a packet of
the devices/files she used in carrying out her spying/espionage activities while in the house. He decides to go ahead with his motto of "Nothing greater than the nation" to provide justice by shooting and killing Sehmat if necessary. Sensing the threat to Sehmat's life and in a bid to rescue her, the same RAW agents, disguise themselves as Pakistani men and hurl a bomb at Iqbal and his team while he confronted Sehmat in her burqa at a marketplace.
Later, Sehmat meet the team members in an undisclosed location which made it clear that it wasn't her who was killed along with Iqbal but another lady named Nafisa, whom Sehmat had taken help of earlier.Shattered by Iqbal's death, she begs the RAW agents to leave her alone and send her back home.
Upon reaching India, it is revealed that Sehmat is carrying the baby of Iqbal and fast forward in the future, Samar Syed(Sanjay Suri), her son is standing aboard the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant with an aged Nikhil Bakshi(Kanwaljeet Singh) announcing to the Navy sailors of India's victorious triumph over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict.
Direction/Overview:-
Based on true events, one would expect this film to be stripped of scenic locales which are often used for picturisation of high intensity action or item numbers(, except the beauty of Kashmir) or Megacity lifestyle or similar sort. The director authentically portrays the early 1970's era circumstances prevailing both in India and Pakistan, particularly the lifestyle of a Military Brigadier and his family and the struggles of a woman married into the home only for the sake of spying and carrying out espionage operations for the sake of her country.
Performances:-
The show stealer would be none other than Alia Bhatt as this film, besides Udta Punjab are among those where she went de glam. She did look glamourous but in a simple way.The main focus of the film was on Alia's struggle to conceal the true purpose behind her marriage to Iqbal from the family whilst spying and sending secretive and confidential information to the RAW.She does encounter threats, but in a desperate bid, gets them eliminated until the end.
Vicky Kaushal plays Iqbal, a simple and kind hearted army officer who has a very soft corner for his wife and does not even share the same bed with her on the day of their marriage until they know each other more intimately.However, his character turns just towards the end but unfortunately does not survive.
Rajit Kapur, who has a long list of successful filmography and theatrical plays, portrays the innocent Hidayat Khan who is forced to betray his close friend Pakistani Brigadier Syed for the sake of his nation by marrying off his daughter to Syed's son for the sake of spying.
Soni Razdan, real life mother of Alia Bhatt plays her reel mother Teji Khan in the film.Sort of a cameo, she does not have much scope in the film.
Shishir Sharma, notable actor in the Indian television and film industry impresses with his role as that of Brigadier Syed. His depiction of his role is quite authentic in its look, both as the head of the house and a military general.The movie does not really portray his aggressive side except for when he realises that his daughter in law has betrayed the family and is the cause behind the unfortunate events they have been through.
Jaideep Ahlawat as RAW agent Khalid Mir does leave a mark, specially in scenes where he traines Sehmat to be alert and attentive in every possible situation during her campaign.
Ashwath Bhatt as Mehboob Syed was quite good enough.He does manage to catch people's attention despite the limited scope within the role.
Other characters such as that of Amruta Khanvilkar, Arif Zakaria and Aman Vashisht were good enough, despite being short.
Music:-
Raazi does not have a notable soundtrack to propel the film to popularity largely on the basis of it.However the song "Dilbaro" voiced by Harshdeep Kaur, Vibha Saraf and Shankar Mahadevan was notable. The other tracks include "Ae Watan", voiced by Sunidhi Chauhan and Satyajeet Jena which was picturised as a national anthem sung in school and title track "Raazi" sung by Arijit Singh. The music and background score of the film was composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and the lyrics by Gulzar.
