Haq is bound to get a diverse reaction. Based on the Shah Bano case that rocked the country in the 1980s and possibly changed the course of history, Haq has a bearing on one of present-day Indian politics’ biggest talking points. The Uniform Civil Code. And yet, Haq raises questions about filmmaking itself. Or should we say, Bollywood’s tendency to stay away from keeping to absolute facts, as they are.
Haq tells the story of Shazia Bano and her fight. It spans from the late ‘60s to the mid-‘80s, when Shazia’s fight reaches its culmination. The story starts with love-struck youngsters, Shazia and Ahmed, getting married, living happily for some years before drifting apart, before Ahmed remarries and brings home a second, younger wife. Shazia’s life goes downhill from there as she tries to defend her own honour while ceding her house, one she built with all her love. Things get to a head when she decides to move the court, against the wishes of the Ulema, who would rather have the matter settled within the community’s personal law framework.
Haq scores on overall storytelling. Director Suparn Varma resolves to keep the story close to Shazia‘s personal battle and skip the bigger controversy the original case generated. And you will most certainly feel for Shazia… if you are no chauvinist that is. The screenplay is paced well, and things move quickly; and the characters are provided with details. There is also enough space built to ensure that the religion and its codes are not vilified. What is picked on instead is the fact that there are often multiple interpretations of various clauses in the Sharia laws and the Quran itself. And there are people on both sides of the line, within the faith, on how they look at reforms. Varma hence manages to do a fine balancing act.
The movie also boasts some great performances. Yami Gautam does wonders as she holds the centre stage, scene after scene. Emraan Hashmi as Ahmed displays his ability to underplay and yet steal scenes. And then there are those moments of brilliance with Sheeba Chadda, who speaks volumes often with silences.
And yet, as I pointed out right at the beginning, Haq is a signature example of how Bollywood shies away from sticking to reality when dealing with real-life stories. Despite being based on Shah Bano’s case, the only thing that Haq keeps from the actual story is the case itself. It either deviates or shies away from everything else. For one, Shah Bano was reportedly over 60 years of age when she was divorced. She was fighting the case as a sexagenarian with grown-up kids – her struggles quite different from what Shazia in the film goes through. Neither does Ahmed get his second bride from Pakistan… Why Varma opted for a younger protagonist could have multiple interesting answers. You are free to guess.
Discrepancies notwithstanding, Haq delivers high as a watchable drama. And yet, as I started earlier, it is bound to have a rather divided opinion. A Facebook post by a Pakistani academic, Nida Kirmami, claimed the film, “Like the Shah Bano case, the film 𝘏𝘢𝘲, is not about actual Muslim women at all; it is instrumentalising ‘Muslim women’s rights’ in the service of Hindutva. It is Hindutva propaganda par excellence…” Nida is not alone. There are thousands, if not more, voices online who agitate against this Muslim Social drama, claiming that it is just a Hindu’s attempt at making a mockery of Islamic practices. Interestingly, a lot of these people would not bat an eyelid before commenting on the ills of the caste system in Hinduism. The ones on the other side of the line also have their own complaints. Needless to say, most complaints don’t hold much water. Certainly not ones that come from people such as Nida.
Shah Bano’s story deserves to be told. For today’s generation and tomorrow’s, lest we forget. Irrespective of whoever wants to tell it. No interpretation of any religion ought to leave anyone out. Any religion. Especially if it can push reform.
Personally, however, I wish that the maker had actually resorted to telling the story as it is. Without the deviations. Also, in Haq, Varma misses the opportunity to push the canvas and actually talk about how the Shah Bano story changed India. How an illiterate 60-something-year-old marginalised woman may have impacted lakhs of women going through their own struggles, across the country. The story, after all, is the classical spark that contributed to a much larger fire that burns bright today. A story that stays contextual… irrespective of what its critics may like to believe.
Haq is streaming on Netflix. It is written by Reshnu Nath. The movie also features Danish Hussain, Vartika Singh, S.M. Zaheer and Paridhi Sharma.