This December has proven to be worst December ever I saw in my entire life.Personally and officially things were falling apart.People I knew were facing terrifying health problems of a family member.And then the violent incidents reaching Australia in that hostage drama culminating in this most chilling massacre of innocent students in their school which is comparable only to Adam Lanza killing those 20 kindergarten kids in U.S. in 2012.It seemed like a personal tragedy and I couldn't stop crying as I listened to anguished voices of parents and interviews of kids who were fortunate to escape.Our whole life revolve around our kids and if they are taken away from us in this brutal fashion by some crazy satanic cowards our whole world falls apart.And the reason they gave was so shallow,we attacked because Pakistani army killed our women and children,or its anti-Islamic for a Muslim to kill other Muslims.Now what happens,they did perpetrate this awful tragedy on common citizens and government and army are responding by killing more of them,they killed innocent Muslim kids so they are anti-Islamic too.And this happened soon after Malala Yousafzai got Nobel Peace prize which makes it all the more sad.The best Pakistan Taliban can do is to leave its evil ways,this mind-less revenge induced killings will lead nowhere.A peaceful progressive Pakistan is essential for India too.Terrorism is such a negative force that it burns those too who use it as a political tool.We saw it with Rajeev Gandhi who was killed by the same L.T.T.E. which he helped to grow.U.S. saw it with Osama-Bin-Laden and Pakistan with Taliban.
I had recently read Dilip Kumar's autobiography where he gives a charming account of Peshawar the city he was born in.So I seemed to relate more with folks there and was deeply shocked and distressed by this awful tragedy they were facing.And this shocked every Indian as was evident from reaction of my colleagues and people in general on T.V. .
Besides deft direction from Raj Kumar Hirani and brilliant acting from Amir Khan,one of the high points of the movie is the romantic tale of Anushka(Jagat Janani) and Sushant Singh Rajput who plays a Pakistani guy.Yes its soon after the chilling massacre of innocent kids and same sort of romance was in Veer-Zaara which led to a feeling of deep grief and touching romance and before I knew I was crying uncontrollably.
Any way Anushka and Sushant look cool together and their chemistry makes "Char Kadam" song one of the best romantic song of this year.Even in climax their relation is pivotal to the film,when Amir proves Saurabh Shukla wrong.Anushka is made to realize by Amir how her prejudices let her astray and how Sushant truly loves her.So film may be a satire bringing out flaws of our society and religion but the romantic precursor to the movie and the penultimate climax scene are jewel in the crown.Those few scenes touch you especially climax TV debate scene which make you feel romance and sadness and heart-break and which again made me really sad and tears again rolled down my cheeks.On the other hand Char Kadam's brilliance can only be compared to "Ye Mera Prem Patra" romantic interlude in Sangam where Rajendra Kumar and Vyjanthimala sizzle in summer romance.
Saurabh Shukla has a prominent role and is quite effortless.Parikshit Sahni is ok,special appearance by Arun Bali,Ranbir Kapoor and that guy from 1980s Amitabh movies Ram P.Sethi who brings Sushant Anushka together,that old guy who buys Amitabh ticket in black.
