M.S. Sathyu’s film based on Ismat Chugtai’s short story adapted by Kaifi Azmi. Garam Hawa is a fine example of good cinema relevant in the times it was made and even decades beyond. Brilliant performances by Balraj Sahni, Geeta Siddharth and AK Hangal were well supported by Farooq Shaikh and Jalal Agha. Movie will be remembered for sensitive handling of a controversial subject and dialogues.
Act 1: In the first part Mirza family is introduced. India is seeking independence and partition is inevitable. Mirza family doesn’t want to leave nation for one or another reason. However, Pakistan, the newly formed entity, is making promises too good to believe. A section of Hindu community believes that since Pakistan is made, Muslims should leave. Not only the political scenario, life of a middle class Muslim family is also explored in this act. A poetic start is used to subtly reveal traumas of partition.
Act 2: This act makes a strong impact. Family is broken by politics and new economic dynamics. Mirzas are not able to handle either of them. At a point, Pakistan seems to be destiny, bnot destination. Every reason that has stopped Salim Mirza, the protagonist, to take step towards new state has shattered. His older brother is well settled in Pakistan. Business is in shambles. Old mother, who wanted to die in ancestral house dies peacefully. Daughter who failed in love commits suicide. One son has left for Pakistan and other is jobless. Salim, himself, is tagged as a spy. Life has become difficult for Muslims in India.
Act 3: The trick in Act 3 is that it should reflect Act 1 in some way. Same aspirations, same ideology shall rise. This happens in Garam Hava. While Salim Mirza, his wife and unemployed son are going to Pakistan, they see an agitation led by his son’s friends. The seeds of the agitation was sown by his own son who wants to remain in India and develop it. Salim decides to stay back. The problems in this country must be the same as in that country. Pakistan cannot be very different from India. They cannot live life of refugees. Aspirations of a new state shall survive the scorching wings of changing times.
Written By: Sujoy Ghosh
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