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In his first feature film, director Shoojit Sircar has taken up a bold story about a Kashmiri girl who ignores the unwritten law that debars a girl in the valley from having any relation, including marriage, with an Indian whom they call an outsider. Adda is the sister of dreaded terrorist Shakeel Bhai, played by Yashpal Sharma. She hates gun culture and mayhem. She has seen with her own eyes what untold hardships her brother has caused to the innocent people. She refuses to accept gun culture as a way of life.

It is love at a first sight when she falls in love with Captain Aman, who is a part of the security forces devoted to restore normalcy and protect the people in the Kashmir valley. Relationship between Aman and Adda is not approved by the society as they come from different backgrounds. The local people have also misconceptions about the security forces. In the film, it is revealed how Adda rescues captain Aman from the clutches of Shakeel and his gang.

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Aman and his colleagues had an encounter with the terrorists, but Shakeel overpowered them. Both the lovers have to pay a heavy price for their relationship. Since she is the younger sister of a terrorist, she must be in league with the gang. This is the suspicion of some of Aman's seniors. One of his colleagues, Major Rathod played by Mukesh Tiwari involves Captain Aman in a sedition case, resulting in a Court Marshal. It is really interesting to see how Adda moves heaven and earth to prove his innocence and get him acquitted of the false charge.

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One of the plus points of 'Yahaan' is the brilliant performance by Minisha, Shergill, Mukesh and Dolly Aluwhalia who plays Adda's dadi. Minisha has spent two years in the valley and has studied in an army school there. She has done justice to the role. It is very difficult to differentiate her from a local girl. She says, "I am aware of the customs, traditions and culture of the Kashmiri people. Therefore, I have no problem in playing the role of Adda. It is my first film. I readily accepted the offer when I heard the script."

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The film also proves that Shergill has become a seasoned actor over the years, his dual role as a dutiful army officer and a lover in an alien state is worth mentioning. The entire shooting has been done in the violence-affected valley. But the scenes could not be shot in the open. Even a scene in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar was shot from a hidden camera kept in a car. An upcoming Bollywood talent, Shantanu Moitra, has given the music. This is very nice indeed.

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People have a glimpse of the Kashmir Valley, the Paradise on earth, affected by mindless violence and killings, almost everyday. They read about it in newspapers and watch on television channels. But the movie has shown how terrorism has been affecting normal life there for decades. They will surely have sympathy for their hapless brethren who have nowhere to go but to live in the state.

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Sahara -One Motion Pictures, deserves to be congratulated for presenting 'Yahaan' with the message that true love cannot be confined to a geographical barrier, and that its appeal is universal, irrespective of caste and religion.