click for larger view

'Ramchand Pakistani' is the movie based on a true story concerning the accidental crossing of the Pakistan-Indian border by two members of a Pakistani Hindu family belonging to the 'untouchable' (Dalit) caste. The period is very crucial inasmuch as the tensions between the two countries at that point of time flared up following an attack on Indian Parliament in June 2002. The theme of the film is how a child from Pakistan aged eight years learns to cope with the trauma of forced separation from his mother; he is being held prisoner, along with his father in an Indian prison! On the other side of the border is a wife as well as a mother, devastated by the sudden disappearance of her husband and also her son. But, the life has to move on. She begins a new chapter of her life by her struggle for survival. Thus, the film portrays the lives of a family that is at the lowest strata of society. Besides, the innocent family becomes a hostage to the war-like situation between two neighboring countries.

According to the story, the movie revolves around an eight-year-old Ramchand played by Syed Fazal Hussain, hailing from a Dalit Hindu family near the Pakistan-India border. Accidentally, the boy and his father Shankar (Rashid Farooqui) cross the border and enter India. The border security arrests the father and son duo on the charge of spying, and sends them to a Gujarat jail. When Shankar's brother (Farooq Pario) tries to file a missing persons' report, even the Pakistani officials are found uncooperative. Consequently, the father and the son rot for five years in jail. On the other side of the border is Champa (Nandita Das). She is wife of Shankar and mother of Ramchand. She has to face the ordeal of their landlord in order to pay off the family's debts! Ramchand and his father's prison life is very well depicted by the terrible conditions they suffer in the prison.

click for larger view

The film succeeds in establishing its secular credential by maintaining a politically correct stance by not taking sides of either country (India or Pakistan) or religion (Hindu or Muslim) or creed (untouchables or upper class). This is fantastic! 'Ramchand Pakistani' dwells upon the tragedy of a large number of innocent people from both the countries who suffer in jails on such a pretext, and their families have to bear the brunt until they return.

click for larger view

This movie distinguishes from others inasmuch as a Pakistani film speaks about a victimized Hindu! More significantly, this one doesn't manipulate cast and creed concerns and rather illustrates injustice and oppression to the humankind in general. Kudos to director Mehreen Jabbar who focuses predominantly on human bonding and the emotional evolution of a child's character. The screenplay significantly concentrates on the progression of Ramchand in prison and his association with his father and elderly jail inmates. Another noteworthy feature of the movie is the character of jail warden named Kamla played by Maria Wasti. She treats him at par as far as the caste is concerned. She also grooms him.

click for larger view

The movie has very fine emotional and touching scenes concerning the child, especially where the child vents his angst on his pet bug or the scene where the father holds on to his son for a cycle ride! Equally touching is the scene where the kid guards his female warden's room or watches video cassettes of 'Chaalbaaz' and 'Chandni' with her . The child character is played by two child artists who pose for the two ages of 'Ramchand Pakistani'. While Syed Fazal Hussain excels as the younger Ramchand through his innocent-filled expressions , Navaid Jabbar fares equally well as his elder avatar. Maria Wasti as Ramchand's custodian is quite charming in her role.

click for larger view

Nandita Das in the role of Champa performs very well by struggling for her survival and always longs for their safe return. Besides, her subsequent attraction towards a village merchant is sensitively depicted. Nandita in colorful peasant costumes manages to look fetching throughout her hardships. Helmer Jabbar, an experienced Pakistani TV director, floods Das' scenes with gorgeous camerawork; elaborate art direction and soaring score. Hussain and Farooqui have played their roles excellently well.After all, any Hindi or Bollywod movie cannot do without a romance in it! The movie is quite different from others in the genre of Indo-Pak background whether in regard to Anil Sharma's 'Gadar' starring Sunny Deol and Amisha Patel or 'Khuda Ke Liye' that talked about innocent Muslims caught up in jail after 9/11.

Lastly, the movie has proved the successful cooperation of the artistes of the two otherwise hostile nations. Lead actress Nandita Das, editor Aseem Sinha, composer Debajyoti Mishra and singer Shubha Mudgal are also vets of the Indian industry.