Filmistaan Poster

Filmistaan (2014)

My Rating: 4/5

Hindustan … Pakistan … but … where is this Filmistaan!?

Filmistaan is actually a dream country where there are no boundaries, no religion, no politics, no caste – people only get together to enjoy the magic of cinema.

Debutant director Nitin Kakkar in his National Award Winning film Filmistaan has successfully created such a magical environment where the only thing that binds people together is their common love for films.

Pakistani militants hoping to kidnap some foreign film-makers by mistake take hostage of an Indian guy named Sunny (the assistant director of that same film crew).

Sunny aka Sukhwinder Arora (superbly enacted by Sharib Hashmi) is a major Bollywood buff, an aspiring actor and a super jovial fellow by nature.

Though kidnapped in Pakistan and unsure of his fate Sunny never sighs away from delivering cheesy filmy dialogues or from imitating famous Bollywood stars. A man with a genuine smile and a good heart he quickly become friends with the villagers especially with Aftab and his father (the people who sheltered him).

Aftab (Inaamulhaq) who is also crazy about Bollywood (by profession sells pirated dvds) promises his friend Sunny to help him escape from the clutches of the two on-guard Pakistani militants Mehmood (Kumud Mishra) and Jawaad (Gopal Dutt).

A thrilling attempt to reach the border of India, a special bond of friendship tested to its limits, a terrorist who chooses to become human first – a very entertaining film that portrays all that and much more.

What I love most about this film is that Filmistaan deals with pretty sensitive issues but always with a divine comic touch.

Be it the hilarious India-Pakistan cricket match episode or the comic making of the terrorist video; even the treatment of the stupid Pakistani Police force in the film, they are neither interested in Militant activities nor aware of the hostage situation – all they need is enough dvds of porn!

Filmistaan also raises the genuine issue of the depressing situation of Pakistani Entertainment industry. What is the use of talent if there isn’t any available platform to showcase it? In Pakistan people thrive only on Bollywood films. Actors, singers and other talented performers have no other option but to come to India for work.

But again if you see in a positive way Filmistaan as a film is a celebration of one of the biggest film industry in the world – Bollywood.

In Pakistan when films like Maine Pyar Kiya and Kuch Kuch Hota hai are shown – people get so engrossed in the story, they love the actors and actresses, they simply adore the emotions. For those two-three hours people seize to belong to Pakistan or Hindustan – they only exist in their beloved magic world called Filmistaan.

The film ensures a completely innovative take on the India-Pakistan issue. Great acting performances overall; especially the dynamic, often hilarious Sharib Hashmi. Sensible music by Arijit Dutta and good camera work by Subhransu Das.

I enjoyed Filmistaan … hope you enjoy it too.

Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0LWnz8Ut0

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