Storyline: Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga is the story of the aftermath of the Partition of 1947 that led to the formation of two countries – India and Pakistan. Ishar Singh Grewal (Naseeruddin Shah) is a 95-year-old man living in Chandigarh with his son (Rajat Kapoor), daughter-in-law (Anjana Sukhani) and others. He had to migrate there from Sargodha (which now lies in Pakistan) during the Partition. He once forces his driver to take him to the other side of the border to Sargodha through Attari. Ishar is, obviously, stopped by the soldiers guarding the border. At that time, he suffers a stroke and starts suffering from dementia.

Ishar is in a critical condition. His family wants him to pass away, so that they get free from his responsibility. However, his grandson Nirvair aka Nivy (Diljit Dosanjh) deeply cares for him. He arrives at Ishar’s side from London and tries to make sense of what the latter is blabbering. Nivy realizes that his grandfather is reminiscing his pre-partition days when he (younger self played by Vedang Raina) was in love with his college mate Afsana (Sharvari) and needs a closure to that chapter. Nivy decides to do whatever it takes to help out his grandfather before he bids adieu to the world.  

Review: The Partition of 1947 killed many. But the ones who survived through it have had to go through a much deeper pain. The pain of leaving behind the place they grew up and the people who were dear to them and live with the painful memories for the rest of their lives. Main Vaapas Aaunga portrays that pain of lakhs of individuals through the character of Ishar. This makes the movie much different from the usual Partition sagas from mainstream Hindi cinema for it throws light on the prolonged trauma of the 1947 tragedy.

The biggest USP of the film is the sweet and unusual bond between Ishar and Nivy. The latter is never shown going overboard in caring for his grandfather and his unfinished chapter. As expected from an Imtiaz Ali film, there is subtlety galore.  

Naseeruddin Shah is on a bed almost throughout the film. Yet he emotes and expresses convincingly without overdoing it even once. In other words, he displays his deep talent in what is one of his best performances ever. Diljit Dosanjh compliments him perfectly. He provides a mature and subtle act of a determined grandson. The two actors are at their best during the ending moments, which move you thoroughly. These moments also remind you of the documentary Taangh (Read more about it HERE).

The film also narrates Ishar’s pre-partition story through a parallel narration. This part is also narrated convincingly, although some moments appear stretched. Vedang Raina shows the right energy and talent needed. Sharvari is likeable and emotes well. The flashback portion also comes alive through some fine work by the production designer Suman Roy Mahapatra.

Coming to the other actors, Rajat Kapoor and Anjana Sukhani provide good support. Banita Sandhu does well but her accent is questionable.

However, despite the performances and the subject, Main Vaapas Aaunga falls story of being superlative. The biggest reason for this is that the screenplay is dry most of the times. The basic tale is interesting but it’s narrated at a snail’s pace, which tests your patience on a number of occasions. In fact, the execution, at times, takes the film into the film festival zone, which wasn’t required here. This, obviously, also makes the movie unnecessarily lengthy at 166 minutes.

There are also some important questions that remain unanswered. We are told that Ishar visited Pakistan later in 1953. But what did he do after that till the time he reached the age of 95? Did he ever try visiting the country again when his condition was much better? In fact, we are not told anything about his life after he migrated to India.

Overall: Main Vaapas Aaunga is a moving saga about the aftermath of Partition that could have been better. Because of its treatment and execution, it stands no chance at the box office.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Imtiaz Ali

Producers: Applause Entertainment and Window Seat Films

Writers: Imtiaz Ali and Nayanika Mahtani

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari

Also read: Khalid Ka Shivaji review: Worth watching for its portrayal of current social reality

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