Storyline: Haq is a fictionalized and dramatized version of the historic Shah Bano Begum vs Mohammed Ahmed Khan case. The film is adapted from journalist and author Jigna Vora’s book ‘Bano: Bharat Ki Beti’.
The film starts off in 1967 in a town in Uttar Pradesh. Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam Dhar), a young girl full of life, gets married to the lawyer Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi). She is happy with choosing him as her life partner. She gives birth to two children and is pregnant with the third. This is when Abbas goes on a three-week visit to Pakistan to settle some property dispute in their ancestral place.
However, Abbas returns after three months and that too after marrying a young girl, Saira (Vartika Singh). Shazia devastated to know that her husband had a second marriage and that too by keeping her in the dark. Things start getting murkier for Shazia from here on, which eventually compels her to take Abbas to the court.
Review: It is widely known that Haq is a courtroom drama. Hence, it is obvious for the audience to anticipate the narrative to go on the legal route. There is also this danger that the portion before the courtroom scenes might make you impatient. Thankfully, nothing of that sort happens here.
The route to the court is finely structured and presented. The whole journey of Shazia’s happy marriage turning sour is well narrated. This was also possible because of the smooth transition of Abbas’s character from being the hero to the antagonist. Emraan Hashmi has always been a fine performer (even when he was labeled as a ‘serial kisser’) and he has proved the same here as well.
Once the film goes onto the legal route, you, naturally, expect it to go into overdrive. However, for some strange reason, the opposite happens. The narrative during this half doesn’t turn out to be as gripping as before. There are also some portions where the goings appear dry and episodic.
The film ends on a fine note with Shazia’s monologue but it seems too much dependent on the final part. Even for this, it is Yami Gautam Dhar’s bravura act that keeps you glued and moved.
Also during the rest of the film, she lives the journey of Shazia Bano with a lot of maturity. This one is easily one of her best acts and one of the best performances of the year. However, it is a mystery that both Yami and Emraan look almost the same even after a span of 18 years.
Danish Husain’s character as Shazia’s father is shown to be very progressive, even by today’s standards. He does full justice to it. Sheeba Chadha and Aseem Hattangady are impressive as Shazia’s lawyers. Vartika Singh shows promise as Saira.
Haq scores high in production designing. The colour grading too makes the bygone era believable. Vishal Mishra’s music is nothing much to speak about. The film needed, at least, one impressive theme track. Sandeep Chowta’s background score enhances the proceedings.
Overall: Haq is a one-time watch courtroom drama, aided by Yami Gautam’s fine act. As far as the box office is concerned, its appeal lies in the urban multiplex centers.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Director: Suparn Verma
Producers: Junglee Pictures, Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios
Writers: Jigna Vora (original book) and Reshu Nath (story, screenplay and dialogues)
Cast: Yami Gautam, Emraan Hashmi, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha, Vartika Singh
Also read: Homebound review: Neeraj Ghaywan’s film reminds you of your privilege in a hard-hitting way
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