The Reluctant Fundamentalist

There are times when one must choose what he believes in. When one needs to let go of his anger. Of everything wrong that the world puts one through. And just look at the fundamentals again, through eyes that are not fogged by pain or hated, but by humanism and the desire to do good.

Many movies have been made about the carnage of 9/11, and how the lives of millions were changed after it.  Though most of them really disappointing, a few aimed for cinematographic excellence. The Reluctant Fundamentalist tries desperately to reach for the latter. It wont quite achieve the cult following that is a sign of a true epic, but it will be remembered as a valiant effort. 

The title, though confusing at first, seems fitting in retrospect. The story, an adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's brilliant novel, is based on a young but brilliant Pakistani who sees the 'American Dream', taking the wall-street by storm. But when 9/11 happens, everything changes around him. A little paranoia, a little anger, lots of drama, and a man stuck in the middle of it all. With brilliantly growing characters and the inter-linking of complex emotions into one coherent storyline, the movie is a roller-coaster ride of emotions, and packs a lot of punch in 130 minutes.

The movie could have been made a little shorter. Though covering all the aspects of such complex emotions in a shorter time frame is not an easy task,  it could have been achieved. That is my one big complain with the otherwise fascinating movie experience. But that complain was largely offset by the brilliant music tracks incorporated in the movie. With 14 different tracks, it is a musical bonanza, and finally it was Atif Aslam's rendition of Mori Araj Suno that stuck with me even after the movie.

Mira Nair

The first thing that gets to you about the movie is the direction. Mira Nair once again asserts her dominance as one of the world's leading female directors. From choosing the perfect locations, the strength of the dialogues, to making such a variety of actors work seamlessly with each other, it would certainly not had been easy for her. But as the story progresses, it is the acting that really holds on to you. Not at a single point do the actors let the act down. The emotions are shown to perfection, and the characters build themselves up right from the heart. There is finesse in their art, and has been used to its full here.

The movie is worth your time and money, if only to see an American having to listen to a Pakistani for once! Having barely any expletives or sensual scenes, the movie gives a spike to the brain rather than the adrenaline. One of the best movies made about the lives on Muslims in America after 9/11, I rate it 4/5 stars.