Imtiaz Ali slams hate over film; defends Indian Muslims' patriotism
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New Delhi: Imtiaz Ali's latest film, Main Wapas Aaunga, is enjoying a successful run in theatres after a slow start at the box office, buoyed by strong audience response and the director's visits to theatres across several cities. Even as some attempted to brand the Partition-era drama as "anti-national", the filmmakers have firmly pushed back against the criticism.
Set against the backdrop of undivided India, the film explores the trauma of Partition, the pain of losing one's homeland and a deeply emotional love story. Imtiaz Ali has maintained that the film should not be viewed through the prism of being either pro-Pakistan or anti-Pakistan. He also defended the patriotism of Indian Muslims who chose to remain in India during Partition despite having the option to leave, and said the film revolves around the idea of home as a repository of identity and memory.
“More than anyone else, Indian Muslims have proved their patriotism by deciding to stay in India when they had a choice,” NDTV quoted Ali.
The debate surrounding the film intensified after music composer A.R. Rahman reacted to a social media troll mocking the film for portraying Pakistan without terrorists or spies. Rahman shared the post on Instagram with a laughing emoji, drawing widespread attention online. The film presents ordinary people in Pakistan instead of reducing the country solely to a hub of terrorism, a portrayal often seen in mainstream cinema.
Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina, the film weaves a love story into the devastation of the 1947 Partition. Vedang Raina portrays the younger version of Naseeruddin Shah's character. The film also marks the reunion of Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh after Amar Singh Chamkila. Its music, composed by the Imtiaz Ali-A.R. Rahman-Irshad Kamil trio, has emerged as one of its major highlights.