Losing My Religion
Film: Dharam Sankat Mein
Cast: Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Nasseruddin Shah
Directed by: Fuwad Khan
Duration: 2 hrs
Rating: * * 1 / 2
What would happen if one fine
day, you discover that you were born in a different religion from the one you
are professing? That is the basic premise of cinematographer turned director Fuwad
Khan’s Dharam Sankat Mein which is
officially a remake of The Infidels
(2010) where a Muslim discovers that he was born to Jewish parents.
In this case, it is Dharampal
(Paresh Rawal) who is more of a cultural Hindu who constantly questions many of
the rituals and specially Godmen. His family are big fans of Neelanand Baba
(Nasseruddin Shah) who like the Messenger of God, makes an entry on one of
those heavy duty envious bikes and lives up to his name – everything from his
attire to posters are blue. “Kya who
filmein bhi neeli dekhte hain?” an appropriate question is asked.
When Dharampal opens his late
mother’s bank locker, he discovers that he was adopted and his biological
parents were Muslims. For someone who is not particularly fond of religion, he
is a bit shaken up and traces his father who is ill in an old age home. The
maulvi (Murli Sharma) tells him that he has to become a Muslim in terms of
knowing the basic tenets of Islam before meeting his father. The man who can
help him do that is his neighbour (Annu Kapoor) a lawyer. He teaches him the
nuances of pronunciations and other mannerisms and some of those scenes are
quite amusing.
Dharampal is sandwiched between
the two religions – his family insists he become a part of the godmans cult
while on the other hand, he has to go out oh his way to learn another religion
of which he knows nothing.
He studies Islam just so that he
can meet his father and that reason is not very convincing. But it is just used
as a device to challenge the common notions of religion and the screenplay does
a commendable job of being equal opportunity offender. At the same time, it
also plays it safe in many ways and doesn’t really push the envelope although
you can’t fault the film makers for that - given the heightened sensitivity on
matters of religion (the film apparently suffered at the hands of the censors),
it is hard to deliver the envelope forget push it, never mind if the origin of
the phrase had got noting to do with a literal envelope. Questioning beliefs is
possible but faith is still a no-no.
The actors are in top form – Paresh Rawal is a seasoned
actor and Annu Kapoor gives him good company. Nasseruddin Shah does justice to
his flamboyant character. All said and seen, Dharam Sankat Mein deals with an
important subject and nevermind if it is not entirely satisfying, it is still
is a positive step towards better cinema.
Published in The Navhind Times on 12th April 2015
