Chikkar ☆☆☆ 1/2

Starring: Usman Mukhtar, Ushna Shah, Nausheen Shah, Faryal Mehmood, Adnan Shah Tipu

Directed by: Zaheer Uddin

fter reading the reviews of Chikkar, I was quite excited to watch it in the cinema and am glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed. It tackles an extremely serious and pertinent issue which has plagued our society for quite some time.

The movie opens to Ushna Shah (Ayla) practicing for her trials for the upcoming World Cup which she hopes to be a part of. Her husband, SSP Sarmad Zaman (Usman Mukhtar) has temporarily been made an OSD due to an unfortunate encounter with a VIP’s relative. However, when a horrific incident takes place in Dibalpur (Southern Punjab), Sarmad is ordered to report immediately and is given a week to nab the culprits. A woman, Neelam Shahzadi (Faryal Mehmood) was tortured and beaten up brutally by a mob which surrounded her after four boys ostensibly caught her with a Christian boy.

What the SSP uncovers in his quest for the truth is a complex web of lies and deceit to hide something far more sinister. Without giving any spoilers, I would just like to say that addressing mob lynching in film at this time is pertinent to Pakistan; the culprits are actually pawns in a game which is far bigger and far more complicated than it initially appears to be.

Usman Mukhtar essays the role of an upright and honest police officer who is known for his competence and expertise; however, he firmly believes that no one is above the law which off and on lands him into trouble. Nausheen Shah (Zareen Shah) portrays the role of an Interior Minister who meets Sarmad for the first time in person at a private party hosted by his in-laws which has all the crème de la crème of the society. His father in law is a business tycoon who is on very good terms with the Governor of Punjab.

As the investigation proceeds, the twists and turns keep the viewer hooked. Two prominent political figures in the area are planning to contest the by elections in Dibalpur. Is there more to this mob lynching than meets the eye? Was the victim guilty or innocent? Did she deserve the gruesome end she met?

Zaheeruddin does a commendable job as a producer and director and highlights an important social evil. The director has extremely dexterously and skillfully woven a compelling narrative which exposes the political games people play for their own personal vendettas and how very cleverly frame the weak, downtrodden and those treated as social pariahs because they are soft targets and cannot retaliate.

The supporting cast is far stronger than the two main leads, Usman and Ushna. Usman’s expression hardly changes during the duration of the film and Ushna contributes precious little to the film; in fact, she is a mere prop. The attempts at humor fall flat on their face and the film could have been pulled in by half an hour. The last leg of the film is stretched needlessly and I wish the editing had been tighter and slicker. Less is more when you are watching a film and I wish our directors would remember that. Let certain things be left to the viewer’s imagination and keep them guessing. An important lesson we need to learn!

Zaheeruddin does a commendable job as a producer and director and highlights an important social evil. The director has extremely dexterously and skillfully woven a compelling narrative which exposes the political games people play for their own personal vendettas and how very cleverly frame the weak, downtrodden and those treated as social pariahs because they are soft targets and cannot retaliate. Faryal impresses in a brief role and references to the brutality and barbarity of the assault scattered throughout the film only serve to underline how terribly demented and messed up the entire system is.

A laudable endeavor, which could have been elevated with slicker editing and of course, better acting by the protagonist, whose grim, stony and unyielding expression starts grating on your nerves after a while. Not a commercial success but hopefully; viewers will leave the cinema with some food for thought. Go and grab your bite!

The writer is an educationist and can be reached at gaiteeara@hotmail.com.

Rating system: *Not on your life * ½ If you really must waste your time ** Hardly worth the bother ** ½ Okay for a slow afternoon only *** Good enough for a look see *** ½ Recommended viewing **** Don’t miss it **** ½ Almost perfect ***** Perfection