Shahid (2012) User Reviews

A strong evidential piece of cinema that enlightens!

[gaurav-rai · 9/10 · 22 October 2013]

I feel ashamed of myself for not knowing Shahid Azmi- a slain lawyer and an altruistic humane activist before Hansal Mehta came up with a strong evidential piece of cinema that does not merely solve the purpose to entertain but also dares to enlighten our unresponsive- unsympathetic minds confined into its own safe but scared place to stay put. We probably have become either numb to whatever happens in our neighborhoods or blatantly reactive about just anything that comes in way without assessing what is right and what is not.

'SHAHID' is the need of the hour. It demands and shows the guts to start a never-ending movement, if not on the roads, definitely in our heads, to bring change in the system by joining it and not wiping it out or denying its very existence.

Shahid, played by 'Kai Po Che!' fame Raj Kumar could be anyone of thousands who gets trapped into the torturous custody of Indian Police known for its tactical power-driven machinery and is thrown into Jail for beholding a name that comes from a certain section of people in minority…but where the most would disappear in the galore to turn radical against country & its governing bodies, Shahid decides to stand out. While his tenure in longing to get set free, Shahid keeps his conscience alive and opts to be a helping hand for those who have nothing but an assurance of not being guilty.

SHAHID is an extraordinary effort in terms of writing and direction. Based on the real-life criminal lawyer-cum-human rights activist Shahid Azmi, film amalgamates facts and fiction beautifully. It is a biopic that is handled with sheer honesty, clarity in thoughts, rightly positioned screenplay, brilliance in execution and a very very significant memorandum to all human beings. Hansal Mehta never and never loses his grip on the subject. He keeps it as real as it is happening in a gully adjacent to my living place. Special mention to the replication of Indian courts' undramatic-nontheatrical-dreary modus operandi where there is no usual Bollywood 'order-order' but an actual exchange of verbal spats. Camera work by Anuj Dhawan captures the environs and the emotions equally good. Dialogues are crisp, colloquial and taut.

But what make it an exceptional biopic are the performances. Shahid's fearless-in your face-uncomplicated character could never come so strong if Raj Kumar has not given it his flesh & blood. This man can make you laugh with his charmingly simplistic behavior, watch it when he is trying to be comfortable with his lady-love still unaware of his feelings, and also can make your heart bleed with his heartrending silence when attacked for his forgettable past. Extended applause for his bravura performance! Prabhleen Sandhu as his wife too is a gifted actor. She brings with herself an unpolished charm that hits every chord she aims to. Md. Zeeshan Ayyub here has not much like in RAANJHANAA to overwhelm you but still he keeps your expectations fulfilled. Kay Kay Menon and Tigmanshu Dhulia play their parts efficiently with a sparkling presence on screen.

After PAAN SINGH TOMAR, here comes an earnest biographical drama that I hope could change the way Indian Cinema thinks about our real life heroes. This is also a film that raises many a questions about humanity and its survival in today's times. It also shows our judiciary system in true lights. As said in the film by the character Kay Kay Menon plays, "It takes time but it works." Painfully correct!

On the whole, very few people dare to rise and take a stand to tell a story that might have been vanished from lives & in files if not attempted. Hansal Mehta joins the same league. Respect for giving us SHAHID- a film that will find a place close to your heart very easily but not without stirring-shaking & moving your soul. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

A must watch for its superb performances and for the man, who never lived for himself.

[bobbysing · 9/10 · 21 October 2013]

A true story of a selfless protagonist, fighting for the freedom of falsely framed victims of a minority community, this is about SHAHID AZMI, a noted lawyer who was killed in his own Kurla office in February 2010 by some unidentified men. With a mix of more facts and less fiction, director Hansal Mehta makes this best film of his career in a pure realistic style, as an absorbing documentation of the life of Shahid Azmi which is going to be a fascinating yet disturbing cinematic experience for many. Shot at actual locations with an immensely likable touch of romance in this otherwise unkind portrayal, the film reaches its peak with all the gripping courtroom scenes filmed in the most authentic manner rarely seen before in a Hindi film in particular. SHAHID grabs you from the collars within the first 10 minutes itself, especially in the scene wherein even a mother is scared to open the door of their hideouts in the riots, listening to the voice of her son knocking at it constantly. And once you get into the grim, shocking world of Shahid's valuable life, Mehta never lets you move out of it even for a minute, in the next 100 minutes of his film very convincingly.

Apart from its scary & unbelievable kind of real life account of a lawyer, what makes SHAHID hit you hard is its sharp editing, flawless casting and superb, realistic performances from the entire talented cast. Perfectly played by Raj Kumar Yadav, the actor goes deep down the skin of his character and surely becomes a strong contender of many worth deserving awards this year. Such is the authenticity in his performance that after watching him, one feels like having met the real SHAHID and for that both the actor and his director truly deserve all the praises showered upon them in the last few months. Other than Raj, there are two names in the film playing the female Muslim characters perfectly and the ease, with which they play their respective difficult characters, clearly proves the true talent of these ladies undoubtedly. The names are Prabhleen Kaur and Baljinder Kaur (Shahid's mother) and they do provide a strong visible support to Raj Kumar's towering performance along with subtle Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub,silently playing his helpful brother. As the public prosecutor, Vipin Sharma once again proves that he is a remarkable actor. Plus Kay Kay Menon & Tigmanshu Dhulia, truly impress in their small cameos, as expected. Also Shalini Vatsa, Prabal Punjabi and Mukesh Chhabra turn out to be a very valuable addition to the supporting cast with their truthful acts.

Considering the film from a general public viewpoint, one might find few glitches in it related with Shahid's Pakistani training camp days and his escape from there, shown in just a few scenes. Moreover Kay Kay simply vanishing from the story progression to never return later may also tease many (like myself). But these few points are not solid enough to bring down the excellence achieved by the team in its overall depiction and thus need to be ignored to attain a bigger and much important social objective as desired.

Personally, more than the film, it is the message, the purpose and the mission of the man named SHAHID, which forces me to include it in my must see movies list right away, particularly for the Indian viewers, who are facing this religious clash everyday like an inseparable issue of our multi-cultured society.

Specifically talking about the unsung hero of many victim families from the minority, SHAHID is an important document bringing to us an iconic name of our social system, not known to majority of people living in the other parts of the country. And the reason for this shameful mass ignorance ironically lays in the way our media works, which actually holds back the positive news for their obvious reasons and always spreads the negative word around in a much stronger and deliberate manner to gain some instant attention. Probably that is the reason why we very well know about the men who made important arrests at those crucial times of crisis but don't really know about the man who got many innocents out of the jail after few years, rightly fighting the court of law with his own sincere efforts.

For instance, be it Mumbai, Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam or any other region of our country, we always get to hear and read the news of suspected terrorists arrested from anywhere and it's at once all over the media as their main focus. But whenever the same court serves justice making those 'framed people' free after having proved innocent, very seldom we get to hear about them on the channels or respectfully mentioned in the headlines on the first page. The poor coverage of such cases, don't let us know about many courageous and human right activists like SHAHID AZMI and therefore the film presented on his life is indeed a very vital and major contribution made by Hansal Mehta and his team to Indian Cinema as well to Indian social system, embracing diverse religious beliefs since centuries. Practicing as the lawyer for such special framed cases, Shahid had an astonishing record of getting 17 acquittals from the court in his short career span of only seven years. And even thinking about those 17 families greeting their wrongly framed members back in home is enough to make you realize the relevance & importance of this historical achievement made by the makers of SHAHID.

So if you are willing to see a rare kind of alarming as well as enlightening biographical film made on a true fighter who always fought for others in his forcibly shortened life of only 32 years, then do watch SHAHID as a must and celebrate this new triumph of Indian cinema made for a cause.

Shahid, Law aur Gangster.

[britto-charles · 8/10 · 14 October 2013]

'Shahid' is about the life of the controversial lawyer Shahid Azmi who was assassinated in 2010. Directed by Hansal Mehta, produced by AKFPL, Bohra Bros, and distributed by UTV Motion pictures . The film is set to release on the 18th of October after its world premier at the 2012 TIFF. The movie stars Raj Kumar Yadav in the title character and the story revolves mainly around him. Hope the producers and the director join again to make a biopic on the life of Narendra Dabholkar(Another Marathi icon who was recently assassinated). The story opens with Shahid being shot point blank at his office and it continues linearly otherwise. The opening immediately reminded me of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and 'Jobs'. Is it a necessity that biopics should begin very dramatically or with a possible ending of the life of the person depicted? Is it because there are many milestones in the life of icons that its difficult to create an apt ending to these sort of movies? The movie showcases more of a rather sweet life of Shahid in the first half and gains momentum in the second half where the major drama occurs. Pre-interval drama is more of Shahid's own upcoming and the people he meets while post-interval is full of courtroom drama. The interval was placed exactly at the mid point of the parabolic life story of Shahid Azmi. I wonder how Raj Kumar was chosen to play the role of Shahid when he looks nowhere close to the man he's portraying. Apart from the looks the guy was very comfortable in his role. Actors should take up biopics seriously as it has more scope for them(Take Ashton Kutcher as an Inspiration). Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Arif, he's one actor to look out for his subtle reactions. He made us realize that if not for Arif, Shahid wouldn't have accomplished so much. Prabhleen Sandhu(Mariyam), K K Menon(War Saab), Tigmanshu Dhulia(Maqbool Menon) in their respective small roles made the story complete. Very few people knew about Shahid Azmi and I think that this man should be made known to everyone. I've not lived when there was a Gandhi but was alive when Shahid was fighting for the lives of the innocent in a polite way. There's a point in the movie where Shahid is being provoked by a prosecutor about his dark past and this is what he says to her "I can sue you but I won't". Such a remarkable character he should have been. His record of 17 acquittals in a short span of time is indeed a great achievement so people please watch this for sure, Shahid will not disappoint you. I hope more such biopics should be made and the patronage for such genre will increase. In a country where iconic people are made gods, a film made about them will be a blessing. It will take time but it will happen.

A movie made honestly.

[bluecrims · 10/10 · 23 October 2013]

When i went to this movie in NJ, the theater was empty. The show was only for me alone. But i am glad that i haven't missed this movie. This is a honest attempt to make a nice movie. All the characters were well chosen for this movie and they played there part. Its a good movie for every country that had been target by terrorist attacks. And this is a movie for those extremists who are making normal people life a big hell. A must watch movie. Thanks to the director for showing true things that happens after attacks which majority of the people don't know. Wish more movies of this kind are produced and directed. You need lot of patience to watch this movie and this is not your regular masala entertainment.

Shahid ! Nice movie after a long time

[hasibfakih · 10/10 · 22 October 2013]

Watched this movie recently and i was simply too much impressed with its script, acting, and direction all were just too natural, real and perfect, hardly i realized in 150 minutes that i am watching a movie.

The story was very sensitive as it was based on real life of Late lawyer Shahid Azmi who known for his high acquittal rate specially of terror accused who are falsely implicated in terror cased being poor and helpless, he was gunned down by unknown men in his office on Feb 2010 as he was defending the accused of 26/11 Fahim khan.

The story is portrayed in such a gripping, yet responsible manner that it makes you hold your attention right from the beginning where we first meet Shahid as a young boy scarred by the barbaric violence during the communal riots of Mumbai in 1993. The devastating impact of those events prompts him to join a terrorist training camp in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. But in a terrific scene that illustrates the actor's ability to convey volumes without the crutch of words, he changes his mind and heads back home.

Shahid spent 6 years in Tihar jail along with the other terror accused, and kept hope and continued his studies being in Jail and latter was acquitted by the court after 6 years as there was no evidence found against him.

A scene that stings with honesty, Shahid asks a packed courtroom if an accused by the name of Matthew, Donald, Suresh, or More, would be singled out and subjected to the same injustice as his client Zaheer, who has remained in jail for a year-and-a-half although no evidence could be gathered against him.

This film has remarkable cast and their perfect performances. Particularly worthy of mention: Prabhleen Sandhu as Shahid's wife Mariam, who brings depth and real feeling. Also, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub (last seen playing Dhanush's friend in Raanjhanaa), wonderful as Shahid's trusted sibling Khalid. Expectedly it's Rajkumar Yadav who provides the soul of this fearless film. Relying on minimalist instinctive acting over loud theatrics, he delivers his second winning performance this year after Kai Po Che.

Shahid according to me is GEM of a movie produced in recent years. Its hard to find such movies these days , where a good movie is only defined by how much money it has made.

My rating 10/10

Hansal Mehta's film on the real-life slain lawyer Shahid Azmi is fearless work

[shak777 · 10/10 · 18 October 2013]

Shahid is a must-see film with an absolutely impeccable sub text that can be read as an urgent warning against the politics of isolation practiced by many political parties.

watched the movie last night and thought this is one of the best movie i have seen in a long time.... a true story of a person fighting for truth.... a must watch for sure..... just amazing to see there are people like this in this world who would dedicate their life for justice and in their quest they will stop at nothing..... my salute to shahid azmi about i did not know before i saw this movie.... salute to hansal mehta for daring to make this movie..... a good quote made by the movie reviewer

"Shahid deserves more than just a standing ovation. It deserves accolades for standing up to be counted and narrating the kind of story that is usually buried under mainstream media cacophony.

The fact that Shahid has got to a multiplex near you should also be applauded and made the most of. Go and watch the film – it is one of the most important films to come out of Mumbai in a long, long time" Best tribute to Shahid Azmi by Hansal Mehta, very inspirational true life story.

awesome film and awesome acting by rajkumar. hats off to the director.

[Fella_shibby · 10/10 · 28 June 2014]

Very few people dare to rise and take a stand to tell a story that might have been vanished from lives & in files if not attempted. Hansal Mehta joins the same league. Respect for giving us SHAHID- a film that will find a place close to your heart very easily but not without stirring-shaking & moving your soul. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

After PAAN SINGH TOMAR, here comes an earnest biographical drama that I hope could change the way Indian Cinema thinks about our real life heroes. This is also a film that raises many a questions about humanity and its survival in today's times. It also shows our judiciary system in true lights.

What makes it an exceptional biopic are the performances. Shahid's fearless-in your face-uncomplicated character could never come so strong if Raj Kumar has not given it his flesh & blood. This man can make you laugh with his charmingly simplistic behavior, watch it when he is trying to be comfortable with his lady-love still unaware of his feelings, and also can make your heart bleed with his heartrending silence when attacked for his forgettable past. Extended applause for his bravura performance.

The best film I've watched recently!!!

[ragafundoo_37 · 10/10 · 19 October 2013]

Saw this film today and couldn't resist coming to IMDb and look at this movie's page.I was shocked to see the 6.7 rating and read the 3 reviews which give 7 stars(hopefully that will change).Now,it could be just that not everyone likes this movie as much as I do.But,when I think about it there is not a single thing about this movie that you can criticize.This movie is as underrated as you can find.Acting by every actor in the film is top-notch.But,the acting of protagonist's mother and Kay Kay Menon are something exceptional.Cinematography is also good compared to other Indian movies.If this movie had a more famous actor like Aamir Khan or Akshay Kumar,I am sure I wouldn't have write this review.Story is both cruel and sweet. If you have not seen it till now and you are reading this then STOP AND WATCH IT NOW.You will not regret this.I know you have read previous two lines in reviews of almost every random movie but I really mean it.Even though I have viewed it only once,I can tell you that this movie will be among my favorite films. A must watch for every Muslim brother in India,Pakistan and Bangladesh. In fact,a must watch for anyone who can understand Hindi.

style of Sinclair Lewis, or on a really good day, John Grisham

[mayoorshetty · 27 February 2013]

Hansal Mehta's SHAHID, in Hindi, begins with the murder of a lawyer in his office. His first name, Shahid, which also means 'martyr' indicates that he was Muslim. We flashback to the riots in the early 1990s in which he is caught up, causing him to train with Muslim militants in Kashmir. This is not the Kashmir of so many Hindi film songs and dances, but of narrow roads cut into enormous cliffs, the rocks overhanging them.

Shahid runs away from the training camp when he is forced to witness the beheading of a turncoat, is arrested in Delhi, and in Tihar Jail must choose between siding with terrorists again or continuing his former law studies.

He chooses the latter, but on release finds that the law is a double- sided game. So he starts his own practice and takes on only the cases he wants. One is of a woman whose mother-in-law wants her house; we learn later that she is divorced, has a child, and that Shahid wants to marry her. He does, and his family reluctantly agrees. But the majority of his cases favor Muslims who have been falsely accused of terrorism, as we move through more terrorist attacks over time, including the 26/11 attack on the Taj Hotel. In every case shown, including the one involving the house, he receives phone threats, until ... This is a very serious film, more like a novel that what we usually think of cinema, in the style of Sinclair Lewis, or on a really good day, John Grisham.

Amazing

[silvan-desouza · 8/10 · 21 October 2013]

Rarely in Bollywood biopics look so real, Normally we are accustomed to seeing bollywood biopics with song and dance and all, Shahid however tries very much to be real. Hansal Mehta after several rubbish films comes back with a striker. The film tries to depict the life of Shahid Azmi who was killed in 2010. The film starts off well to the point, but the entire Kashmir episode could be dealt with more importance as it looks too abrupt, but the rest of the film, the way he becomes a lawyer and till the end are really superb. However the romantic track does distract though it is necessary yet thankfully it isn't too filmy.The climax does seem a bit abrupt but otherwise the film does full justice to the subject.

Hansal Mehta surprises everyone with a brilliant concept and superb handling

Rajkumar Yadav who started off doing small roles in Shaitan, Talaash and a lead in Ragini MMS and of course Kai Po Che finally proves that he is indeed here to stay if anyone has doubts, he is simply amazing, his unconventional looks and dialect suit the role perfectly, his expressions are really outstanding. Prabhleen Sandhu is perfect as Mariam though her role is not too demanding yet she gives a superb performance. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Arif Azmi is really superb yet again after Jannat 2 and Ranjhanaa, he is here to stay. The film has cameos by KK Menon and Tigmanshu Dhulia and both are perfect, Prabal Panjabi known for his comic roles in Mujhse Fraandship Karoge and Mere Dad Ki Maruti stuns everyone with an understated performance The others mostly unknown faces give natural performances too.

Untold saga of a brave person, who fought and died for justice

[dineshprakash · 6/10 · 18 October 2013]

Hats off to Director Mr. Hansal Mehta, who had chosen this story to be told and the senior actors, who had given priority of subject above remuneration and length of roles otherwise this low budget movie could not have accommodated them and without good actors there were chances of movie going misinterpreted. I salute all the actors for their support to this movie. Respect for all them has been increased in my core of heart. Director Mr. Hansal Mehta approach towards subject is very balanced. He never tried to make the subject sensational by unnecessary pressing the hurting nerves. He has shown the things only for the need of story. Writer, Sameer Gautem Singh and co writer Apurva Asrani work is impressive. I believe there are only two religions in this universe are by virtue, one is good and other is bad. These two religions of good and bad community do exist within every religion. Our by birth religions are taught and learned. Prejudice about any religion is not good. Performance wise Rajkumar as Shahid is simply adorable. Very soon, you start believing that he is Shahid only. Prabhleen Sandhu as Mariam is very good. Md Zeeshan Ayub as Arif is very balanced. Tigmanshu Dhulia, K.K.Menon, Vipin Sharma all are fantastic actors and done the full justification to the characters. Baljinder Kaur as Ammi is good enough.

"Shahid The Shaheed (Martyr)"

[Shahrukh17 · 10/10 · 8 January 2014]

After watching this brave and thought provoking piece of cinema I was compelled to write a review. Many of us might not have heard of this brave man Shahid Azmi who despite of his own sufferings and fears found a way to help others. May God provide him justice and relief to his family. While talking about the movie, it has a great realistic flow that will hold you till the end and even after that - nicely directed, executed and perfectly written. Raj Kumar delivered a breathtaking performance as the lead character and all the remaining cast members supported him well. There is a lot that cannot be expressed about this movie so just watch it on your own. Highly recommended.

A dull film with no notable mistakes

[PimpinAinttEasy · 6/10 · 26 May 2018]

A film with no notable mistakes. But it's dull. There is something wrong with the treatment. The film had a badass conspiracy theorist who took on the system as the protagonist. But his life gets a very humdrum treatment. I know only what I read in wikipedia about the man. Maybe this is the right treatment and I might have watched too many Oliver Stone directed biopics. Maybe THIS is what the life of a man who grew up in a slum/chawl with four others and then lived in a dinghy apartment with a frustrated wife and fought court cases for hapless Muslims in ugly court rooms looks like. Anyway, I do not have much hope for India as a country based on what I saw in this film. I also do not understand all the hype around Rajkumar Rao He is the very opposite of charismatic. I don't get his appeal. Prabhleen Sandhu was pretty cute.

Naxalite movie

[nishubmw00 · 1/10 · 17 June 2018]

Movie sponsored by naxalite, Bollywood lives on Suadi, Pakistan and naxalites money. This is another example of nonsense movie to misguide people of India, like Haseena and Razzi lot more Bollywood movies. They will not create movie on Islam terror, terror prophet Moh, Lenin terror, you will no movie on them, no movie on Hindu masacares.

Forget Chennai Express, Krrish 3 and Dhoom 3. Shahid is 2013's best film

[ketgup83 · 9/10 · 18 January 2014]

I have always wondered why do miss out to nominate films like SHAHID, Madras Cafe or BA Pass in Indian awards. Fortunately, I was lucky to watch SHAHID and it blew away my mind with incomparable direction and stupendous performances.

Based on the life of lawyer and social activist Shahid Azmi, SHAHID gives real-time events which changed the life of an innocent boy to a social activist who was only committed to fight for justice.

It takes courage and guts to make a movie like SHAHID. The movie opens with a bang with torture scene giving you goose-bumps. As the movie progress, you will be sucked into the film. The court-drama, romantic track and even the climax sequences are definitely the highlight of the film. Full credit should be given to Hansal Mehta for finally coming out with sensible film after year of delivering flops. Screenplay is tight. Art direction and cinematography is simple yet powerful. Raj Kumar Yadav gives his career-best performance. He fits into the character of Shahid Azmi as if it is tailor-made for him. Prabhleen Sandhu and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub lends in good support.

Shahid is definitely 2013's most under-rated film. Excellent 4.5/5

A must watch for those who is sick of bollywood bakwas masala. A very remarkable movie!!!

[bit097 · 8/10 · 26 October 2013]

Truth is pure, natural and simple. Hansal Mehta's Shahid focus on state of mind of a common man. A man sees the violence and brutality of world and then follows brutal way to end it. But After Realizing that an eye for an eye never earns anything but will leave the whole world blind. He runs away to live a life of man who could give justice to himself and others. Religion has nothing to do with the justice. The one who dies and the one who kills are human. Movie leaves a deep message for us by showing extra ordinary life of an ordinary man.

A must watch for those who is sick of bollywood bakwas masala. A very remarkable movie. All actor has played beautifully in this movie.

Best Movie I have ever seen.

[yeswasiullah · 10/10 · 28 January 2014]

Best Movie I have ever seen. Rajkummar Rao your acting is unbelievable. Prabhleen Sandhu your acting is great. Baljinder Kaur sahiba acting is marvelous. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub acting is too real. Tigmanshu Dhulia sir after paan singh tomer it is great to see you in movie. K K Menon Sahab short roll but impressive. Thanks to Hansal Mehta sir. Best Movie I have ever seen. Rajkummar Rao your acting is unbelievable. Prabhleen Sandhu your acting is great. Baljinder Kaur sahiba acting is marvelous. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub acting is too real. Tigmanshu Dhulia sir after paan singh tomer it is great to see you in movie. K K Menon Sahab short roll but impressive. Thanks to Hansal Mehta sir.

A must watch thought-provoking-emotional-thriller.

[amanand838 · 9/10 · 3 November 2013]

Ever wondered a movie which is so-simple in it's presentation as well as hard-hitting at the same time? A movie which tries to grasp you emotionally but then hits you hard in the face?

Well, earlier Raj Kumar Gupta's Aamir was one of those now Shahid joins that list. Shahid first teaches you, "Jurm Karne Waale Aur Jurm Sehne Waale Dono Ka Koi Mazhab Nahi Hota" and then right from the start you keep on asking yourself Why on earth do these things happen? Why? Why?

Shahid is a biopic of Shahid Azmi, a man who first became the victim of being accused by the police of knowing a terrorist and how he gets a motive in his life for doing higher studies while he is serving jail time. You must have guessed it by now that after his acquittal he goes on to study LAW and then helps the hopeless people who falsely become the victim like him of unsubstantial accusations made by the police.

Shahid played by Raj Kumar Yadav is nothing less than a class act. There is a certain innocence in his portrayal of Shahid Azmi which makes you feel about the character. You just cannot take your eyes off him when he is performing. When he cries you feel sad when he smiles you smile and when he gets scared you care for him.This is no mean feat for an actor who is so young and with this amount of talent he certainly is the future of BOLLYWOOD, thanks to his presence in GOW2, LSD, Kai Po Che!, and a small yet noticeable role in Talaash. The supporting cast is commendable being led by Kay Kay Menon who is as usual a treat to watch, Tigmanshu Dhulia who still has that look in his famous dialogue of GOW- "Beta, tumse na ho payega" in Why do we make money?. Believe me it's worth it looking at him many a times more with that look. And lastly its Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub(remember Murari of Raanjhnaa) as a so-sensible and more-responsible elder brother.

Hansal Mehta, the director and writer Apurva Asrani and Sameer Singh has kept the movie emotional as well as thought provoking which is an achievement as it's really hard to maintain a line between these two. Whatever it is but Shahid is engaging and thrilling as those acts of terrorism keep on coming after certain interval of time and then you are also emotionally attached with the central character. The one thing which also does favor to the movie is that it's not predictable. The background score is engaging and the one and only song Beparwah sung by Arijit Singh is really lovable and infectious. Supported by great visuals in parts and dark where it's needed from Anuj Dhawan the cinematography is worth appreciating.

I recommend you do watch this biopic of a real life hero which works in every department. I wouldn't hesitate to say this is one of the best movies of this year and cannot be missed. Go and celebrate Shahid.

Stabs Directly Into Our Heart.

[nairtejas · 8/10 · 7 March 2014]

That is what Hansal Mehta succeeds in achieving by adopting the life of Shahid Azmi into silver screen. With powerful performances and an engaging story-line, Shahid is one of 2013's best films.

Rajkummar Rao has evolved into a more mature actor with this role, if we compare his previous stints. His commitment to the film can be clearly seen by the portrayal. I was mesmerized with how he handled the emotions & the advocacy. Brilliant! Special mention for Mohammed Zeeshan & Prabhleen Sandhu for their marvelous support. Although, few other actors were average, they didn't affect the film intrinsically.

Next, the story is written in pure thrilling style not dwelling on points that would induce boredom. It constantly kicks us in the stomach as we get uncomfortable with the scenes on-screen. The reality shown is excellent. A good screenplay & fine score couples the whole film together. Mehta's direction is appreciable.

It throws light into how practicing law cannot always be gleeful i.e. if you are fighting for a cause. Human rights has been and will be a controversial aspect.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly recommended, due to its sheer originality and peculiar photography.

Bollywood's realism to cinema, storytelling and performance

[DaveKrunal · 9/10 · 23 April 2014]

It's nearly impossible to write a review for "Shahid" because; it is simply a pure cinema. One has to visually feel how story unfolds naturally or how character grows from start to the end. I wouldn't write much about film as plenty of enthusiastic viewers like me has already praised it. Rather, I would highly appreciate my all-time favorite Anurag Kashyap to be part of the core production team. Also, I feel extremely satisfied when big fish like UTV Motions Pictures encourages such kind of storytelling in Bollywood.

Hansal Mehta is a great Director. He knows best how to extract the reality on the screen. Sameer Gautam Singh has written kick-ass script. I admire Rajkummar Rao ever since I saw his vibrant character in "Shaitaan". He is one of the rare, who has got ability to wear character hat deeply. This film is a tribute to Shahid Azmi, who is inspiration for the plot and Rajkummar Rao has truly justified his life.

Finally, I liked Mukesh Chhabra's casting call. Supporting characters have added many layers to the reality and story.

The film has got National Award and also critics Award at Film fare for Screenplay, Acting and Direction.

Congratulations to the production team and talents. You deserved it. You earned it.

Best Wishes for the next venture.

It's fiction!

[sudipregmi · 8 July 2018]

A fake biography exaggerated to prove the subject was a saint. He could be good or bad, I am not saying he was not a good guy. But this story is fictitious. And using fiction to paint somebody's image calling it biography is wrong. Most people come out of the theater thinking it was completely true as it is tried to portray. And absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, what he did to win his cases only he knows. But if his image was to be portrayed it shouldn't have been mixed with fiction. Or it should have been claimed to be completely fictional story. Director even mixes his life's story to make the story more dramatic. I would have rated it 10/10 if it was not connected to a real person (with controversial life). He acquitted 17 people in a short period can also mean he was just a brilliant lawyer and nothing to do with innocence of people he defended. Even Dr Naik would make a brilliant lawyer but only faithful to people of his faith. Also there is no mention of how many cases he lost because he couldn't win while defending a real terrorist. So yes there can be shortcoming in Indian law enforcement but that doesn't warrant painting a lawyer (with unknown/unproved intent) as saint using fiction.

7.6 - shakes your core

[har1s · 7/10 · 9 September 2023]

Big fan of Rajkumar Rao, this movie was very depth based. I always love watching true-story movies and Shahid really stood out in it. The debate scenes were very beautiful and bone shivering on how deep the hatred is.

Fighting for someone who can't fight for themselves isn't anyone's cup of tea and Shahid showed exactly that. Calling people out is easy, helping someone is hard. The story telling was very stunning and emotions were high throughout the movie.

World is a very dark place and people like Shahid bring light to it and movies like these highlight thr impact of that light. I would gladly watch this movie in a Cinema and feel it to the core.

Brave and Beautiful!

[yashmishra91 · 9/10 · 14 January 2014]

This film is a winner all the way, being one of the brilliant contemporary Indian films till date. Based on the life accounts of one of the most controversial figures of our times, the slain lawyer Shahid Azmi who got 17 cases successful in 7 years of his career, the film also highlights the Indian judiciary system and the venom of terrorism in broader light by director Hansal Mehta (also directed "Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!"/2000) whose narration is gritty, no nonsense and moreover without any melodrama which will make you sympathize and criticize few moments in the film. The film scores with it's screenplay (Sameer Gautam Singh, Apurva Asrani and Hansal Mehta) whose development and portrayal has shades of films like "Lawrence Of Arabia", "Bombay", "Mammo", "Black Friday" and "Aamir". and even in the dialogue part, few of the lines here are much better than that of what we hear the punchlines in the so called Masala entertainers. The film has a great cinematography by Anuj Dhawan which captures the depth of the life and surroundings of the protagonist brilliantly and the editing by Apurva Asrani which is a reminiscent of his brilliance in the 1998 cult "Satya" where he has done an award winning job in making the film slick, sharp and smooth. In performances, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kay Kay Menon, Vipi Sharma, Akash Sinha, Prabhleen Sandhu and Baljinder Kaur are true to their roles and hatsoff to the casting genius Mukesh Chhabra for picking up such a great starcast which make the frame go alive with their brilliance. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub is great in the film as he returns with his "Raanjhanaa" charms and last but not the least is Raj Kumar: Take A Bow as he walks away with all the applauds with such a brilliant portrayal of the slain lawyer with sheer excellence. Overall, this film is NOT TO BE MISSED. Please go and watch this film and get a good cinematic orgasm. My rating would be 4.5/ 5 

An eye opener.

[sudhirkumarpal8 · 7/10 · 5 June 2022]

The movie was amazing. The plot was good but writing was not up to the mark. Could have been better. Acting-wise Rajkumar Rao was terrific but Kay Kay Menon, looks like was not very happy with the screen time of his.

Biased propaganda

[magadalwarmayur · 1/10 · 2 November 2019]

This guy was arrested in 1992 Bombay bombing case and was let go because he was 14 they never showed this in movie, he joined militant group in pok but they still protray him as a victim. That's Bollywood liberals for you anything they don't like they just edit it