Kaafiron Ki Namaaz
For almost a century now Kashmir has been the the cynosure of conflict and beauty. So it's understandable why writers over-poeticise the region. Kaafiron Ki Namaaz, set in that region is a drama about an Ex-solder, a writer and a musician. They engage in a gabfest of disclosing their most innate feelings and secrets to one another before erupting into drunken frenzy of violence.
(note: The followings contain analysis of minor spoilers.)
I've never written a film review before. But these past months I couldn't help but overthink this exceptional film. Kaafiron Ki Namaaz though controversial, conveys much truth about society and culture we often overlook. The 3 main characters (an ex-soldier, a writer and a musician) I believe are the embodiment of 3 social philosophies evident among the youths of the societies of the Indian sub-continent.
The ex-solder is a cynic. He believes everything does everything out of self-interest. He sees through the rigid system of India and instead of protesting against it, he exploits it. Because he doesn't seem to see the point of objectivity. He has little empathy and almost no moral boundaries. This makes him easy to hate at the very first glance. But when looked closely, his actions (even though he remarks them with pride) has also filled his with self-loathing and weighs heavy on him.
The Writer is also a disbeliever. But he has a more optimistic view of thing. He believes in order. When the Army-man divulges his past to the writer he cites those actions as animal like, calling his "Kutta". To him, man must act as man through collaboration and authoritarian self- concealment.
The Musician is the average simple-man. He seems to be the jolliest among the three men. He thinks little about life or the forces that moulds it. He is oblivious to the the harshness of reality. Whenever he is confronted with grotesquerie he turns a blind eye to preserve his own happiness. He enjoys the trifles life has to offer and with that he is content.
Analysis: As mentioned above, the three characters represent three spectrum of thoughts.
The Army-man represents the minority population of cynics in society. We find cynics to be contemptible people. They see flaws in everything. To them, nothing is pure or sacred. The Army Man points out that he hates Gandhi's ideologies. A natural temptation when confronted with a cynic is to argue them out of their attitude by citing counter examples (as the writer attempts to do). But this is it's own form of cruelty because it misunderstands what cynicism is about. It's a emotional protection, a mode of coping learned under conditions of duress. He hear from the Army-man himself how miserable his start was. He never know his parents nor happiness or purpose. The only time he ever smile from heart was when he was expected by the military which is awful But we overlook such details and are quick to brand cynics as nasty people. What we don't get is- all the narcissism, nihilism and cynicism are all defence mechanism to protect themselves from criticism. What the cynic really need, and yet fears they may never get, so naturally never ask for is- Kindness. Because beneath that gruff surprise still remains an hysterical frigidity and longing for love, hope and acceptance.
The writer is a representation of the majority of the atheist bunch. He has renounced god, thus has naturally faced severe backlashes in past life. Society was not been kind to him just because he found in himself courage to transcend those social norms. Atheists are seen as a monsters (in movies and book). Therefore in an desperate attempt to disprove such imperatives he has always acted more buoyantly than others. He has twisted his own mental apparatus into giving himself a sense of purpose. But he regrets that he never truly lived. Even at his latter stage of life he had not had sex. His life lacks colour and is, therefore miserable till the very end.
The Musician seems to only live-at-the-moment. He is docile and minuscule. He is - what the enlightened would call - blind. But if he is the blind one why is it that the former two are stumbling? Is it better to live as a fool in paradise than rather know the ugly truths?
Such are the questions and philosophy of Kaafiron Ki Namaaz. These movies are necessary to help society evolve as a whole. And we should understand, it's not facts and hate the movie's trying to promote but rather a problem evident and corrosive.
But society can easily be summed up as by the movie's ending there are no lesson learned, no change change Rather they all kill each and the cameraman and we as society only turn a blind eye and run.