'Haider' Puts an Indian Twist on 'Hamlet' - New York Times

[Dr. Jai Maharaj]

Shakespearean Revenge in a Violent Kashmir

'Haider' Puts an Indian Twist on 'Hamlet' NYT Critics' Pick

By Rachel Saltz
NYTimes.com
October 2, 2014

[Caption] Tabu, as the Gertrude character in this
adaptation of "Hamlet" set in 1995.
Credit UTV Motion Pictures

Instead of "Haider," the director Vishal Bhardwaj might
have considered calling his fast-and-loose adaptation of
"Hamlet" "Ghazala," after its Gertrude character.

As played by the sad-eyed Tabu, Ghazala has such depths
and mystery that she hijacks the movie, pushing Haider
(Hamlet) to the sidelines in his own story. It's her
interior drama that draws you in: Where does her loyalty
lie? What is she thinking? Will she take up arms against
a sea of troubles and, by opposing, change the tale? (She
certainly threatens to once or twice.)

By comparison Haider (Shahid Kapoor) is a simple fellow.
In an un-Hamletlike way, he knows what he wants - to
avenge his father - and cannily goes after it.

[...]

"Haider," which grafts its source story less convincingly
to its setting, doesn't flow as organically. . . .

Continues at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/movies/haider-puts-an-indian-twist-on-hamlet.html?_r=0

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti

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