Mee Raqsam
Year: 2020
Director: Baba Azmi
Cast: Aditi Subedi, Danish Hussain, Naseeruddin Shah

Conceptualized, produced, and directed by famous cinematographer Baba Azmi, and presented by his much-feted actress sister Shabana Azmi, Mee Raqsam is a tribute to their late poet-lyricist father Kaifi Azmi. It is shot in Mijawan, Kaifi’s birthplace in Azamgarh district, UP, fulfilling his dream of seeing a film being made in his small town.

What is the plot?

Inspired by her departed mother’s love for Bharatnatyam, the teenage daughter develops a passion for that form of Indian Classical Dancing. The widowed father, a tailor with modest means, encourages his only daughter to do what she loves. Seeing the young girl’s natural dancing talent, the town’s Bharat Natyam teacher, too takes this new pupil under her wings.

The outwardly simple story starts developing some ugly undercurrents. The girl and her father, who are Muslims, start facing criticism, threats, and boycotts from their community members for practicing a ‘Hindu Religious’ dance! An influential Muslim cleric is the kingpin of this social distancing. Meanwhile, the dancing school’s Right-wing Hindu patron, too is unhappy that a Muslim girl is outperforming her Hindu colleagues!

With religious colors clouding her artistic pursuit, the young girl starts losing spirit. But the father is steadfast in his belief that pursuit of art is not against any religion, and he refuses to bow down to the edicts and threats. Will the daughter draw strength from her father to quell the challenges in her path?

Verdict

Written by Safdar Mir and Husain Mir, Mee Raqsam is a courageous and sensitive film taking on the closed-minded fanaticism and giving a message of religious amity through art. There is also a definite attempt to show the silver lining by showing the young generation characters thinking progressively, going beyond age-old beliefs!

Despite its small-budget production values, predictable story-line, cliched characters and largely average portrayals, the film touches heart through its genuine, sincere story-telling and one superlative performance- that of Danish Hussain as the supportive father, who refuses to budge to social pressures, and inspires his daughter to do what she loves! Watch this movie for this one memorable performance and to relish the tender father-daughter bonding.

Even though Bharatnatyam may be the film’s flashpoint, the film is less about the art of dancing, and more about the people’s mistaken attitudes towards it!

Rating

3 stars