Post by : Meena Ariff

The film's most powerful moment arrives in a voiceover by Yami Gautam Dhar’s Shazia Bano, who asks, “Biwi ka asli matlab kya hai?” That simple, haunting question lingers, nudging viewers to re-evaluate everyday language whose implications in legal and religious arenas are profound.

Directed by Suparn Varma, Haq examines the intersections of justice and personal law while resting on strong central performances, most notably from Yami Gautam Dhar. Drawing inspiration from the landmark Shah Bano case, the film navigates tensions between secular statutes and personal law, and probes issues such as triple talaq and the broader pursuit of fairness.

Plot Overview

The narrative centers on Shazia (Yami Gautam Dhar), a simple, unlettered woman married to Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), a lawyer with professional success. Their early married life is content, but pressures gradually erode their bond. The situation collapses when Abbas takes a second wife, leaving Shazia devastated. Urged by her mother-in-law to "adjust," she departs with her children. Abbas initially pays maintenance, then stops, and ultimately pronounces divorce through triple talaq. Shazia’s quest through the courts for recognition and support becomes the film’s driving thread.

Located in Uttar Pradesh, the opening act carefully lays out the couple’s dynamics. A telling, offhand remark—when Shazia first enters the kitchen, the domestic help observes, “Ek cooker kharab hota hai, sahab doosra le aate hain.”—quietly signals how Abbas regards relationships. The film maintains a deliberate pace in its first half but loses some momentum after intermission.

Performance Highlights

Yami Gautam Dhar offers a restrained, layered portrayal that grounds the film through its emotional peaks and quieter stretches. Her stunned reaction—“Aapne doosri shaadi kar li?”—is a standout beat. In courtroom sequences she channels the vulnerability and anger associated with the Shah Bano moment, even as occasional melodramatic turns in the script surface.

Emraan Hashmi steps away from familiar mannerisms to inhabit Abbas, a composed yet calculating figure. The actors’ rapport enriches the collapse of their marriage. Vartika Singh brings a gentle poise to the role of Saira, Abbas’s second wife, while Danish Husain provides steady support as Shazia’s father. Sheeba Chadha, portraying Shazia’s counsel, reinforces the film’s balanced approach by depicting a Hindu lawyer defending a Muslim woman’s rights, underscoring the narrative’s avoidance of sectarian confrontation. Ultimately, Haq functions more as a provocation for discussion than a flawless dramatic achievement. Suparn Varma’s effort to reopen a crucial debate is commendable, and the committed performances—led by Yami Gautam Dhar—ensure the film resonates beyond its structural flaws.

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