Zakariya paints a credible portrait of a community that is as flawed as any other in this country. It stars are Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Rasika Dugal, and Rajshri Deshpande. And of course, Nawazuddin makes the film a worth watch with Tahir and Rasika also giving their best to their respective roles. Also check Manto videos, photos, wallpapers on … He is left grappling with a growing sense of isolation and a deep sense of betrayal. She is the kind, powerful protector of Tarlochan and his fiancee. Pakistani actress Saba Qamar mocks Bollywood in an old video! [30] The album released by Zee Music Company on 9 September 2018. Manto's first half entertains and puts its point across, but Nandita seems to have lost the plot in the second half of this one. Reality and imagination are diffused through skilfully weaving the narrative of Manto’s life with that of his famous short stories. The majority of the dialogue being in chaste Urdu is not as much an issue (courtesy English subtitles) as the lack of background to Manto’s life. The music, even though it could have been avoided, are not much of a distraction. Like many Indian Muslims at the time, Manto faced the dilemma of whether or not to go to Pakistan. Today, his work is seen by both scholars and the reading public as one of the most authentic and independent accounts of the human tragedy of those years. Saadat Hasan Manto has been called the greatest short-story writer of the Indian subcontinent. Sneha Khanwalkar’s ruminative music also serves as a window to Manto’s mind, which harboured unmatched honesty that gleamed even amid all the vitriol. But it also resulted in some of his finest works, most notably Toba Tek Singh, Khol Do, Thanda Gosht among others. Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical drama film about the prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto, written and directed by Nandita Das. In November 2015, it was reported that Nandita Das had approached actor Irrfan Khan to play the leading role in her film Manto. The recreation of the pre-Independence period gives out a good feeling since it brings back memories of good old Bombay. Last year, Nandita Das’ short film on Manto, In Defence of Freedom, was released online.It was touted as a precursor to Manto, a feature film that releases this week.Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s powerful, flawless portrayal of the controversial writer, and Nandita's tight writing and direction set the tone for what looked like an immersive, layered account of Saadat Hasan Manto. Mozail is no damsel in distress. Director Nandita Das' Manto, a biopic of author and playwright Saadat Hasan Manto, releases this weekend. Image via Twitter/@iamharshdesai. Nawazuddin Siddiqui in and as Manto. For these Manto had to face charges of obscenity thrice. | For one second you get a funny scene and the very next scene gets so dark that you just go from "haha" to "WTF?" But as sectarian violence engulfs the nation, Manto makes the difficult choice of leaving his beloved Bombay. It focuses the last seven years of writers life during which he wrote some ... 2 of 3 people found this review helpful. The acting of the movie is very good in fact i was very surprised when Fasial Qureshi showed up. ), Updated Date: From a successful writer, he turns a struggler, but still holds his ground and hopes to become successful one day. It focuses the last seven years of writers life during which he wrote some of his most controversial stories, such as Thanda Gosht, Toba Tek Singh, Madari and Peshawar Se Lahore. A retired security officer returns to save Pakistan from a major terrorist attack. The trial ran for three years, from 1949 to 1952. Hindi-Language Movies & TV. Although Manto has a tenuous relationship with the Progressive Writers' Association, many of its members are his close friends, including the feminist writer, Ismat Chughtai. Nandita retains this honesty, and even celebrates it. In Bombay's seedy-shiny film world, Manto and his stories are widely read and accepted. His increasing alcoholism leads him into a downward spiral. Manto earned seven nominations at 64th Filmfare Awards including Best Film Critics, Best Actor Critics for Siddiqui. This film depicts his life especially during pre and post-independence days and partition time seamlessly interspersed with five of his most famous and poignant short stories: Dus Rupay, 100-Watt Bulb, Khol Do, Thanda Gosht and Toba Tek Singh. A woman who takes care of her aging parents and their land is joined by her sister when their parents' health worsens. | [20] These irreverent, unflinching but deeply humane stories, earned him the wrath of the British Indian government and later of Pakistan. [3] Shyam was Manto's friend, confidant, and inspiration for a number of stories. Manto also traces the author's journey from Bombay to Lahore and the devastation he suffers due to the Partition and the relentless criminal trials for obscenity, events which inspired his best work but also broke him. Like Manto's stories, this film never fails to give goosebumps. And then enters the man himself, just as his loving wife Rasika Dugal is reading his story out loud, fear on her face - a fear which was quite valid considering the fragile profession her husband was in, and knowing how the society treats raw, unabashed truth. From Bollywood to Hollywood, these Hindi-language favorites rank among the best Indian movies from a wide variety of genres. They are both acquitted from the charge of obscenity for their respective works. Manto is quite realistic in terms of changing dynamics of a relationship - be it friendship, marriage or even life as a whole. Safia leaves for Lahore to attend her sister's wedding. The main narrative is seamlessly interspersed with five of his poignant stories. Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. The first song of the film titled as "Nagri Nagri" sung by Shankar Mahadevan was released 31 August 2018. As he struggles to come to terms with his new reality, he spirals into a state of perpetual drunkenness. Read: Yamla Pagla Deewana Phirr Se Movie Review. Manto is based on the 1940s post-Independence period of India. Read Anna MM Vetticad's full review of the film here. A story of a 20th-century writer "Manto", who grew-up in the showbiz industry of Bombay (now Mumbai) and Lahore. This FAQ is empty. Movie Plot: Saadat Hassan Manto, a man whose opinions were considered obscene by many and did not appeal a larger group, in today’s time, is known as ‘the writer of partition’. The closest is Shyam Chadda, a charming budding actor and Ashok Kumar, a famous actor, director and producer. These contrasting elements of soft-harsh and reality-imagination are what Nandita plays with throughout the film. But she does not let her awe translate into forced empathy towards Manto, unlike say a Sanju where Rajkumar Hirani whitewashed Sanjay Dutt’s life to a large extent. A modern poet Jamal who is against the traditional Urdu Poetry reads the biography of Mir Taqi Mir,one of the greatest poets of the 18th century. The poster of the film was unveiled at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. A story of a 20th-century writer "Manto", who grew-up in the showbiz industry of Bombay (now Mumbai) and Lahore. [4] Rasika Dugal plays the role of Manto's wife, Safia. This film covers the story of this Legend's journey from homeless child in the streets of Layari,Karachi to become Olympian for his country PAKISTAN. Cinematically, Nandita leaves no stone unturned. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved. It is clearly her tribute to Manto. Manto. With Sania Saeed, Shamoon Abbasi, Danyal Adam Khan, Nadia Afghan. [25], It was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Manto has many admirers and friends in the film industry. Looking for something to watch? Manto is a 2018 Indian biographical drama film about the prominent Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto, written and directed by Nandita Das. The controversy around the story was not only about explicit portrayal of Kulwant's anatomy but also with it involving necrophilia. It was touted as a precursor to Manto, a feature film that releases this week. View production, box office, & company info. Special compliments to the find who plays Ashok Kumar. In Pakistan, he was tried for obscenity for three other stories -- Thanda Gosht, Khol Do and Upar Neeche Darmiyaan. Manto Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.0 stars, click to give your rating/review,Watch the film for the director's flawless interweaving of Manto's poignant writing into her script And sees Mir's reflection on his personality. His statement in defense of literature and free speech is met with a conviction. Shyam was Manto's friend, confidant, and inspiration for a number of stories. The movie deals with the difference of opinion between the westernized, educated, modern Muslims and their counterparts who follow their religion and live life in the name of 'God'. The efforts of the Pakistani security forces in their fight against terrorism and how the lives of security officials are affected. The movie has some flow problems, there were some sudden changes in scenes that i couldn't understand. Though Safia continues to stand by him, their marriage begins to feel the strain. Through all of this, he continues to write prolifically, without dilution. The fact that at some point in her life, she has also been in the same creative and philosophical space of her subject’s life is evident in the sensitivity with which she treats his character. The film is a biographical account of writer Saadat Hasan Manto's life and is set in 1940s India. She is the hero of Manto's story. Manto is a man who has no filters, which Nandita Das has subtly put across by giving him a white kurta to wear many-a-times, even when the world is wearing a suit and putting on a fake smile to greet others. With Manto, Nandita Das may alienate those who are not well-versed with the writer's stories but that doesn't make the film any less brilliant. But, his biggest supporter and the unwavering pillar of strength is his wife, Safia.