The feud between the Hindus and the Muslims in India has been one of the most serious issues the country faces, with the violence occasionally leading to riots that end up with numerous victims. Alok Kumar Dwiwedi directs a rather claustrophobic short that takes place inside a cramped house during one of those riots, in an effort to showcase the issue through a stageplay-like, genre approach.
Hurdang is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
A Muslim family in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh are preparing for their son's, Sajid, birthday, and are cooking goat's meat for the occasion. However, it is around that time that a riot begins in the neighborhood after someone has thrown cow meat in the Muslim temple, with the mob running around houses and killing anyone who happens to have meat in their houses. The father and their mother are scared for their children, but Sajid eventually arrives, also eager to go back out and participate in the lynching. His parents try to prevent him, and a bit later, his sister Noor, also arrives, scared out of her mind. Soon, however, it is revealed that her Hindi boyfriend, Rohit, is hiding in her room, something that aggravates both father and brother. In an effort to protect himself that goes completely wrong, the young man threatens to throw the meat outside the window, an action that will definitely “invite” the mob.
Alok Kumar Dwivedi directs a film that soars with tension, as the calmness of the first scenes is utterly disrupted by the events happening literally outside the window of the family's house. Fear, rage, revelations, revenge follow and give their stead to each other, as the family members fight with each other in an effort, essentially, to survive. This tension is actually the best aspect of the movie, with Alok Kumar Dwivedi implementing the sound, the editing and the cinematography in order to create this atmosphere of angst, which is heightened even more by the claustrophobic setting of the apartment, and the fact that, for the family, after a point, staying in becomes as dangerous as leaving.
Through this approach, which essentially unfolds like a thriller, Dwivedi also manages to highlight the issues the aforementioned conflict brings, since it becomes the reason for even the members of the same family to fight with each other. At the same time, and through the reactions of the male members, Dwivedi also makes a comment about patriarchy, while that last remark comes from the reaction of the police officer when the father finally manages to call them.
In that fashion, the film states that all the aforementioned elements, racism, religious fanaticism, patriarchy, and the inability of the authorities to help are the reasons for the ensuing violence, with the rather impactful ending cementing this general remark in the most eloquent fashion. Some small issues with the script do exist, particularly regarding Rohit, but in general, the narrative is of the highest quality.
Rajesh Tailang as the father gives a very strong performance, particularly in the way his demeanor changes as the story progresses, while Ahsaas Channa as Noor fills the screen with her charisma and overall presence, particularly in the moments she is trying to protect Noor. Udit Arora is also convincing in the way he portrays his rage as Sajid.
“Hurdang” is an excellent short, that manages to present its comments in a fashion that is clear, realistic, while also offering entertainment through the thriller elements presented.
