Which movie will be out of theater first ?

Haseena Parkar movie review: An uncomfortably sympathetic view on a don's life

Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Siddhanth Kapoor, Ankur Bhatia, Rajesh Tailang
Director: Apoorva Lakhia

There's a note of contrived paradox in the title of Haseena Parkar. As the Queen of Mumbai who ruled Nagpada, who carried orders given by her Dubai-based (and later Karachi-based) brother Dawood, and made sure that the Nagpada residents called her "Aapa or elder sister, as she dubiously ran her crime syndicate from Golden Hall, and reportedly had assets worth Rs 5,000 crores, she is shown as someone who only inherited the debatable distinction of being at the helm. But why are we made to see a 124-minute film based on her life? Is it only because she literally got away with murder? The writers of the film have no easy answers. Neither do they let us know what they feel about her. Haseena, on her part, is pretty interesting. It is believed that be it hawala, or overseas rights of Bollywood movies, and extortion to construction sectors, she had a definite say in everything. Everyone who had even remotely anything to do with crime in Mumbai knew she ruled Mumbai like an underworld queen. And that she could get anyone out of her way too, if ever, she so desired. She came to be associated with crime leaving no room for doubt that the fear among masses continued. Yet, from Apoorva Lakhia's account of her life from her role as the caring elder sister to someone who would believe her most-wanted brother's near confession that he did no wrong in bomb blasts in Mumbai to finally her transition into the dreaded don who could be as ruthless as her sibling is rather sympathetic, even presented as a wholesome victim of reputation.

As played hesitatingly by Shraddha Kapoor, Haseena is sweet-natured and tolerant, God-fearing and sincere, hopeful of a legit home with a loving husband but proud to be the 'sister who dares to call the shots in the midst of supportive community of social misfits. It is believed that back in the 1990s, such was her influence in 2007 that every builder would ask her to get them permission from slum-dwellers for their projects. The problem with Haseena both the character and the actor is the near half-heartedness with which she has been approached in the narrative. Not to mention her own limitation to portray such a strong character. Kapoor is shown as innocent, nice and even giggly until she emerges as someone one would fear the most. And to make sure the contrast is striking, in the latter half, she has been made to use prosthetics and extra-paddings to get the desired menace in her look. She also uses a silly technique to modulate her voice to sound threatening. Needless to say, she fails on both counts.