Cinema knows no reason, no boundaries, no distance and no language. It has a sole intention and the power to connect with the audience. Qissa: The Tale Of A Lonely Ghost is a film that checks all these boxes. It has the ability captivate the audience from the very beginning and stays with you, emotionally, well beyond the end credits roll.
Qissa, which has won accolades overseas, is one of the few films that take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. You instantly connect with the characters, you feel their pain, their joy and even their antagonism. Thanks to the consistency of the proceedings, there is not a single moment that makes you disconnect from the film.
Set amid India’s Partition in 1947, Umber Singh (Irrfan Khan), a Sikh uprooted by the religious violence that came with Partition, is the victim of violence as he and his family live in a Sikh village in Pakistan. Hiding some distance from the village are women and children. Here, Umber’s wife Mehar (Tisca Chopra) gives birth to their third child, a baby girl. There’s no jubilation, not only because the villagers are about to become refugees in India but because Umber was desperately hoping for a son who would tale his legacy forward.
Years later, when Umber establishes himself in the lumber business in the Indian side of Punjab, Mehar becomes pregnant again. This time, Umber is in the room with her as she delivers their child. Their fourth baby is a girl but Umber pretends it’s a boy and names the baby Kanwar. He raises Kanwar as a boy and only he and his wife know the truth.
Now all grown up, Kanwar (Tillotama Shome) is trained to be a man, she hunts and drives a truck. But the truth is that even Kanwar is confused about her own identity. Soon, a gypsy girl Neeli (Rasika Dugal) enters Kanwar’s life and ends up becoming Umber’s daughter-in-law. How each life is affected thereafter takes the story forward.
Writer and director Anup Singh, who has won critical acclaim for this film, possess a great power of storytelling. The simplicity and anguish in each frame stands out with subtlety. Many scenes overwhelm and are in tune with the essence of the subject. Singh smartly carves out a niche screenplay and, as a director, he holds his narration firm throughout. His writing is like poetry which makes you reason with every successive scene. Since the film is in Punjabi with English subtitles, the film might not connect with a wider audience but the Punjabi dialogue is remarkable and flows with the narration splendidly.
The scenes that stand out include the one where Kanwar at a young age is confused about her identity, when Kanwar sees her father’s spirit following her and their confrontation outside Kanwar’s window. Also, the scene where Kanwar has a heart-wrenching conversation with her mother, who asks her to leave, and especially the one when Neeli tries to run and is caught by Umber in middle of the night.
Cinematography by Sebastian Edschmid is enchanting and the film is visually inspiring. Editing by Bernd Euscher is sharp and refined. With a runtime of 110 minutes, Qissa is well balanced and has performances full of conviction. Music and background score not only add to the narration but also bring out the essence in each scene. Costumes and locations are apt and showcase the Partition era with authenticity.
Performance-wise, Irrfan Khan is phenomenal and is one of the few actors who can charm the big screen effortlessly. Tillotama Shome portrays her part with the right amount of edginess. Shome is excellent and brings out the layers in her character. Tisca Chopra plays her part beautifully. Rasika Dugal is outstanding. Child actor Danish Akhtar fills his part with authenticity. Faezeh Jalali is good. The rest of the cast supports well.
Verdict: Don’t miss this gem!!!