Bombay March 12 (2011)

This Malayalam thriller questions the innocence of a Muslim in the wake of bomb blasts. Sensitively told and realistically shot, it touches a chord with the audience.

What’s in a name? Plenty if it is Sameer or Shahjahan. You could be misconstrued for a terrorist and be handcuffed without any warning by the protectors of law.  Babu Janardhan’s debut film, ‘Bombay March 12, 1993’ set against the backdrop of the 1993 bomb blasts of the city is just that. 

Sameer, a Corporation sweeper in Allapuzha is viewed with suspicion by the police. Married to Abida with a little daughter, Sameer lives with his aged in-laws and cares for them like a son. Trouble starts when he is picked up by the cops from the hospital while attending to his ailing father-in-law. Thereafter his life takes a beating, when Abida believes in what the rest think, that he was responsible for the death of her brother, Shahjahan, an IT professional. As the true identity of Sameer unfolds, you travel in flashback between Alapuzha, Mumbai and Pochampally, learning more about this Hindu priest, Santhana Bhatt from Kasargod, who converted to Islam.

Plus Points: This is not just another film on terrorism depicting Muslim community in poor light but a sensitive story on the travails and insecurities of being a Muslim in India. Convincingly told, this racy narration gently prods the audience to think. The subtlety with which Mamooty portrays his two characters, that of Sameer and Santhana Bhatt, speaks volumes of his acting prowess.  Roma as his wife Abida   shows she is capable of serious roles, deviating from her usual bubbly self. Unni Mukundan, (last seen in the Tamil film, Seedan) slips into the character of Shahjahan, well.  Sadique as Abida’s father is good. Certainly a script that deviates from the mundane.

Minus Points: With too many flashbacks and narration back and forth, you are sometimes left trying to figure where exactly the story is heading. 

Camerawork: The hurried pace of Mumbai and the lackadaisical life of Allapuzha are well captured.

Verdict: Clearly a much better script than Karan Johar’s ‘My Name is Khan,’ that dwelt on how the world views Islam and the perils that accompany a Muslim surname.