72 Hoorain Review: Pavan Malhotra, Aamir Bashir Lead Thought-Provoking Film On Religious Fanaticism
It's worth a watch!
3 / 5
Bahattar Hoorain or 72 Hoorain, directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan has been making headlines for its controversial theme. The film explores the concept of Hoor aka 72 virgins mentioned in the Quran and terrorism. 72 Hoorain has been making headlines ever since the news of the film’s trailer not receiving CBFC certification came to light. While the same was rubbished by the Censor Board, a police complaint against the film for ‘hurting religious sentiments’ landed it in a legal soup. Curious about the concept of the film starring Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir, I decided to review it. Read on to know more.
The Story Of 72 Hoorain
Bahattar Hoorain or 72 Hoorain follows two dead terrorists who were part of a suicide attack that took place in Mumbai. The film explores their psyche as they wait for the 72 Hoorain promised to them while taking a deeper dive into how the promise of “72 virgins in paradise” is used to brainwash people into religious terrorism. Further, it showcases the painful consequences of terrorist attacks.
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Cast And Characters
Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir play the roles of the dead terrorists as they wait to get to Jannat as promised to them. Pavan Malhotra plays the role of Bilal and Aamir Bashir plays the role of Hakim. Considering the premise of the film, the actors have delivered commendable performances as their characters’ faith begins to crumble in the afterlife. Both actors have proved their mettle with their work in this film as they effortlessly slip into their characters as you witness their journey. Pavan and Aamir make one feel their emotional turmoil with their portrayal which is rare for characters that you cannot relate to.
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Verdict: 72 Hoorain Is A Much-Needed Reality Check!
Produced by Gulab Singh Tanwar and Ashoke Pandit, 72 Hoorain has been carefully shot in selective colour. It’s unlike anything we have ever seen before. With beautiful cinematography, this film is completely showcased in selective colour which adds more to the film. Scenes from the bomb blast site show the bloodshed and gore in colour with a black and white background which highlights the suffering.
The film takes viewers through the story as the narrative explores the psyche of the dead terrorists as they wait for their promise of 72 virgins and life in Jannat and begin questioning their own beliefs. The story proceeds as the scenes of the terrorist attacks and public emotions take one on an emotional rollercoaster as the terrorists come to terms with the dark reality of extremism and the consequences of their actions.
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Led and anchored by Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir, this film is as intense as it can get but the one thing that is noteworthy is the character arc of both the characters as well as how their story progresses. Another thing to note is the fact that the film does not pinpoint any particular religion. The film does not make one sympathise with them but it does not shy away from highlighting the fact that many naive people are brainwashed to become terrorists. The background score adds more emotion to the screenplay.
The only place the film does falter is the pace. Despite the 90 min run time, the film is rather slow and takes time to pick up. It does have its own clichés with the stereotypical dialect. The film has only been led by Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir with no support from the supporting cast. The bits about brainwashing haven’t been explored, only the harsh reality check that their characters get. Truly wish the film showcases the brainwashing. However, the social message and reality check trumps all its flaws making it a worthy watch. 72 Hoorain was released in theatres on July 7 in 11 languages including Hindi and English.
First Published: July 07, 2023 2:21 PMWhat To Watch This Week Of July 3 To July 9: Tarla, Blind, Neeyat, Joyland, And More
