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Movie reviews from postcolonial view



‘Midnight’s Children'
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Midnight's children novel by Salman Rushdie has considered his best novel and is also very famous among literary persons. The film adaptation is made in 2012 by Deepa Mehta, about which I am going to review.

The film is directed by Deepa Mehta. There are many well known characters like Shabana Aazami, Anupam Kher, Ronit Roy etc. The film moves around its protagonist Salim Sinai, who is narrator also. The whole story is told by him. It contains political background. Because he himself witnesses it. The novel and film portrays some significant incidents of history like first night of Indian freedom, separation of India-Pakistan, war of Pakistan and Bangladesh and their separation.  But the special thing is Rushdie includes magical and supernatural elements in this real incidents. This creates magic realism that makes Rushdie's work unique.

The beginning part of the film shows Saleem's grandparents meeting and marriage. They had three daughters and Saleem was son of Amina. When she marries his new husband Ahmed Sinai, he gives her new name, saying that it is for new beginning. But it can be read as lost of identity also. The identity crisis starts from here and it becomes major theme of the film. Major characters faces struggle for their identity. And so this novel becomes target of post colonials studies.

At the midnight of freedom our protagonist Saleem borns with the power of telepathy which he didn't know until he was twelve. But he was not only child with superpower, whoever was born in the first our of midnight, had some kind of power. His rival Shiva has immense physical power. Both the character struggle with their identity because nurse Mary changes them with each other. So whatever Saleem described about his grandparents and parents, was actually Shiva's grandparents and parents. When Saleem's parents know about it, his father begins to hate him. And when Shiva knows this he feels murderous hatred for Saleem. He even helps Indira Gandhi to demolish all midnight's children. It was murder of their identity. So identity crisis is one of the major theme of the novel.

Another postcolonial issue is separation of nations and establishment of colonies in another nation. In novel there are depiction of India Pakistan partition and Pakistan Bangladesh partition after the war. Lots of people have to move after living whole life in that land. And settlement in new land is not easy. Saleem also moves in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

Politics also becomes a part of postcolonial study and in the novel one very important incident has included. Time of emergency in reign of Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi captures all midnight's children and do vasectomies, so no other child with superpower can be born. These people can be dangerous for their rule. It breaks faith of people in politics. So political issues are there on the novel.

In the end of the novel when Saleem is freed after vasectomies, he tries to find his wife parvati, who was killed, but she saved their child. Saleem finds him and go to ayah, Mary, who was now running chutney factory. It was thirty first independence day. Film ends with Saleem and his son who also had magical power of his mother. Though anyone can try to stop people, it will raise again. It might also suggest that this nation has power and this power is next generation.

The movie is really interesting to watch. It also gives historical picture of India and the film also can be read with postcolonial view if you are literary student.


‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’
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Reluctant fundamentalist, is a film based on novel by Mohasin Hamid. The film is directed by Mira Nair. Plot of the film is about one Muslim man's experience in America. How they behave with him after 9/11 attack. This becomes part of post colonial studies. Because of some Muslim terrorists, whole Muslim community becomes terrorists. The film deals with this problem very well.

The story starts with incident of kidnapping of one American professor in Lahore. The protagonist Changez Khan is supposed to be involved in this. Soon Changez meets one American journalist and wants to tell his past. And by this we get to know West people's behavior and way of thinking of Asians.

Changez, after studying in America finds a good job and impresses everybody. In no time he gets promotion also and a girlfriend also. Everything was fine until 9/11 attack. After this whatever happens with him, is subject of postcolonial studies. He truly loved America but now he was a terrorist for them. Every Muslim was now a terrorist. Because he was Muslim, he harassed by many people. His friends stops talking with him, abuses him. His girlfriend Erica's behavior also changed, she does photo exhibition insulting him, At airport he faces strict checking. He silently bears all the things. After meeting with one writer he decided to return Pakistan.

All those things shows us occidental's hatred for orients. In last part of the film journalist who was spy of American agency believes that professor is killed. He accidentally kills Changez's friend. American agency succeed in saving him from crowd. Soon here finds that professor is alive and film ends.

So, this film shows after effects of 9/11 attack. Other countries people always remain other, though they believe it theirs. Native people will hate then. It is good movie to getting idea of Americans treatment with Muslims. It is not only Muslim community but all orients hatred by white country. So this is good movie for postcolonial studies.

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