Pinjar Movie Review

Recently while watching TV, I suddenly hooked on to a channel featuring movie Pinjar. The movie was so serious and heart rendering that left me speechless and shocked. Pinjar or Skeleton as the name suggests is based on the adaptation from the novel written by Amrita Pritam. The movie shows the real plight suffered by the people from both side of the border (India-Pakistan) during partition without being biased.

The story catches my eye as I could relate to the plight my family faced during the same time when fearlessly massacre was happening and every family was looking for a way out to of the country to other land; Hindus and Punjabis to India and Muslims to Pakistan. There were many such novels and movies featured that era, the time when ruthlessly females were raped, houses lit on fire, kids butchered and both the sects run into a never ending fight.

In this story Urmila Matondkar plays role of Puro and Manoj Bajpai of Rasheed, respectively. Puro's bliss is shattered one day as she is kidnapped by a mysterious Muslim man, Rasheed. Rasheed's family has an ancestral dispute with Puro's family and Puro's grand-uncle had even kidnapped Rasheed's bhua (father’s sister) and then released her after ruining her respect. Rasheed's family made him swear that he would kidnap Puro to settle the score.

One night, Puro manages to escape and return to her parents. Her parents woefully turn away their daughter, explaining that if Puro were to stay, Rasheed's extended Muslim clan would slaughter everyone. Left with no support, Puro returns to Rasheed who is well-aware of Puro's escape; he knew she wouldn't be let in by her parents and had been waiting for her nearby. After a few months, Puro's family marries their son Trilok to Ramchand's younger sister, Lajjo while Rajjo is married off to Ramchand's cousin. Meanwhile Rasheed marries Puro and changed her name to Hamida, they adopt a child, found on the road (born of mad hindu girl-she died after giving birth to the kid) and treats him with much affection and love. But when the village people came to know that the child belonged to a Hindu female, they take him away from the couple.

At the dawn of partition every one runs for life and to reach to safe destination. Ramchand's uncle, cousin and Rajjo leave for India and are safe. Ramchand, his parents and Lajjo are caught in the riots. Ramchand hurriedly leaves to India with his younger sister and mother; his father is already missing. Shortly after, Lajjo is kidnapped by thugs. Puro meets Ramchand, who woefully tells her of Lajjo's situation. Puro finds Lajjo and helps her escape with Rasheed's assistance. They send Lajjo to Lahore where Trilok and Ramchand come to receive her.

Trilok has a tearful reunion with Puro and explains to her that she can start life anew as Ramchand is ready to accept her even now. Puro surprises Trilok by refusing and saying she is where she belongs. Ramchand responds with tremendous empathy to Puro, as he sees that she has accepted Rasheed. Rasheed slowly tries to fade, making it easy for Puro to leave with her folks, but is heartbroken, as he is deeply in love with her. However, Puro seeks Rasheed out and the two tearfully bid Ramchand, Trilok, and Lajjo farewell forever.

The ambience in movie is so life-like that the viewer is immediately transported to the pre-independence era, when the seeds of partition were sown. The climax is emotional by nature and perfect in the context of the story. The sensitive handling of the climax and the brilliant portrayal by the principal artistes stays in your heart even after the show has ended.