Saregama and Yoodlee Films’ Hamid (UA) is set in strife-torn Kashmir.
Hamid’s (master Talha Arshad Reshi) father, Rehmat (Sumit Kaul), has gone missing, after which his mother, Ishrat (Rasika Duggal), has turned indifferent towards Hamid and the entire world. Little Hamid comes to believe that his father has been called by Allah to do some work in heaven. He also recalls his teacher telling him that 786 is Allah’s number. He tries different combinations of 786 from his dad’s cellphone, in a bid to connect with Allah. One such combination number makes him converse with someone he believes to be Allah. Hamid asks Allah to send back his father because he believes, Allah can do anything. Who Hamid considers Allah is actually Abhay (Vikas Kumar), a tough CRPF jawan.
Abhay is intrigued by Hamid’s innocent talk and he plays along for some days, pretending to be Allah. But then things start getting a bit serious, which is when Abhay reveals the truth to Hamid. Around the same time, Ishrat also comes to terms with the fact that her husband is not missing but may be dead.
Ravinder Randhawa and Aijaz Khan have adapted the story of a stage play, Phone No. 786, that touches the heart but it is also very depressing. The backdrop is morose and, therefore, there is no entertainment value in that sense. Ravinder Randhawa’s screenplay is slow-paced and although it keeps the audience engaged, it does get monotonous because it moves on a single track – of searching for a person who has gone missing. Dialogues, penned by Ravinder Randhawa and Sumit Saxena, are effective.
Master Talha Arshad Reshi is cute and also a natural actor. His acting is very good. Rasika Duggal is effective in the role of Ishrat. Vikas Kumar lends fine support as Abhay. Sumit Kaul leaves a mark as Rehmat. Bashir Lone (as Rasool Chacha), Gurveer Singh (as Rajinder), Ashraf Nagoo (as Basheer), Mir Sarwar (as Abbas), Qazi Faiz (as the beggar), Umar Adil (as the police officer), Gulam Hussain Barji (as the shopkeeper), Sajid Reshi (as the constable), Shafia (as Noor), and the rest are adequate.
Aijaz Khan’s direction is sensitive. He has handled the drama with a lot of care. Andrew T. Mackay’s background music is effective. John Wilmor’s camerawork is lovely. Production designing (by Mohd. Sikandar S. Ahmad and Mohd. Shamim Khan) is appropriate. Afzal S. Shaikh’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Hamid is a sensitive film but not of the kind which has commercial value. At the box-office, therefore, it will go largely unnoticed.
Released on 15-3-’19 at PVR Juhu (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Vkaao. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was very weak everywhere.