Junglee Pictures, Insomnia Films and Baweja Studios’ Haq (UA) is based on the famous Shah Bano case, in which the Supreme Court delivered a judgement in favour of her, providing maintenance to a divorced Muslim woman. Shah Bano’s legal battle against her husband, Mohd. Ahmad Khan, had made headlines 40 years ago.
Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam Dhar) is married to advocate Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi). They have two little children. Shazia and Abbas are happily married or so Shazia thinks till the day he gets a second wife, Saira (Vartika Singh). Shazia is distraught but accepts the second wife who lives in the same house. However, cracks start developing in the relationship between Shazia and Abbas soon after his second marriage. Ultimately, Abbas divorces Shazia by uttering the word talaq thrice and paying her the mehr amount. Not the one to take things lying down, Shazia takes the matter to court and pleads for maintenance for herself and her two kids. The case sparks a national debate over faith, women’s rights, and justice. The matter reaches the Supreme Court which rules in favour of Shazia.
The film is based on the real-life case and is the fictionalised and dramatised version of Jigna Vora’s book Bano: Bharat Ki Beti. Reshu Nath has woven a very interesting drama around the 1985 real-life court case. The story immediately strikes a chord in the viewer’s heart because it is a humane one in which the protagonist questions the interpretation of the Muslim personal law and of portions of the holy Quran. Reshu Nath’s screenplay is very entertaining and it does not give the audience a minute to let their thoughts wander or to get bored. The courtroom dramas are so engaging that the viewers wait for things to unfold. What’s more, the arguments made by Shazia and Abbas in court are engrossing enough for the viewers to get sucked into the drama. The climax is heart-wrenching. Shazia’s monologue in the apex court in the climax is so realistic, so emotional and so logical that it moves the audience to tears. Reshu Nath deserves kudos for writing such a wonderful screenplay. Her dialogues are absolute gems and touch the heart at a number of places.
Yami Gautam Dhar delivers a phenomenal performance as a married woman fighting for her rights in court. Not once does she go overboard or fall short of expectations. Her climax scene is absolutely clapworthy. In one word, she is outstanding. Emraan Hashmi is fantastic as Shazia’s husband, advocate Abbas Khan. He plays the character with such conviction and with so much passion that watching him is a delight. Vartika Singh makes a confident debut, ably playing Saira. Sheeba Chaddha is very likeable as Shazia’s advocate, Bela Jain. Danish Hussain delivers a restrained performance as Shazia’s father. Aseem Hattangady has his moments as advocate Bela Jain’s assistant, advocate Faraz Ansari. Rahul Mittra is effective as the sessions court magistrate. Vijay Vikram Singh is alright as the high court judge. Anang Desai leaves a mark as the Supreme Court judge. Aparna Ghoshal lends very fine support as Abbas’ mother. Piloo Vidyarthi makes a fine impression as Shazia Bano’s mother. Jaimini Pathak (as Abbas’ assistant), Smriti Mishra (as Uzma), Paridhi Sharma (as Iram), Danish Iqbal (as Liaqat), Nitin Mahesh Joshi (as Maqbool), S.M. Zaheer (as Akhlaq Ashraf), Renita V. Kapoor (as Saleema), Arun Marwah (as the qazi), Rudra Chaudhary (as young Qamran), Yatharth (as the teenaged Qamran), Vedika (as little Kaneez), Kiara Sabharwal (as the slightly older Kaneez), Kiri Prakash Kaur (as the older Kaneez), Swar Vinayak Singh (as young Bilal) and the rest lend the desired support.
Suparn S. Varma’s direction is sensitive. He has narrated the drama in a way that the audience would feel for Shazia Bano. Music (Vishal Mishra) goes well with the film’s mood. Lyrics (Kaushal Kishore) are weighty. Sandeep Chowta’s background music is effective. Pratham Mehta’s camerawork is nice. Sonam Singh and Abhijit Gaonkar’s (Megamind Studio) production designing is up to the mark. Ninad Khanolkar’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Haq has the intensity and the merits to do well at the box-office. An arresting script and supremely convincing performances by Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi will see the film’s collections grow as the positive word of mouth spreads.
Released on 7-11-’25 at Inox (daily 5 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Junglee Pictures Ltd. Publicity: fair. Opening: so-so. …….Also released all over. Opening was ordinary at most of the places.
