<I>Dahek</I> has finally hit the theatres

Dahek has finally hit the theatres

Dahek has finally hit the theatres. Why, though, is a mystery. Watching Dahek is akin to Chinese torture. Director Lateef Binny seems mistakn when he says that this is the kind of film today's audience wants to see. If a movie has to be made on the existing racism in our country, then atleast it should have a believable reason for it. The reason, defiantely shouldn't be a love affair between a Hindu and a Muslim.

Sameer Roshan Shah (Akshay Khanna) and Neelima Bashir (Sonali Bendre) meet accidentally at the post office, and a whirlwind romance follows. The catch: because of their respective names, neither of them realises that Sameer is a Hindu and Neelima, a Muslim. The happy lovers couldn't be bothered.

The film is riddled with cliched and stereotypical characters: the fanatical Muslim, the corrupt politician, the rabble rousing Muslim moulvi, idealistic love birds, a liberated uncle. An insult to sensibilities.

The saving grace: The performances by Akshay Khanna and Danny Denzongpa.