The Illegal (2019)
Cast : Suraj Sharma, Hannah Masi, Shweta Tripathi, Jay Ali, Iqbal Theba
Director : Danish Renzu
Synopsis : Hassan, a young filmmaker with a heart full of hope and dreams, chases the nectarine American dream, only to discover a different reality ahead.
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Gives even the numb watcher a lump in the throat"
The Illegal is the riveting tale of Hassan, a Daryaganj boy chasing his immigrant dream of graduating as a filmmaker, determined to make his mark, but instead is left a broken man with crushed hopes.
A tale bravely told by Renzu for sure.
The sheer talent and soul put into the film is evident from the impeccable screenplay and the raw emotion, which carries the film forward. If The Illegal isn't the best portrayal of an artiste's life - his complicated relationship with passion; the internal conflict of choosing between listening to the brain and soul; the tremendous courage it takes to still march towards the path of your dreams, despite what one is told - I don't know what is.
I just think they are on the other side, where their ocean bleeds into mine.
"Frighteningly and heart-warmingly realistic"
The Illegal speaks of hope, love, betrayal, sacrifice anddespair with such soul and conviction.
Every frame speaks poetry in silence, an intriguing treat for aspiring filmmakers. Intense sequences keep you glued.
But, what makes this film stand out, is the absolutely brilliant Suraj Sharma as Hassan, which he has played with such flair and finesse. Last seen in God Friended Me (my favourite show) and Little America, it would be wrong to say Sharma lived up to it; he only exceeded my expectations. What I loved most was how convincingly real his performance was, with all Hassan and not a hint of Suraj on screen. You get to watch Hassan grow from a young, naive, hopeful student to a mature man passively resigned to his fate, and watching the vicious cycle repeat.
Every tear Hassan sheds and his rare yet charming smile will steal your heart and make you root for him every moment.
Final thoughts
The Illegal's strength also lies in the intricate, less-than-perfect relationships that are shown with its share of flaws - be it the playful yet strong bond with Mahi (Shweta Tripathi), his nurturing relationship with Babaji (an impressive Iqbal Theba), to Hassan's insensitive uncle - which makes the film touching and relatable.
For the average cinemaphile, The Illegal, a rollercoaster ride of emotions, makes for an excellent watch. I highly recommend it.
In the film, whether Hassan found his story or not, it doesn't matter, but this is definitely Renzu's to tell.
Where to watch : Amazon Prime Video
What to watch for: Impressive acting, cinematography
Lovely review. The movie deserves more for its excellent screenplay, powerful action and zero obscenity. Well crafted.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
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