Skip to main content

The Illegal Movie Review : Of Broken Dreams and Vicious Cycles




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

Comments

  1. மதுமதி முருகேஷ்April 6, 2021 at 7:10 PM

    Lovely review. The movie deserves more for its excellent screenplay, powerful action and zero obscenity. Well crafted.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reminiscing

(Photo by Nong Vang on Unsplash ) It was a still, quiet night. The air seemed untouched by the maddening chaos in my mind. I glanced at the night sky, and spotted a star glimmering in the distance. The unusually gripping sight brushed me back to a fragment of my past, a chapter sealed long before. A whiff of my past my naive self still lived in. A life I had long left. I used to enjoy observing the tiny flickers of light, while my heart filled with hope for tomorrow. They looked like little flames whose glowing tips waltzed in the gentle evening wind. Those quiet, fulfilling moments spent squinting at tiny specks of light, while savouring the crisp air with traces of floral detergent from the clothesline, were one of a kind. Something no productivity chart would ever be able to explain. It was something I was not yet accustomed to; living a new life with new people, making new memories. Those little joys and fears that would excite my younger self. It's moments like these, moments...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Letter to Thatha

The little specks of pearl in the sky Glowing and fuming, With the vapours of our memories.  In my swollen, glistening eyes, I saw the flare of your pyre in the stars, Like a spangle caught in my tears, The light of our love stretches its arms. I never knew a pain greater,  When my fingertips caressed your cold, grey folds of skin I never knew I could feel so broken inside, With scalding memories and a heart wanting justice. With last words untold, goodbyes unsaid. I never thought the day would come,  When I came home to your warm smile and open arms, But would instead be greeted by your empty chair. I never thought I would shudder and hide at your sight, Until you lay in the icy coffin like a child, Oblivious to our cries and wails. I never knew I would so badly yearn, To hear you call me one more time. I watched you become a child again. I never minded your faltering memory, Your greying eyes that often stared out in the open, I was content, With your pupils carrying a ...
1 comment
Read more

On New Revelations : My COVID-19 Story

The past couple of months have been a roller coaster ride. Several things had come tumbling down for me all at once - a nervous breakdown, the death of a very dear loved one, and now, testing positive for COVID-19.   How it has been   Day 1 was not by any means forgiving: I almost collapsed the moment I got out of bed, with fever, chills, severe dizziness and a flashing headache. The virus had caught me off guard and already begun wrecking my body. I remember feeling optimistic at first, that this was just exhaustion was taking a toll on me (for the previous week I had been working long hours) then slightly apprehensive as my brother tested positive the very next day.  I remember making a casual joke on testing positive right before taking my test. But then, two days later, I found myself going to bed with racing thoughts and mixed feelings - I had just received my results. That night was probably among the most anxious I've spent in my life. The first few days were the r...
Post a Comment
Read more