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

Baby footprints on time

Hello readers! Here's some really exciting and heartwarming news - Fledgling is turning one! No matter how many things we have done or achieved, those 'first-times' always capture a special place in our hearts. That first-time element is what drove me to write this thoughtful letter to my soul. This post marks one of my most emotional moments, hitting a new milestone with my most cherished partner in this journey, my dear Fledgling. It's been a year since we hatched open, taking a first glimpse of the outside world as soft sunshine peeked in at dawn. Now, before we knew it, we had started flying across the cliffs! It has been an amazing roller-coaster ride this year, definitely not one without potholes and bumps. But the thrill of turning one with something I hadn't even considered urges me to write more and more, as thoughts and feelings gush through. This journey has been a passionate one and we have also remarkably improved over the months of over ...
9 comments
Read more

A Culinary Escapade!

We quickly hop off our scooter at Chellas Kitchen as the warm sweet smell of desserts and noisy crackling of fries in the oil drag us to the cafe. We go and our eyes forage for snacks to order on the menu.  Located right in front of Oak Tree on the OMR, this seems to be a hotspot among desperate dieters to satiate their cravings with healthy options like vegan and gluten-free stuff to snack on. We are perplexed seeing so many varieties of exotic teas they outnumber the snacks that they are known for. Our eyes fell upon the Peri-Peri fries, cheese balls and "Fried milk" (what the owner proudly beams at and calls their signature dish). FRIED MILK!? We were blown away at the mention of the delicacy that seems to be the rage among youngsters. We had made up our minds - we had to try it. Soon the fries and cheese bombs arrive, crackling hot. These make the perfect warm treats for your tastebuds' cravings on a rainy evening. Though the fries and the seasoning fail ...
2 comments
Read more

Simplicity of truth

Hello everyone! Do you believe in miracles? Well, I didn't until last week. So read on to know my story. Just a couple of days ago, I had my first book fair experience and unexpectedly bumped into some of my favorite authors and orators. My eyes scanned every stall for the novels I had listed the day before and for the posters I had wanted for my bedroom. I did manage to get my hands on a couple of novels at Penguin and many other publications but only after a few hours did the magic happen! Notionpress' contest rush notice somehow caught my eye and I instinctively walked in to enquire on that. That's when I met my now-mentor Ms. Meera Barath, the mind behind Mayaakatha, an engrossing collage of thought bubbles. I had no idea she was an author, so I walked up to her and told her that I was searching for a new writer to explore and whether she could help me find some. That's when she took me to the stand where several copies of Mayaakatha were placed. S...
4 comments
Read more