Burden of a Black Coat

a short review.....

If you want to change the system, be a part of it. Sahid lived and breathed his last breath for this belief.

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Sahid' is a work of fiction based on the fascinating true story of slain human rights activist & lawyer Sahid Azmi, accused of terrorist links; he was imprisoned under a draconian law before he went to become a fearless lawyer.

The film traces the awe-inspiring journey of an impoverished citizen who became n unlikely messiah for human rights and an inspiring testament to the human spirit. Hansal Mehta's latest film Shahid, based on the life of slain defense lawyer Shahid Azmi, is a powerful story about a man who stood up for what he believed in and paid the price for it.'

It's a movie that makes you hopeful and then hopeless, but yet offers you the strength not to lose hope.

Roy Black, "By showing me injustice he taught me to love justice. By teaching me what pain and humiliation were all about, he awakened my heart to mercy. Through these hardships I learned hard lessons. Fight against prejudice, battle the oppressors, support the underdog. Question authority, shake up the system, never be discouraged by hard times and hard people. Embrace those who are placed last, to whom even bottom looks like up. It took me some time to find my mission in life - that of a criminal defense lawyer. But that 'school', and that Teacher, put me on my true path. I will never be discouraged. Even thorns and thistles can teach you something, and lead to success."

Sahid has this paragraph on his office door. The movie starts with Sahis'd death and continues with what he had experienced in his journey of becoming and practicing as a defense lawyer. Shahid gets ragged in a case linked with what is suspected as terrorist activity. After immense torture in penitentiary, he finally signs the confession statement. Accused of terrorism case, he stays in prison for more than two years awaiting the announcement of 'not guilty'.

Shahid, a second year student, has two group of circle in prison. One, the ones actually linked with terrorism and second, people ragged into penitentiary like him His second circle consists of Gulab Nawi Marz and Dr. Shaksena who as benefactors  help him retreat his interest back to education. Gulab helped him believe in the slow & steady Indian Judiciary. "Time lagta hai par ho Jata hai"; Sahid is released on the ground of violation of principles of natural justice by State authorities. After release, he finishes his studies and decides to be the voice for voiceless:  a defense lawyer who fights case on behalf of common people.  He meticulously chooses his case to find out whether or not the accused is really innocent and fights for them. It makes us sad to finally reveal such a tragic fate for the whistle-blower.

Sahid Azmi fought cases for the people who were allegedly linked to terrorism by Police authorities. His empathy for them is convincingly expressed in the movie. He himself was a victim of a baseless accusation and may be that is why he strongly fought for the ones who are unable to defend themselves.

Sahid for most of his career life had to live with the accusation that he defended terrorists.  Instead, the fact was that he used to carefully choose his case distinguishing the ones who simply happened to be in the wrong place in the wrong time, and especially, the ones who were suspected of terrorism just because of their last name. The movie has tried its best to portray what Shahid Azmi believed on, i.e., not all people that police arrests are terrorists. Or, to say blatantly, not all Muslim people that police arrests are terrorists.

Plus, the movie has nicely depicted the conflict between an individual and public sentiment. Most of the controversial cases that Azmi fought were of the ones accused in bigger terrorist attacks. In situations like that, public become emotionally attached with every related case. And, in such circumstance State authorities like Police and Prosecution have greater burden to answer the public as immediately as possible. In this rush, many innocent people fall prey to the State Authorities. Public wants faces, Media becomes their voice, State gives them what public wants. And, the people who happen to be in the wrong place in the wrong time with the wrong surname are most likely to become victims in this scheme. With all the unity of people against terrorism, there is no sentiment left for one or two innocent ones. Probably, that's where Bentham's maximum happiness of the maximum number of people fails.

As a whole, I think it’s a must movie to watch. It shows us once again why and how our world is full of contradictions……………………And, Sahid is just another reminder of it.

                                                                                                                                                                                           Adity Karki