Mee Raqsam. In Urdu, it means I Dance. In yet another OTT release this month, ZEE5 has come forth with ‘Mee Raqsam’ starring Naseeruddin Shah, Danish Hussain, Aditi Subedi, Rakesh Chaturvedi Om in major characters. The film is the directorial debut of Baba Azmi, son of Kaifi Azmi and brother of Shabana Azmi.
The film has won hearts with its engaging storyline depicting communal conflict, harmony, music, dance, and above all for the portrayal of the father-daughter bond.
Filmmakers in India have been focusing on progressive fathers lately, the latest release Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl being an example. Joining the likes of loving fathers like that of Pankaj Tripathi who played Saxena’s father, Danish Husain as Salim in Mee Raqsam stands up against his family and community to allow his daughter to become a Bharatanatyam dancer. Since Islam forbids dancing and idolatry, accusations of blasphemy followed by a social boycott, and yet, he stands by his only child Maryam.
Danish is in his best form in Mee Raqsam being the pillar of support for his daughter played by Aditi Subedi. Naseeruddin Shah never fails to awe and plays his role as a tyrant stunningly through subtle changes in his expressions and tonality. The screenplay, by Safdar Mir and Husain Mir, justifies the storyline.
Tribute to Kaifi Azmi
The story of Mee Raqsam is set in Mijwan village in Uttar Pradesh’s Zamagarh district.
The movie is a tribute to Baba Azmi’s father, the renowned progressive poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi, who was born there in 1919. Mee Raqsam is dedicated to Kaifi Azmi’s vision of tolerance and social justice.
“Many years ago, my father Kaifi Azmi had asked me, ‘Baba is it possible for you to shoot a film in Mijwan?’ My father was born in Mijwan, a village in eastern UP. We both smiled at each other because we both knew what a formidable task that would be. It’s a village with no roads, no amenities, no infrastructure. But his question stuck with me. Now, many years later I was able to do that,” Baba Azmi said in a media interview.
The same was reiterated by Producer, and daughter of Kaifi Azmi, actress Shabana Azmi who said that Mee Raqsam will offer hope in these unprecedented times.
“It is the first film I am presenting and is an homage to our father Kaifi Azmi who was one of the torchbearers of India’s composite culture which the film celebrates. My father used to celebrate all festivals like Eid, Diwali, Holi, Christmas, etc with great gusto. We have carried on that tradition. It makes me happy that Zoya and Farhan have also carried on that tradition. In these dark times, Mee Raqsam offers hope and elevates the soul,” Shabana Azmi said in a media statement.
Zee5 is now streaming Mee Raqsam. Here is the film’s trailer.
Do watch the film on ZEE5 and share your reviews with us.