Review of movie Nakkash

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Rating:3/5

 The legacy of designing intricately beautiful sculptures was passed on to Alla Rakha by his forefathers, who had also inculcated a strong sense of religious tolerance in him from a very tender age. And, when he puts those lessons to use and goes on to work at various places of worship of another dominant religious group in the country, Alla Rakha is stuck in a limbo – either make ends meet by continuing the only work he knows and is exceptionally good at or please the religious fanatics and withdraw his services for good.

A bully of a politician trying to capitalise on the mounting tension between two religions, police brutality and one man’s struggle to march on the path of humanity over fanaticism – sure, the topic has been explored a gazillion times in cinema but what sets ‘Nakkash’ (meaning carving) apart is its theme of “l'art pour l'art” – art for art’s sake. The story, based on a demure character and set in a conservative Indian town, is fresh, with all its supporting roles blending perfectly into the diegesis and helping it in every possible way to take the tale forward. The protagonist, played by Inaamulhaq, is a revelation and his chemistry with his on-screen son almost evokes a sense of resentment towards the society we live in, mainly because of the unfair treatment that they are subjected to. Other pivotal characters – Sharib Hashmi (who plays the best friend Samad’s role) and Kumud Mihra (who plays the local priest Vedanti Ji) do complete justice to their respective parts. The child artiste in the film, too, is one of the many factors why ‘Nakkash’ works on celluloid and tugs at one’s heartstrings.