Sikandar (2009 film)

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Sikandar
Sikandar, 2009 film poster.jpg
Directed by Piyush Jha
Written byPiyush Jha
Produced by Sudhir Mishra
Starring Parzan Dastur
Ayesha Kapur
R. Madhavan
Sanjay Suri
Cinematography Somak Mukherjee
Edited by Dev Jadhav
Music by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
Sandesh Shandilya
Justin-Uday
Distributed by BIG Pictures
Release date
  • 21 August 2009 (2009-08-21)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget5 crore [1]
Box office82.4 lakh [1]

Sikandar is a 2009 Indian crime drama film written and directed by Piyush Jha. The film features Parzan Dastur in the title role with R. Madhavan, Sanjay Suri and Ayesha Kapur in pivotal roles. The film has terrorism in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir as its backdrop. [2] The film was known in its production stages as Foot Soldier. [3] The film was released on 21 August 2009.

Contents

Plot

Sikandar Raza (Parzan Dastur) is a 14-year-old schoolboy in the Kashmir valley. Ever since his parents were killed by jihadis (militants) 10 years ago, he has lived with his aunt and uncle, in a small town called Kupwara in Kashmir valley. All Sikandar's desires revolve around the happiness of his foster parents and getting the ball into the goal on the football field.

One day, on his way to a school football match, Sikandar finds a gun lying on the path. Despite admonishments by his newly made school friend, 14-year-old Nasreen (Ayesha Kapur), Sikandar picks up the gun and begins a journey into the darker side of his nature. The quiet-yet-strong Nasreen becomes Sikandar's conscience keeper. She tries to dissuade him from giving in to the lure of the gun.

Sikandar gets embroiled further and further in situations beyond his control, and people get killed. At first it seems that the happenings occurring alongside Sikandar's predicament are not connected. But, as layer upon layer is revealed, it becomes clear that Sikandar is the innocent victim in a game being played out between the militants, the army, the peace-bartering politicians and the religious heads of the little Kashmiri town. The pieces of the puzzle come together at the very end, leading to a shocking revelation. The movie is a portrayal of moulding of child psychology, and the making of terrorists. [4]

Cast

Soundtrack

Sikandar
Soundtrack album by
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and Justin Uday
Released17 April 2009
Genre Filmi
Length30:40
Label T-Series
Producer Mahesh Bhatt
Bhushan Kumar
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy chronology
13B
(2009)
Sikandar
(2009)
London Dreams
(2009)
Justin Uday chronology
Sikandar
(2009)
Track #SongDurationSinger(s)Composer
1 Allah Hoo 4:57Hrishikesh Kamerkar, Yash NarvekarJustin-Uday
2Arzoo - Naat 2:00Mehrajuddin Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
3Chaal Apni3:29Hamsika Iyer, Hrishikesh KamerkarJustin-Uday
4Dhoop Ke Sikke6:09 Shankar Mahadevan, Anousha Mani Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
5Gulon Mein4:58 Mohit Chauhan Justin-Uday
6Gulon Mein - 15:17 K.K. Sandesh Shandilya
7Manzaraat3:32 Shilpa Rao Justin-Uday

Reception

Nikhat Kazmi, film critic of the Times of India , gave it a 3.5 star rating. [5]

Michelle Orange, film critic of The Village Voice , opined that Sikandar is "a Corking Narrative and Cognent Sketch of Violence". [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Sikandar – Movie". Box Office India.
  2. "Sudhir Mishra takes up Sikandar". 30 September 2008.
  3. "Archived copy". www.bangaloremirror.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Plot
  5. Moview Review: Sikandar by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India , 20 August 2009.
  6. "Sikandar a Corking Narrative and Cognent Sketch of Violence". 18 August 2009.