National Media Council clears ‘Shahid’ for screening in UAE

Dubai: While critics in India have been raving about Bollywood director Hansal Mehta’s biopic Shahid, filmgoers in the UAE have been made to wait a while before they can watch this epic.

The movie, which was slated for release during the Eid weekend, had been held back by the censors due to certain references to Dubai. But it was finally given the green signal on Monday by the National Media Council, a top official from the Council told XPRESS.

“We came to know that there were some references to Dubai in the film, hence we held it back. However, after a second viewing, we did not find anything particularly sensitive, so we’ve finally cleared it for screening here,” said Juma Obaid Al Leem, director of the Media Content Tracking Department at the Council.

Rave reviews

Distributors here have confirmed that Shahid will be out in the UAE on Thursday (October 24). “We were hoping to release the movie during Eid to coincide with its screening in India, but there were some delays. We got the clearance on Monday and will screen it on Thursday. We know the movie has been creating a buzz in India and we’re hoping for a similar response here,” said a source from a distributor in Dubai.

The film tells the story of human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi (played by Raj Kumar Yadav). It details the tragic life of Azmi, who was killed in cold blood in early 2010 while defending 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Fahim Ansari. The film traces his early life beginning from his humble upbringing in a Mumbai suburb to his decision to join a terrorist organisation after witnessing the Mumbai communal riots of 1993, to being arrested and imprisoned at Tihar Jail at the age of 16 after being accused of conspiracy against the state. He finally completes his education and becomes a lawyer and a human rights champion – particularly for the minorities.

This is not director Mehta’s first attempt at tackling a story portraying a crusading lawyer. In his debut movie Jayate (1997), the protagonist was a lawyer who overcame his personal limitations to get justice for a victim of medical negligence. His then went to make movies such as Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000), Chhal (2002), Dus Kahaniyaan (2007) and Woodstock Villa in 2008.

Shahid also stars the talented Kay Kay Menon as the young Azmi’s mentor while he’s serving time in Delhi’s Tihar jail.