When I saw that the average rating of this movie was 6.8/10, I was extremely shocked. Because after watching the movie, I realised that it deserves a rating of 9/10. I know my rating might not push the score higher but it will be my effort to make it known. Right from the start, the movie gripped me with a poetic feel of love (Anwar's scenes depicting his love) to the decadent portrayal of the society and the double standards of certain groups who promote an ideology only to gain flash fame. A big thanks to the director for bringing the actuality of the society through the main character. Towards the end, when the main character dies because some people use him only for their political gains, you feel as if it could be you who could be a target of hatred building exercise while you are miles away from this thought. The movie is intelligently shot and each character is equally important in depicting the society in its unbiased form. One of the reason for it to not gain popularity is simply because it defied the conventional style of Bollywood and also people did not give this movie a second look because it lacked huge star power. The movie's USP is its story and flawless performance. This movie also reveals the sad state of affairs for the Indian cinema because no one likes to see a sad ending but this is reality of life, which one could never escape. I do not wish to be philosophical but only want to stress that this is one of the best films I have watched and the music (especially Maula and Javeda Zindagi) are neo-classical: soulful and powerful to transport to another world.

This movie has some beautiful music and cinematography, but the story is a total mess, there are way too many extra characters and their own story lines, it switches focus several times to characters and story lines that are barely even relevant. We don't really get to understand any of the characters as actual people; the main character Anwar is hard to understand (because he's not a fully realized character), and near the end of the movie acts in a way that isn't compatible with his previous actions. There are a lot of annoying men of various ages who cry and complain about the stereotypically cold and beautiful women who reject them. In the middle there is an "item song" that couldn't be more out of place in a movie that attempts to be angsty and heartbroken. If you're like me, you saw the songs and are intrigued, please don't watch it. The best parts of the movie are already in the songs, the rest is just a huge mess.

We need movies as this to weaken the senseless hatred we harbor within ourselves ... only to be ignited by the trivia in the name of religious divides ... The word 'Muslim' has several dimensions to it: 'terrorist', 'minority', 'victim' to name a few ... Personally I love to see movies where fundamentalists who misuse Islam (Hinduism), where Muslim (Hindu) leaders who fight terrorism fought in the name of Islam (Hinduism), where muslims (Hindus') victimization and their perpetuation, and where integration is achieved must be explored in depth. Such movies alone can help a common man of India take a more rounded stand when it comes to such divides. Great work Jha and team.Siddharth has a very vulnerable face and of course the soulful songs fill the rest ...

This is my first movie review at IMDb. One of my friend suggested me to watch the movie. It was worth.The story is really good one dealing with romance, reality and the absurd in it. All the characters are in love, or at least have some problems with love affairs and punished duly.Anwar himself is punished severely since he looses his beloved, his friend and himself, life has at least no meaning to him except his love "mehru" who betrays him for real dreams while Anwar till the last moment lives in the world of his illusions.The beggar, theatre artist Master Pasha, after loosing his Meera, awaits for another love break, Dipa who actually considers only as a beggar. The world has no time to pay for the emotions, all it want to buy is the product, what master pasha can do. Master Pasha stops begging and making designs temples for Meera/Dipa and went to perform hi final stage show.All other characters in their own way or other are all facing the same thing.The story can not be categorized as tragic one since it gives you a thought of considering not only your love for others, but also in the contradicting way.I salute the story writer and the actor in the central roles. I rated 8.0 since it could have been better in other departments.