Like the ghost that follows the film's gender-challenged protagonist "Qissa" will haunt you forever. It takes the patriarchal obsession with the male heir to a level of lucid expression where geopolitical dislocation and gender ambivalence are locked in a visceral embrace.
There's a lot to be said about a spiritual leader who takes to filmy "hero-giri" with such sincere gusto. Even Rajinikanth can't equal this Guruji's reformist fervour. He acts, directs, composes the songs, writes the lyrics and, of course, performs the miracles.
Perhaps the first-time director should have attempted the complexities of this film after making five other films. But the fact that he did attempt this film as his directorial debut is admirable.
"Khamoshiyan" makes you shiver. But not in fear. It just makes you shake in embarrassment for all the ghosts and spirits who are so royally snubbed and insulted by such travesties of terror.
Though nothing in the film's design suggests any conscious attempt to create a mood-specific thriller, the film keeps us spellbound from first frame to last.
