A river that flows through mountains and valleys is divided and now shared by two nations India and Pakistan. The water flows without any restriction but carries within the sorrows of many people who have suffered and lost the true shine of their lives. Capturing these moments is the song Jhelum from the film Haider. Lyrics by Gulzar accompanied by a haunting composition by Vishal Bhardwaj highlights the grief of the people of Kashmir. Be it Muslims or Kashmiri Pandits, all of them have suffered loss, a loss of loved ones.
The river is searching for an anchor, an anchor that it can call it’s own and which does not intend to go against humanity. Will there be peace? Jhelum seems to be questioning people on both sides. Jhelum is filled with tears, the sweet water has turned saline. It questions again, Who won?
The above frames from the song are where a boy is seen celebrating as he’s amazed at surviving a massacre in which hundreds of people were killed.
For the unversed, In Haider, Hamlet is in the snow wrapped Kashmir of 1995, the place is rotting amidst the political turmoil. Haider begins as a poet in the poetry, shocked and furious at the beginning and at the end you know the poet turns into a murderer. Still unaware of the truth, he is ready for revenge which eventually leads to the destruction of his loved ones including his lover and his mother.
And the songs of the film plays an important role in setting up the story.
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