Dharm (2007)

Dharm is not an ordinary film. Its power lies in the fact that it gives us a progressive interpretation of religion, straight from the head pontiff who has pursued a life of unwavering religiosity.
Talwar's direction is impressive and she put a lot of heart into making a movie based on a somewhat complex issue. There have been movies made on similar subjects but she shows her point of view and takes us into the mind of Pandit Chaturvedi, an extremely devoted Brahmin priest. We see his dedication, experience his conflict and feel his emotions. The character's been excellently played by Pankaj Kapur.he towers like a colossus amidst the dying social fabric and what could have been an instructive sermon on spirituality,turns up as an uplifting soul curry.His subtleness and silence conviction is powerful and his dialogue delivery, especially in the end, is amazing.
Supriya Pathak plays Chaturvedi's wife with clear ease while Hrishitaa Bhatt leaves a mark in a smaller role. The rest of the cast is adequate while the 'villains' were very cliched. The background score deserves mention as it adds a voice to the going ons.
The movie though loaded full with Hindu religious ceremony does not dwell into the brink of "marketing India to western audiences" as is often seen by some Indian directors - lately like Deepa Mehta and Meera Nair (who could not resist that mystical angle of showcasing India). Dharm does not even attempt to do that. It takes a deeply relevant contemporary topic and dissects it.
Set against the scenic backdrop of the Benares ghats, the film ends up equating Dharm with its true tenets: the world is one big family; any discrimination on the basis of caste, color, community and religion is anti Dharm.
To say frankly, in the end – I was left a bit unsatisfied. The final message of "humanity is religion" though relevant sounded too simple.Everyone knows that, and a minor reminder would not help to solve the breeding fundamentalism in India or in the world.
3/5