“Line Of Control”

After gaining their independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan went to war over control of Kashmir. An eventual ceasefire was reached and a demarcation line or “line of control” was established dividing Kashmir.

Young men and war is never a comfortable subject to talk about. Line Of Control challenges audiences to at least think about it. It is essentially a coming of age story set against the backdrop of war-torn Kashmir where a group of boys weigh their future in light of the conflict between India and Pakistan.

The film is set in the 1990s when some Kashmiris living under Indian rule rebelled and journeyed across the “line of control” into Pakistan to train with Pakistani militants. In response, the Indian government establishes army outposts to investigate and detain anyone suspected of what they deem as terrorist activity. Captain Kadian(Rudi Dharmalingam) commands this outpost using fascist tactics with violence and intimidation as his most used tools.

Also during this time a group of boys in a particular village live their lives as teenagers looking forward to the future, except without the threat of war. One by one, they either crossover the “line of control” to go fight or are arrested by the army. As the film progresses, Boy(Nikhil Singh Rai) is the last of his friends left in the village since he has been rejected by the “recruiters” to fight due to his involvement with Kadian. He is eventually arrested and tortured for information concerning a local militant.

With the help of his father he survives the encounter but it takes a toll on him as he continues to feel the crushing weight of Kadian. Deciding he has had enough of his untenable circumstances, Boy flees Kashmir along with his father(Nitin Ganatra) and mother(Meera Ganatra).

Line Of Control is an intense drama that doesn’t hold back in portraying a dark chapter of India’s past. All the actors deliver brilliant performances drawing the audience into their world of constant duress. Dharmalingam’s performance as Kadian is terrifying, sending chills down your spine. Boy and his friends are sure to garner sympathy from anyone with a soul. Their emotional turmoil comes through in every line of dialogue.

The production is impeccable. It succeeds in transporting the viewer back to 1990s Kashmir. The score is emotional and moving. Even though it punctuates the drama on the screen appropriately, it is surprisingly Euro-centric. It would have been nice to hear something more culturally relevant.

Writer Travis Hodgkins is in no hurry to tell this story. He takes his time to develop the relationships between the characters. He does an excellent job of portraying the misery of living under an occupying force. The dialogue is in English and all the actors seem to share the same nationality as their respective characters. There are also colloquialisms here and there that add to the film’s sense of authenticity.

This is an intense and graphic film. There are no definitive battlefield scenes but more of an implication of violence that’s just as disturbing. There is also the inference of torture with only scenes of its result.

This is one of those films everyone needs to see. These stories are why we need independent and international cinema. This isn’t just another piece of entertainment but something meant to leave its mark on the world.