Haq

Synopsis:

Haq is an emotional courtroom drama that balances personal tragedy with social activism. It is inspired by the Supreme Court judgment of Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum in 1985. Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam Dhar) is the main character, and she is a dedicated wife and mother whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Advocate Mohd. Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), suddenly leaves her for a younger woman, Saira Jahan (Vartika Singh), who he loves. This loving relationship is something Shazia learns of after years of commitment to Abbas. As Abbas diverts his love and affection elsewhere, he also begins to pull his financial support for Shazia and their three kids. This forces Shazia to confront him and fight for her self-respect and dignity. Abbas tries to end the marriage by saying the words for divorce three times in a row (triple talaq) and claims that he is no longer legally responsible to her. Shazia tries to reason with him, but the religious leaders she speaks to also ignore her. This motivates her to take the courageous step of suing Abbas. The story details a seven and a half year long legal tussel from local courts to the Supreme court of India. Shazia has to deal with hostile courtrooms, societal biases, and the issue of legal lag which all point to the derailment of her path to justice. The determination and support of her advocate Bela Jain (Sheeba Chaddha) aids her to defend the right to her dignity at a fundamental level, Not just against her husband, but also the several socio-legal dimensions of women's rights, Equality, and the Law she has to contend with. The tension of competing personal laws and secular justice is at the centre of the film Haq. A brave portrayal of a women upholding a legal system and culture that marginalizes the already vulnerable. While a large part of the film is composed of the controversies typically found in legal dramas, the film also expresses the emotional evolution found in Shazia, from heart break, to a liberated state of resilience, and eventually the contstruing of a more progressive self. Furthermore, Shazia's journey serves to reinforce several prevalent concerns in Indian Society today; how they relate to the ideological pillars of the state, Women's rights, Religion, and Law. This makes Haq a solid, simplistic, and comprehensive expression of the Human Spirit as it relates to Justice and Equality.