I attempted Haq only because it spoke about a topic that I have been long convinced about – triple talaq is nothing but another example of how male domination works in the society. Surprisingly, I loved this movie. I am not a fan of Yami Gautam, to be honest. If you have been following The Digital Popcorn, you must know how I believe that she is not an actress who can carry the weight of female-centric films, alone. But in Haq, her performance was balanced and effective. What I loved about the performances, especially Yami’s, was that she wasn’t loud or overacted the scenes to make a mark. The character was strong in itself and when the characters are strong, even silence works in their favour.
As we know, Haq is based on a true story of Shah Bano Begum but since the authenticity of it was questioned in the past, I will keep the ‘real case’ aside and speak of the movie, as a movie only.
Now, when we speak of Haq, as a film, I would say it asks a question that’s not limited to any specific religion or community. It speaks about Indian women and their suppression. If you come to think of it, every religious extremist wants to suppress women – their voices and their freedom. And no, I am not talking about just men here. Unfortunately, women also fall prey to religious extremism where they start believing that women shouldn’t have an identity of their own and should only act as men’s support system. In short, she should play the role of a supporting actor in her own life. With the kind of events unfolding even in 2026, how true this is even today and how relevant is the case that was fought back in the 80s.
For a minute, we will also keep women’s suppression and laws that want men to rule the world aside because the film also asks another important questions that shouldn’t be missed:
Should people not stand for what is right? Should people just follow the rules society wants them to so that the moral vigilantes can do as they please? What happens with Bano’s father, silently in the background, is worth noting.
Another character that stands out is Abbas Khan’s (Emraan Hashmi) second wife, Saira (played by Vartika Singh). While we also see Abbas’ mother, a character who underlines why women are called another woman’s true enemy, Saira is the hope that women can stand up for each other and at least make the fights easier to fight.
If you like to watch movies that make you ask questions, Haq is for you. I, personally, felt that a lot of things have been toned down to maintain harmony so do not expect the arguments between the characters or in the court to be revolutionary but yes, the film still manages to say what it wants to say without compromising the core message.
P.S. The beauty of Haq lies in how Shah Bano’s fight is also about protecting the rights her own religion grants her. So, if you think this film might hurt the sentiments of some communities or individuals, ideally, it shouldn’t, because it speaks in favour of the religion, not against it.
Where to Watch? Netflix
