Is Faraaz based on True Story? Plot, Review, Ending Explained
by Hemalatha R | Updated Apr 04, 2023
Is Faraaz based on True Story?
The film Faraaz is based on true events and a real-life incident that took place on July 1, 2016, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Holey Artisan café was attacked by five young militants who held diners hostage and killed at least 22 people, most of whom were foreigners. The film recreates and reimagines the fateful night that resulted in the loss of innocent lives. The theme of Faraaz revolves around tolerance versus intolerance, religion versus radicalism, and humanity over everything else. The director, Hansal Mehta, addresses a raging debate that is relevant not only in India but also across the globe. The film aims to create a dialogue between liberals and radicals in a non-dramatic way, allowing people with polarizing views to have a face-to-face confrontation.
Faraaz Movie Ending Explained
The movie 'Faraaz' depicts the events that took place at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2016, where a group of militants attacked and killed several people. The movie shows how these individuals, who came from middle-class backgrounds and had secular upbringings, were brainwashed by violent extremists to believe a false version of their faith. They believed they must kill every non-Muslim to defend their Islam and earn a seat in paradise. Meanwhile, Faraaz and his family were unable to travel to Malaysia, so he went out with his friends and ended up at the bakery when the terrorists attacked.
The authorities responded to the attack by first surrounding the café without proper protection, resulting in the death of 12 police officers. The commissioner then stormed the café without using properly equipped troops, and negotiations with the assailants were unsuccessful. The attackers eventually released the hostages and decided to die in combat for their illusory paradise. However, Nibras killed Faraaz and two other women after noticing Tarika's Hindu wristband, which made him realize she wasn't a Muslim. Despite his death, Faraaz was recognized for his valor, and his mother received the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award on his behalf. The movie highlights how conflicting ideologies around terrorism, not religion itself, are to blame and how Faraaz stood for harmony and peace, refusing to abandon his companions in the face of hate. He exemplified his belief in harmony, even in the face of death, and his mother expressed her pride in him rather than mourning his loss.
Faraaz Movie Story
The movie Faraaz depicts the story of five militants who were brainwashed by their leader, Rajiv, to carry out a terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Bangladesh. The militants, all from middle-class backgrounds and educated, were convinced to believe a distorted version of their faith that involved killing non-Muslims to defend their religion and earn a place in paradise. The movie contrasts their journey with that of Faraaz, a young man from a well-to-do family who refused to leave his homeland and his family to study abroad. Faraaz and his friends, Tarika and a Muslim girl from his neighborhood, coincidentally met at the Holey Artisan Bakery, where the terrorists had planned their attack. The militants arrived at the café with guns and started shooting everyone they identified as foreigners or non-Muslims. They took the remaining people inside hostage and started verifying their IDs and forcing them to recite verses from the Quran to determine if they were Muslims. Nibras, the leader of the militants, recognized Faraaz from a previous football club they had played for and spared him from having to prove his faith. Faraaz was shocked to see an educated man like Nibras pointing a gun at innocent people. The movie highlights how easily people can be radicalized and manipulated by extremist ideologies, even if they come from seemingly normal backgrounds. It also shows the devastating consequences of terrorism on innocent lives and the importance of standing up against such violence. Faraaz, as a symbol of hope and resilience, represents the strength of those who refuse to be intimidated by fear and hate.
Faraaz Movie Review
Hansal Mehta's film Faraaz reconstructs the horrific events that unfolded at the Holey Artisan café in Dhaka on 1 July 2016. A group of five militants, armed with guns and grenades, held diners hostage and killed at least 22 people in a 12-hour ordeal. The film explores themes of tolerance, intolerance, religion, radicalism, and humanity. Mehta tries to bring together liberals and radicals in a face-to-face confrontation, where Faraaz, one of the Bangladeshi hostages, challenges the terrorists' Islamic fanaticism and promotes peaceful coexistence. Meanwhile, the militants, led by Nibras, believe that Islam is in danger, and they want to rule the world. Although the writing has its limitations, Aditya Rawal's portrayal of Nibras is nuanced and conflicted, and Zahan Kapoor is effective in his role as Faraaz. The film, shot mostly in Mumbai, lacks the mood and feel of the actual location in Dhaka where the tragedy occurred. As a confined-space hostage thriller, Faraaz is gripping and impactful, but it doesn't reach the emotional heights of other similar films like 'Neerja' or 'Hotel Mumbai.'
Is Faraaz based on True Story - FAQs
The film "Faraaz" is a reimagining of the 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan café in Dhaka, where five young militants stormed the cafe, took diners hostage, and killed at least 22 people.
The film addresses themes such as tolerance versus intolerance, religion versus radicalism, and humanity over everything else. It explores the confrontation between liberals and radicals in a non-dramatic way.
The film centers around the character of Faraaz, a Bangladeshi hostage who challenges the Islamic fanaticism of the militants even at gunpoint. The militants are led by Nibras, a well-educated, English-speaking youngster who is convinced that "Islam khatre mein hai."
Hansal Mehta is known for his outspokenness and liberal ideologies. He is a renowned filmmaker who has a body of acclaimed work that showcases his sensibility and cinematic language.
While "Faraaz" is an adequately gripping and impactful confined space hostage thriller, it isn't as claustrophobic and gut-wrenching as films like "Neerja" or "Hotel Mumbai." The article suggests that the treatment feels one-toned and the conversations overstay their welcome, which can make the viewer restless.