Meghna Gulzar’s, Raazi is based on Harinder Sikka’s ‘Calling Sehmat’ which is reportedly based on a true story. The main character who is a Kashmiri woman, Sehmat Khan marries to a Pakistani army officer with the intention to source out intelligence details.

In the movie Alia is a beloved daughter of his father played by Rajit Kapur, as the movie unfolds she looks like a dedicated and loyal wife dressed in an ethnic attire. However in her actual avatar she is shown as a  a fearless spy, the one who is with a purpose to fulfill.

Though Alia’s performance is compelling as a spy who betrays her family. However movie is unable to liberate itself of few points of the novel on which it is based. It seems highly unrealistic for a father to send his only daughter, a 20 year old, as a spy across the border.

A girl-next-door could do such an extraordinary thing, risking all her career and even life, might seem weird to people. For this kind of courage and  bravery one requires a belief. Once you have that belief system It doesn’t matter how ordinary you are for any kind of extraordinary objectives.

The idea of a 20-year-old Kashmiri woman Sehmat, who inherits her father’s espionage duties and offers her body in the service of her nation. The love for her father & dedication to the country never stops to question the wisdom of her mission.

Meghna Gulzar is assisted by Bhavani Iyer for the screenplay where they have made significant alterations. Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy’s music is captive. Ae Watan and Dilbaro hits the right chord, and the title track Raazi sung by Arijit Singh is also good.

The fast-paced narrative which keeps you engaged and it is a humble tribute to unsung heroes of our nation. It refuses to depict Pakistan in a very negative light and sends an anti-war message.

I’ve also watched the Sankalp Reddy’s, Rana Daggubati starrer ‘The Ghazi Attack’ and if you map the war sequences you will be astonished to learn that Sehmat managed to send the intelligence of Pakistani Submarine Ghazi attacking INS Vikrant. Yet, our forces and bureaucrats failed to use this information for silly reasons. The captain of Indian Submarine S21 intercepted PNS Ghazi and destroyed it out of sheer luck and bravery. Otherwise, INS Vikrant would have been destroyed long back.

When Sehmat was approached with the idea of making film she initially rejected. She wanted to die peacefully, unknown to the world and wished move to be released after her death. She died in Punjab in April 2018. She didn’t want any money from the book or movie made on her. She asked all that money to be given to underprivileged girls.

After coming back to home, Sehmat had a wish to unfurl tricolor on her house.  She spent rest of her years in the home of Abdul as a repentance. I liked the final scene in which Sehmat questions her coach – How can you choose to live a life which has no value for life or family?