Haq review: Yami Gautam Dhar anchors women's rights drama

One of Haq's most resonant moments arrives in a voiceover by Yami Gautam Dhar’s Shazia Bano, who asks, “Biwi ka asli matlab kya hai?” The seemingly simple query stays with the viewer, urging a rethink of ordinary terms that take on legal and religious heft.

Directed by Suparn Varma, Haq examines justice and personal law while featuring notable performances, particularly from Yami Gautam Dhar. Drawing from the Shah Bano episode, the film interrogates the clash between secular and personal legal codes, the issue of triple talaq and the broader pursuit of fairness.

Plot Overview

The narrative centres on Shazia (Yami Gautam Dhar), a modest, unlettered woman married to Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), an accomplished lawyer. Their marriage begins warmly but cools as pressures build. The dynamic breaks when Abbas brings home a second wife, leaving Shazia shattered. Pressed by her mother-in-law to "adjust," Shazia departs with her children. Abbas initially provides support, then stops maintenance and later pronounces triple talaq. Shazia's fight in court over her entitlements becomes the film's central struggle.

Located in Uttar Pradesh, the opening half effectively maps the couple's life together. An offhand remark early on — when Shazia first steps into the kitchen and a house help says, "Ek cooker kharab hota hai, sahab doosra le aate hain" — quietly signals how Abbas may regard her. The tempo holds well before the interval but loses some momentum afterward.

Performance Highlights

Yami Gautam Dhar gives a restrained, layered turn that anchors the movie. Her raw astonishment when confronting Abbas — "Aapne doosri shaadi kar li?" — lands hard. In courtroom scenes she channels the anguish and vulnerability reminiscent of the Shah Bano saga, even if a few moments tilt toward melodrama in the script.

Emraan Hashmi pares back his usual screen image to play Abbas, a composed yet calculating figure. The pair's chemistry sharpens the sense of loss as their relationship frays. Vartika Singh brings a quiet dignity to the role of Saira, Abbas's second wife, while Danish Husain offers steady support as Shazia's father. Sheeba Chadha, portraying Shazia’s lawyer, underscores the film’s impartial stance by being a Hindu advocate defending a Muslim woman's rights, helping the story avoid sectarian framing. Haq serves more as a conversation piece than an impeccable cinematic achievement. The courtroom sequences follow familiar rhythms, but the film's core strength is its interrogation of women's rights and justice. Suparn Varma's effort to reopen a landmark debate is commendable, and the strong performances, led by Yami Gautam Dhar, ensure the film remains memorable.