In the realm of cinema, where stories often mirror the complexities of human experience, the film 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' stands out as a poignant exploration of a pivotal historical event. This period coming-of-age drama, helmed by Imtiaz Ali and co-written by Nayanika Mahtani, delves into the Partition and the possibility of reconciliation, offering a nuanced and deeply personal narrative. The film's central character, 95-year-old Ishwar, played by Naseeruddin Shah, is a man grappling with the desire to revisit his hometown of Sargodha in present-day Pakistan, a decision that sparks a journey of self-discovery and family reconciliation for his grandson, Nirvair, portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh. What makes 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' particularly compelling is the care and sensitivity with which the Partition is depicted, a decision that Nayanika Mahtani, the co-writer, attributes to her own family history and the desire to avoid divisive narratives.
Mahtani's journey to co-writing the film began unexpectedly in Mussoorie, where she met Imtiaz Ali and shared her novel 'Across The Line', which also explored the Partition. Imtiaz, already working on a story around the same historical event, asked her to write 20-30 pages on the subject. After reading her work, he simply said, "We are on." This collaboration was especially meaningful for Mahtani, as she wanted to tell a Partition story free from divisive narratives. "I was, of course, thrilled to be telling a Partition story, and that too with the sensibility that Imtiaz brings to it, because I was very clear that I didn’t want to tell a story where there would be the ‘other’ or the ‘otherness.’ I would rather not tell a story than tell that kind of a story," she said.
The film's narrative is deeply rooted in Mahtani's family history. All four of her grandparents migrated from what is now Pakistan, and her maternal grandmother hailed from Sargodha, the same town central to the film. Recalling her grandmother's memories, Mahtani said, "Whenever my nani spoke about Sargodha, she talked about only happy memories. There was never bitterness. There was never rancour. And imagine how many reasons she had to be bitter." She shared that her paternal grandparents, who came from Lahore and Rawalpindi, carried similar memories, marked not by resentment but by friendships that transcended religion.
Mahtani believes that the emotional wounds carried by many who lived through the Partition remained largely unspoken. Referring to Ishwar's character in the film, she explained, "Ishar Grewal is not a nice man. He’s a bitter man. But look at what he went through. And this is where closure comes, because we just judged them on what we saw, but there was something they didn’t talk about." Expanding on that thought, she said, "There was something that never got mentioned. So many of them dealt with PTSD. But nobody was going to talk about it, because Independence coincided with partition, and that took centre stage. So, you were not allowed to be unhappy. But imagine on that Independence eve, every year, what they would have thought."
Mahtani and Imtiaz Ali were determined to portray the suffering experienced on both sides of the border, instead of presenting a one-sided account. "One thing both Imtiaz and I were very (certain about). I told him, ‘We have to have a scene where we see Muslims being killed.’ So, that scene in the train where Keenu’s hat falls off, and the one when the train arrives at the Lahore station, and Afzal finds his whole family dead. So, we see both sides, and there’s a balanced view. Otherwise, it can be rage-bait," she argued.
In my opinion, 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' is more than just a film; it's a testament to the power of storytelling in healing and reconciliation. Mahtani's personal connection to the Partition and her determination to avoid divisive narratives have resulted in a film that strikes a chord with audiences, offering a nuanced and deeply moving exploration of a historical event that continues to shape the world today. From my perspective, this film is a reminder that the past is not just a collection of facts and dates, but a living, breathing narrative that can still influence our present and future.
