Mee Raqsam: I Dream, I Dare, I Dance!

 "Mee Raqsam" (Persian for 'I dance') is a delightful little production--95 minutes, short for a Hindi feature film--even though it handles a sensitive subject of freeing art from religion, gender, class, and other interferences. The art form it chooses to focus on happens to be Bharatanatyam and the setting happens to be Mijwan, a tiny hamlet in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district. Presented by Shabana Azmi, and directed by her cinematographer brother Baba Azmi, the film is a tribute to their father, noted poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi, who was born in Mijwan 101 years ago. 

The story showcases the tender relationship between a modest tailor Salim, and his 15-year-old daughter Maryam who dreams of pursuing Bharatanatyam. The father goes out of his way to fulfil his daughter's dream, sensing that this was one of the ways for the young woman to cope with the loss of her mother. Hadn't the mother and daughter shared some beautiful moments dancing together on the rooftop of their humble home?

The duo has to fight their own family first and then others, when the girl starts attending a Bharatanatyam school. Why? Because a Muslim girl taking lessons in a classical dance form that is steeped in devotion to Hindu deities is unthinkable, and simply not done.

Maryam's affinity to dance spells trouble for her father, but his support for her is total and unflinching, even at the cost of facing criticism from family, being ostracized from the community, and losing his customers. Salim's predicament pains Maryam. But what keep the film upbeat are the positive vibes between the two, their bond shining through all the ensuing ups and downs. 

Shot on location in Mijwan, the film is paced gently. Danish Husain as Salim and Aditi Subedi as Maryam deliver sparkling performances. What makes Aditi's feat remarkable is that she was brought up in Mijwan and did not know any Bharatanatyam before being a part of this film. Her effort is whole-hearted and sincere. Naseeruddin Shah as the influential community elder is superb as usual, delivering menacing lines with a calculated coolness. Maryam's aunt, grandmother (wonderful Farrukh Jafar in a smallish role), dance teacher, the patron of her dance school, village elders and youngsters all fit the bill nicely. 

All in all, the film is a lovely package, with emotion, drama, music and dance thrown in. Heartening to see such stories that entertain, and deliver a good message too!

Find more about the making of this film here, where Chennai-based journalist Akhila Krishnamurthy is in conversation with Shabana Azmi, Aditi Subedi and Deepali Salil who trained Aditi in Bharatanatyam.

Mee Raqsam is streaming on Zee5.