Hansal Mehta’s Shahid reminds us of real-life heroism in the age of exaggerated larger-than-life heroes

Shahid is a biographical drama that chronicles the life of Shahid Azmi, a human rights lawyer renowned for defending individuals accused of terrorism. Azmi met a tragic end when he was shot dead in his Mumbai office. But he wasn’t a straight character to show on the big screen and, therefore, shouldn’t be seen through rose-tinted glasses. And the film’s writers, Sameer Gautam Singh and Apurva Asrani, don’t let us make that mistake. They skillfully lay the facts of his life without bias, akin to seasoned journalists, allowing us to form our own judgments.

For instance, before becoming a champion of human rights, Shahid was arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act for his involvement with a militant group. He had crossed into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and joined a militant group. Secondly, the writers don’t shy away from highlighting his association with terrorist Omar Sheikh during his time in Tihar jail and his near descent onto a similar path.

Rajkummar Rao with Prabal Panjabi, who played the role of terrorist Omar Sheikh in Shahid.

Redemption after seven years in prison is no small feat, especially for a Muslim man charged with treason. A poignant scene points this out when Rajkummar Rao, who brilliantly portrays Azmi, defends his client accused in the Ghatkopar blast case and says, “Not just the prosecution but the world has labeled him a terrorist without proof. Does the prosecution believe that Islam and liberalism can’t be one or Zaheer is in jail because his name is Zaheer?”

What makes Shahid powerful is its ability to show the grey areas of Azmi’s life while also sensitively depicting his redemption arc. The film devotes equal time to both aspects of the lawyer’s life without glorifying him. However, since Azmi was a norm-defying person himself, the film’s best and most impactful moments come in dimly lit courtrooms where he champions the cause of the falsely accused. In those moments, you forget about Azmi’s religion and his contentious past. Instead, you witness a fighter, not for a particular faith, but for the people oppressed by the very system designed to protect them.

Rajkummar Rao won the Best Actor National award for his role in Shahid.

One remarkable scene occurs when Shahid himself becomes the target of another lawyer in a courtroom. The opposing attorney attacks Azmi for his past association with a militant group while he is defending Faheem Khan, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai blast case. Azmi becomes flustered and retorts passionately. His frustration is a response to the biases and prejudices tied to his faith and his troubled history. He wants to desperately rip off this patch but soon realises it has become a part of his skin. It doesn’t take long for Shahid to understand that his cause is bigger than him. Within seconds of the heated argument, he quickly wipes the anger off his face and resumes his unwavering defense of his client, because he knows that Faheem’s victory is his own triumph.

A few months after Shahid Azmi’s tragic assassination in his office, Faheem Ansari was acquitted by the court. Shahid was just 32 years old when he was gunned down, but in his brief seven-year career, he secured 17 acquittals in court.

Shahid may not have grossed billions, but its worth is beyond measure. While the glitzy world of opportunistic flicks and larger-than-life heroes may momentarily capture our attention, this Hansal Mehta film will quietly remind us of the real-life heroism of Shahid Azmi.