In director Suparn Verma's latest film 'Haq,' Yami Gautam delivers a powerful performance as Shazia Bano, a character inspired by the real-life Shah Bano whose legal battle for alimony became a landmark Supreme Court case in 1985. The film, which released in theaters on November 8, 2025, approaches this sensitive subject with unexpected restraint while raising important questions about women's rights and religious law in contemporary India.
The Story Behind the Controversial Case
The narrative follows Shazia Bano, daughter of a Muslim cleric, whose seemingly stable marriage to lawyer Ahmad, played by Emraan Hashmi, takes an unexpected turn when he brings home a second wife without warning. Despite attempting to adjust to the new domestic arrangement, Shazia eventually leaves with her three children, returning to her parental home and initiating a legal battle that would challenge established norms within Muslim personal law.
The Supreme Court's 1985 ruling in favor of Shah Bano remains one of India's most controversial legal decisions, with many conservative Muslim groups viewing it as interference in religious matters. The Congress government's subsequent legislation limiting the judgment's impact shifted financial responsibility for divorced Muslim women back to their families or the Waqf board, a move that continues to spark debate decades later.
Cinematic Approach and Performances
Unlike recent films that might have approached similar subject matter as propaganda, 'Haq' maintains a balanced perspective. The film features Danish Husain as Shazia's supportive father, providing a counterpoint to the patriarchal religious figures who oppose her claim. Even Ahmad's character avoids becoming a mere villain, instead portrayed as someone using existing religious rules to justify self-serving decisions.
Cinematographer Pratham Mehta creates a visually stark atmosphere through roomy framings, muted color palettes, and abundant natural light. Gautam's performance mirrors this aesthetic with understated intensity, her eyes conveying layers of hurt and resentment as her husband moves on without her. The actress, known for her roles in 'Uri: The Surgical Strike' and 'Article 370,' brings considerable political subtext to the role given her previous nationalist-themed projects.
Political Context and Contemporary Relevance
The film's courtroom scenes feature Hashmi's character delivering an impassioned defense of shariat law, touching upon the independence movement, Pakistan, and the importance of Islamic law to Indian Muslims. While the film clearly disagrees with this perspective, it provides adequate space and respectful language for its expression, marred only by what the review describes as 'vaguely sinister music' at the speech's conclusion.
The final moments of 'Haq' explicitly connect the historical case to contemporary politics, praising the current government's abolition of Triple Talaq and mentioning the long-debated Uniform Civil Code. This connection raises questions about the film's potential alignment with right-leaning political agendas, particularly given Gautam's previous roles in films celebrating BJP government actions and her marriage to Aditya Dhar, who directed and wrote those projects.
As the first of what may become several films addressing the Uniform Civil Code, 'Haq' navigates complex terrain with notable restraint. While focusing primarily on Shazia's personal journey, the film inevitably invites viewers to consider the broader implications of religious law, gender justice, and political manipulation in modern India.
