“Woh Jo Tha Ek Messiah Maulana Azad” Review: An informative and decent film.

Period dramas often work if they are engaging and keep you hooked from beginning to end. Often times, stories that deal with history often tells us what we already may know, but the way in which it is presented either makes it or breaks it. This film gets it right, for the most part, and what works is that the era has been presented nicely. Maulana Azad was an Indian scholar, activist, and the first education minister. He played a huge part during India’s freedom struggle as well. This film is his journey.

Often times when it comes to biopics, we often expect to see things that we didn’t already know from the information provided to us via the internet and various books. Considering that, this is a well-researched film that delves into the psyche of Maulana Azad, and we truly understand the type of person he was. We delve into different aspects of his life, but the film mainly focuses on his struggle to unify all India, regardless of their religion. He was also a great supporter of Mahatma Gandhi and the philosophy of “Non-Violence”.

On the acting from, Linesh Panse who plays the lead role, is impressive. He is natural and subtle. Even in the intense scenes, his intensity is balanced with his calm nature. It never seems too much. The rest of the cast is competent, with a few not so up to the mark. Some of the acting seems choreographed and not so natural. On the technical front, things could have been much better.  But in a film this this, content is king, and it works for the most part. If anything, the film could have been slightly trimmed. Sometimes it feels like a documentary, however this film is definitely worth a watch for those who enjoy history and true stories.

Overall, “Who Jo Tha Ek Messiah Maulana Azad” is a decent and well-intentioned film for history lovers.

Rating 3 stars.