Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad – 2024 Telugu Film

Razakar : Movie Name
Directed by: Yata Satyanarayana
Starring: Bobby Simha, Tej Sapru, Makarand Deshpande, Raj Arjun, Annusriya Tripathi, Vedhika, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Indraja, Prema, Thalaivasal Vijay, Chandhu Nath Nair, Tarak Ponnappa, Arav Choudary, John Vijay, Cheluva Raj
Genre: Drama, Action, History
Running Time: 166 Minutes
Release Date: 15 March, 2024
Rating:
Production House: Samarveer Creations LLP
Budget: ₹ – Crore
Language: Telugu

Revolves around the Hyderabad Liberation Movement of 1948. Capture the struggles of Telangana and its people in the early days of Independence to reclaim their religion and identity in the face of military and political oppression.

Razakar: Overview

Razakar : The Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic historical action drama film written and directed by Yata Satyanarayana based on the events leading to Operation Polo in the erstwhile Princely state of Hyderabad. The film is produced by Gudur Narayana Reddy, under Samarveer Creation LLP. It was released on March 15, 2024, and was simultaneously dubbed into Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.

The movie has been criticized for its caste dynamics, promotion of right-wing Hindutva narrative and for ignoring the historical realities.

Synopsis

The film depicts the struggle in the erstwhile Hyderabad State after India gained independence on August 15, 1947. While the rest of the country celebrated freedom and liberation, the Hyderabad State remained under the control of the Nizam for another year. During this time, people faced oppression from both the Nizam’s rule and the ruthless Razakars. The film documents and narrates the atrocities committed by the Razakars with extreme fanaticism and the courageous acts of the heroes who fought against them.

The film was shot at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad and various other locations in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Movie Trailer:

Razakar Movie Review:

Story:

India gains independence from the British in 1947, but Hyderabad, which is the largest princely state, remains an independent kingdom under the control of the Nizam Of Hyderabad a.k.a Mir Osman Ali Khan (Markhand Deshpande). The Nizam of Hyderabad refuses to sign the accession agreement and opts for a one year standstill agreement with the Union Of India. A paramilitary army force named Razakars, formed by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, is controlled by Qasim Razvi (Raj Arjun) during that period. Qasim Razvi lends his full support to the Nizam of Hyderabad and they infuse terror among Hindus with their atrocities. What happens later is what Razakar is about.

Plus Points:

If you are someone who haven’t heard about this genocide that happened during the Nizam rule, you will be shell-shocked after watching the movie. The atrocities against lots of Hindus and the forceful religious conversions will send chills down your spine, as they are shown in a gut-wrenching manner without any inhibitions. There are many hard-hitting moments and one would surely walk out heavy hearted.

Even if you have known about this exodus, you will still be invested in the film, as there is a lot of detailing that has gone into the writing. This is the best part of Razakar, as the writing team did a thorough research in documenting the trauma undergone by many innocent souls. Operation Polo carried out by the Indian Army to annex Hyderabad from the Nizam rule is sure to give you goosebumps.

Often, we would have heard stories describing the greatness of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in uniting the country. This film will give you more clarity regarding the kind of role Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had played in making Hyderabad a part and parcel of India. The film is clear in what it conveys. It doesn’t target any religion and it only highlights the atrocities committed by the Nizam and Razakars against common people.

Raj Arjun is the show stealer of Razakar and he performs Qasim Razvi’s role to the tee. We feel like hitting him right in the face and that’s the level of performance he has delivered. Markhand Deshpande as the Nizam Of Hyderabad is brilliant and so is Tej Sapru as the Iron Man Of India. Bobby Simha, Anasuya, Vedhika, Indraja, and others gave compelling performances. The second half is more gripping with many key moments.

Minus Points:

The first half is all about the depiction of Razakars’ brutality against Hindus and here the pacing is a bit slow. A few scenes are repetitive and the narrative could have been better.

Razakar is a film made with utmost honest and if someone expects entertainment this movie might not be their cup of tea. The atrocities and heinous acts are shown in a no-holds-barred manner and these visuals might be distributing for a few.

Technical Aspects:

Music by Bheems Ceciroleo is impactful. Cinematographer Ramesh Kushendar neatly depicted the angst of the affected people. The makers pulled off a high quality film within a limited budget and kudos to their efforts. The VFX was good and the production design team did a superb job in recreating the bygone era. The set works are fantastic.

Director Yata Satyanarayana showed conviction in bringing a heinous genocide on to the screen. The film is informative, heart-wrenching, and also does it portray the bravura of many unsung heroes who fought against the monarchy. The director can go a long way in his career if he comes up with more such good films.

Verdict:

On the whole, Razakar is an honest depiction of the heinous genocide that took place in Hyderabad province during the time of Nizam. The film is sure to leave you shocked with its horrifying facts and neatly documents the ordeal of common people. The film will blow away the minds of those who don’t know about Razakars. Performances are very good and the film is rich technically. The first half is slightly slow, with some repetitive scenes, but the second half grabs our attention every minute. Those interested in knowing about history can watch this film this weekend.