The Political Subtext in '7 Khoon Maaf'

Vishal Bharadwaj's '7 Khoon Maaf' is a deeply flawed film. However, instead of delving on the film's failures, I would like to discuss the political subtext present throughout the film.

Disclaimer: The following describes some critical plot elements. If you plan to watch the film, and if you are the kind of person who does not like to know too much about the film before watching it, discretion is advised.

Neil Nitin Mukesh's character is Susannah's (the protagonist played by Priyanka Chopra) first husband. He is overpowering and aggressive, much like Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister. Neil loses a leg during Operation Bluestar, which also ultimately cost Indira Gandhi her life.

John Abraham's character is a youth icon - a bit similar to Rajiv Gandhi, whose reign followed Indira Gandhi's death in 1984. He is also an extremely popular character in the film who ultimately underdelivers, again, much like Rajiv Gandhi.

Next comes Irfan Khan's character. He is shown to be a Kashmiri poet and this episode happens during the height of the Kashmiri disturbances in the late eighties and early nineties. He is sadist and tortures Susannah. It is quite an interesting plot development, since Susannah is seduced by the Kashmiri and then tortured. One could say that Kashmir plays the same role in the Indian psyche - seducing, poetic but which ultimately proves a sadist lover to a masochistic India - one can't let go of it, and one can't help getting tortured by it.

The fourth husband is the Russian and is juxtaposed against the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998. What appears as a triumph (the nuclear tests) ultimately ends up in a betrayal - sanctions imposed on India by the US and other nuclear powers. In the films, the Russian seems alluring, but ends up betraying Susannah.

What follows is Annu Kapoor - the Policeman and the first Hindu lover of Susannah - during the BJP's rule in India. It is interesting to see that this character is around for a long period in the film before he actually possesses Susannah, much like the BJP, which has been around for a long time, but which gained power only much later in India's history. It is also rather clever or subversive (depends on the way you see it ;-) ) of Vishal Bharadwaj to show this character requiring Viagra to perform with the lady! On the one hand, the BJP came to power riding on militant, jingoistic Hinduism (one can't help remembering Anand patwardhan's film 'Father Son and the Holy War' here). This episode ends with the IC-814 hijack episode - an episode that tested the masculinity of the Saffron party.

Then comes Naseeruddin Shah - during the long congress rule with Dr. Manmohan Singh as the PM. Like him, Naseer's doctor is very knowledgeable, but ultimately proves to be bankrupt and ineffective. The episode ends with the 26th November 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai.

Throughout the film, the unattained and unrequited love is that of Vivaan Shah playing Arun. He is an orphan with a twinkle in his eye. To me, he is quite like the Saleem Sinai of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children - perhaps the only lover worthy of India/Susannah, but their love for each other is never fulfilled. 

Thus, the film's attempt seems to be that of endowing the character Susannah with the complexity of India - many try to master her, but she cannot be mastered by falsehood, violence or chauvinism, She longs for a pure man, but such men can only be found in the millions of its common citizens, who can never really rise above their situation to prove their worth to her and to fulfill her.