Daivanamathil

The story follows Anwar, who, soon after his marriage, continues his studies at Aligarh Muslim University. During this period, the Babri Masjid demolition sparks a radical shift in his beliefs, and he slides into fundamentalism. His wife, an educated Muslim woman Sameera, tries to steer him away from extremism and restore his previous gentleness, but the pull toward a harsher path proves hard to resist.

Instead of finding reform through dialogue, Anwar opts for a route that lands him in prison, where a new chapter begins and the possibility of a fresh start emerges. The narrative threads through the broader aftermath of both the Babri Masjid demolition and the Gujarat riots, setting a tense backdrop for the personal transformation at the center of the film.

On a train, Anwar encounters a group of kar sevaks who are headed toward the Babri Masjid demolition. The meeting unsettles him deeply, and he is no longer the loving husband or the engaged PG student he once was. He writes a letter to [Sameera], outlining his intentions and his decision to join Jihad as a means of revenge, signaling a dramatic turn from romance to radicalism.

As Anwar descends into extremism, he becomes a full-time extremist and even plants a bomb in a hotel during Ramzan, a act that wounds his grandfather, a man who has always stood against extremism. The elder warns him of the consequences his deeds will unleash upon the community, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. The conflict intensifies as he persists in his path, convinced that civilian deaths are an unfortunate but unavoidable part of his proclaimed Jihad.

Ultimately, Anwar lands in jail. [Sameera] longs for the return of the man she loves—the old Anwar, the romantic and compassionate student. Through the long imprisonment, he slowly reconnects with his former kindhearted self, while she waits with quiet resolve for his release. When the day finally comes, she boards a bus bound for the prison, only to be caught in a bombing that kills everyone aboard, including her. The film closes on a stoic note as the reformed and released Anwar waits at the prison gate, hopeful for a reunion that will never come.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:47