It has been few years since 9/11 happened and it definitely is a very sensitive issue as it changed the carefree life of Americans into fear, at least for me as whenever I think of 9/11 it brings back those memories which I really want to wipe out of my mind but can’t as that was my first day in the land of dreams which turned into a nightmare.
Well, coming back to the movie this was a brilliant and first attempt by bollywood on the 9/11 issue. Although I thought it went a little away from the subject and some scenes were weak in portraying the real issue with too much of emotional drama.
All the three lead characters are Muslims affected by the 9/11 in varied ways and to different degrees. Sameer turns a scapegoat of the situation; Omar's identity gets him in trouble and is confused between loyalty, friendship and love. Roshan's character offers that ray of hope prevailing amidst discriminating humankind while serving his homeland (all three of them were Muslims). Unfortunately the wide scope it could have represented with the contrast of the characters wasn’t used to film's core theme and lacked the contemporary nature to truly challenge the political placements.
Though the film still uses its narrative to good effect and it is a well formed combination of Omar's life and highlights just how different the world has become for him. At first America is seen in a negative light for torturing Muslims and then the films moves to Muslims standing up against terrorism to make a better life for Muslims in America. These two core messages keep playing until the conclusion and whenever the film appears to be pro Muslim it undercuts this peaceful tone with America’s hate for immigrants and Muslims. Both sides were right and wrong in their own ways. There is a bit of a love triangle typical of Yash Raj Films with Maya dedicating her life for her husband, Omar secretly loving Maya and entering their lives just because he still has a soft corner for her.
New York is an interesting film but fails to deliver the message it could have, but has an excellent epilogue delivered by Roshan in the ending scenes. It hasn’t broken any new grounds on 9/11 issue but has refreshed the memories and the turmoil some innocent people had to go through. I still see the pain of 9/11 around me and it “hurts”.
