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‘My Father Iqbal’: Does not rise to expectations
Film: “My Father Iqbal”; Director: Suzad Iqbal Khan; Cast: Narendra Jha, Komal Thackar, Paresh Mehta, Raj Sharma, Amit Lekhwani, Sagar Nath Jha, Sudam Aftab Khan, Kumar Vaibhav; Rating: *1/2
Set in Bani, a small town on the border of Himanchal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, “My Father Iqbal” is based on a true incident. It is the story of a conscientious engineer, Iqbal Khan, who sacrifices his life for his family, country and his own integrity.
Directed by Suzad I. Khan, and with a personalised title, one expects the tale to be narrated from Iqbal’s son, Sajid’s point of view. But unfortunately, this is not so…
The prologue defines, the tone of the narrative and predicts the turn of events. What follows is, how a happy family is tormented by some anti-social and selfishly motived people.
Catering to philanthropic activities and his family needs, Iqbal leads a comfortable life within his means. When his son, Sajid passes his eighth standard with flying colours, advised by his principal, he sends his son to a boarding school in Pathankot.
He puts up a brave front, when he misses his son, and continues harping on having a good life when his son is settled. But unfortunately his life is interrupted by his close associates.
The plot credited to Jha, Khan and Chib, lacks the maturity and punch of a well-designed film. The tale along with the poorly etched characters seems contrived and exaggerated.
Jha as Iqbal gives a heart-warming performance. He is natural and displays the undercurrents of tension and his frustrations with ease and aplomb. Unfortunately you do not empathise with him as the script lacks the intensity of a powerful drama.
Thackar as Iqbal’s wife has her moments to shine. She exhibits sparks of brilliance especially in the romantic scenes. As the mother of a grown up lad, she is unconvincing.
Of the remaining cast, every actor is perfunctory and deliver an over-the-top performance.
Mounted on a tight budget the initial hand painted water-colour frames raise the expectations. But the mediocre production values give the feel of a manufactured setting. Also, though the location is well-captured, Cinematographer Anant Gille’s frames are unimpressive.
Music by Biswajeet Bhattacharjee (Bibo) and Varun Agarwal integrate seamlessly in the narrative and the song, ace Rang gul, rang gul,a stands out, in an otherwise staid account.
Overall, “My Father Iqbal” does not rise up to your expectations.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.