The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Reluctant Fundamentalist Rating: 3.14/5

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Reluctant Fundamentalist Movie Review

Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Karan Anshuman  Site:Mumbai Mirror

Even though it has been well over a decade, The Reluctant Fundamentalist still has relevance. It says things the west needs to hear. I hope they do, I hope they get it. On this count, as a thought, Mira Nair could not have chosen a better subject. I suspect the subject chose her, really. But perhaps it is too subtle for this intention and will be far better understood in South Asia. Unfortunately, we already know all of this.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Anupama Chopra Site:Star World

Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Renuka Vyavahare Site:Times of India

The beauty of the film lies in the depiction of its protagonist's unspoken words, suppressed emotions and unwavering beliefs. The incredibly talented Riz Ahmed enables the film to deconstruct the meaning of 'fundamentalism', which forms the core of the story. What leaves you in awe of the adapted screenplay is its brilliantly drawn parallels between Changez's personal, political and social situation. You feel his pain, vulnerability, denial, inner turmoil and psychological conflict. The film keeps you thoroughly engaged, even in parts where the pace drops a bit. While the film is more of a thriller, it doesn't cease to be a human drama, thanks to sublime supporting performances.Note: You may not like the film if films on religion and social reality are not your cup of tea.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Shubhra Gupta Site:Indian Express

The films that have come out post-9/11 have been many and various, but Changez's conflicted individual at the centre of the narrative feels both vital and important. The film could have done with more finesse in the way it begins and ends, but there are enough subtle shifts in the main act to keep me with it. After Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is Nair's most engaging work.

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Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Vaihayasi Pande Daniel Site:Rediff

But while you may ponder over the particular prism that Mira Nair chooses to look at these issues, you cannot doubt that The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a powerful, gripping/bold film, well worth a watch in the theatre. You may not agree with the film’s message but the message is worth knowing. There are plenty of touches in the film that warm you totally. For a desi, the most enriching moment of the film is when Khan, as an idealistic Lahore University professor, takes on the challenge of teaching a class full of youngsters of the importance of striving for the Pakistani Dream.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Tushar Joshi Site:DNA

Despite the serious tone of the film, its length and the sketchy characters mar the end result from being anything but ordinary. The Reluctant Fundamentalist feels like a package delivered a little too late in the day. Not only have other film makers explored every possible angle and milked out all the possible conspiracy theories surrounding the incident, but the US versus the Muslim world debate seems too forced and rehashed. Fortunately that doesn't stop the cast from delivering the goods.Eventually, The Reluctant Fundamentalist ends up being yet another 9/11 inspired tale with all the expected ingredients, but we wish the film maker had engaged and challenged us a lot more like her previous efforts.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Mohar Basu Site:Koimoi

What’s Good: The film preserves the mood of Mohsin Hamid’s book well. What’s Bad: A jerky screenplay ruptures the film’s flow multiple times all through.Watch or Not?: Mira Nair’s repertoire glistening with gems like Namesake and Monsoon Wedding is enough to evoke interest. However, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is not even close to being among her best works. With issues left unexplored and characters abandoned abruptly, the film is a desirable watch only for the landmark performance of Riz Ahmed and the grace with which he builds his character.

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