Sikandar Preview

Characters:

Sikandar Raza (Parzaan Dastur) - Sikandar is a boy aged 14. Ever since his parents were killed by militants 10 years back he has lived with his aunt and uncle, in a small town in Kashmir.

All Sikandar's desires revolve around the happiness of his foster parents, and getting the ball into the goal on the football field. His dreams head for a naught, as he gets embroiled in situations beyond his control.

Nasreen (Ayesha Kapur) - Nasreen is a girl aged 14. She befriends Sikandar, who is drawn to her because of her quite, yet strong manner. Nasreen is meager with words, but her liquid brown eyes flash with a passion that speaks volumes, and convey that there is more to her than meets the eye. Nasreen develops a bond with Sikandar, and as Sikandar gets won over by his dark side, she becomes his hapless conscience keeper.

Lt. Colonel Rajesh P. Rao (Madhavan) - Lt. Colonel Rao is the army commander of the area. On one hand, he uses force to bring peace, while on the other, he believes in giving people second chances. His years in Kashmir have given him the ability to see beyond the obvious. However, his job is made difficult because he has to steer through the under-currents, of the political and religious kind.

Mukhtaar Mattoo (Sanjay Suri) - Mukhtaar Mattoo is a reformed militant leader aged 38. His benevolent manner is a soothing balm to many a volatile situation. He constantly attempts to broker peace between the various power centers; namely the militants, the army and the religious leaders. But, sometimes his actions are of a nebulous nature.

Zahgeer Quadir (Arunoday Singh) - Zahgeer Quadir is a militant leader aged 27. He is a feared and respected Area Commander of the Kashmir Azaadi (Freedom) Force. Zahgeer is battle hardened, yet the sadness of a lost childhood weighs heavily on him. His position is being undermined by the peace efforts of the Kashmir Peace Front. Added to that, his supporters are dwindling in numbers.

Synopsis

Sikandar Raza is a 14 year old schoolboy in Kashmir. Ever since his parents were killed by militants 10 years back, he has lived with his aunt and uncle, in a small town in Kashmir. All Sikandar's desires revolve around the happiness of his foster parents, and getting the ball into the goal on the football field.

One day, on his way home from a school football match, Sikandar finds a gun lying on the path.

Despite admonishments by his newly made school friend, the 14 year old Nasreen, Sikandar picks up the gun, and thus begins a journey into the darker side of his nature.

The quiet yet strong Nasreen becomes Sikandar's conscience keeper. She tries to dissuade him from giving in to the lure of the gun.

However, all is not what it seems. Sikandar gets embroiled further and further in situations beyond his control, and people get killed.

At first it seems that the happenings occurring alongside Sikandar's predicament are not connected. But, as layer upon layer unravels, it becomes clear that Sikandar is the innocent victim in a game being played out between the militants, the army, the peace bartering politicians and the religious heads of the little Kashmiri town. The pieces of the puzzle come together at the very end, leading to a shocking revelation.