Qissa (2013)

In the tumultuous era of India's partition in 1947, amidst the chaos of borders redrawn and homes lost, we find Umber Singh, a Sikh patriarch grappling with the upheaval of his life. Forced to abandon his ancestral village, Umber and his family embark on a journey of survival and reinvention. The birth of his third daughter during this harrowing exodus amplifies his deep-seated desire for a male heir, a longing etched in the traditional Indian psyche. In their new home, life stabilizes, and Umber's wife once again finds herself with child. As destiny would have it, a fourth daughter is born, intensifying Umber's poignant obsession. In a defiant twist of fate, he persuades his wife to embark on an unconventional path, rearing their youngest child as a son. Qissa (2013) is a riveting narrative that unfurls the complexities of gender identity and societal expectations, against the backdrop of a nation in flux. It's a tale where the personal collides with the political, where tradition clashes with change, and where destiny is challenged by human will. Through Umber's desperate quest for a son, we are plunged into a world of complications and contradictions, a world that questions what it means to be a man or a woman in a society obsessed with legacy and lineage.

Qissa is a drama movie featuring Irrfan Khan and directed by Anup Singh.

Qissa is currently streaming on Mubi.