It takes guts to make films like 'Cavite' and 'Aamir'.

In 2005-06, Neill Dela Llana and Ian Gamazon produced and directed a political thriller / travelogue ‘Cavite’ on a miniscule budget, a two-man crew comprised of themselves, a guerilla-style shoot through the slums and streets of the film’s title city, and the selling of their equipment on eBay to complete postproduction. The result was a realistic crime drama that transcends its generic origins to engage in some astute political commentary.

Adam (Ian Gamazon) is an American citizen who works as a security guard in San Diego, California. His spirits are dampened when he receives a call from his girlfriend who wants to have an abortion. Adam, a Muslim, is quite offended and hurt. He breaks down on an airplane flight to the Philippines where he is going to attend his father's funeral. Upon his arrival, he finds that no one is there to meet him. Instead, he discovers a cell phone in his backpack along with some pictures of his mother and sister. A Muslim terrorist has kidnapped them and says they will be killed unless Adam follows his instructions. Adam is led down the streets of Cavite and introduced to the underside of this society where poverty is rampant, children sell their bodies for prostitution – the darker side of Philippines— which is popular for the beaches, the palm trees, the coconuts. At one point in the film, Adam witnesses a person being brutally murdered in an alley. The man behind all these sinister moves is associated with the infamous Abu Sayyaf group that is fighting the government. He has a reputation for violence and shows it - Adam is sent his sister's finger in a cigarette package!

‘Cavite’ is a riveting drama about the viciousness of terrorism and the extremes to which individuals will go to advance their cause. The pressure on the protagonist is incredible since the terrorist knows his every move and toys with him, happy to make an American squirm and quake in his boots. The ethical choice that Adam is given in the end is one that no human should ever have to make.

I think the filmmakers did hell of a lot research to be able to make sure that the film was as accurate as possible because there are a lot of statistics in the movie and they are all researched and factual like the Muslim conflict in the Philippines and the southern island in the Philippines named Mindanao which is trying to separate from the Philippines, and the Philippines are saying, no. Kidnappings, beheadings, bus bombings, mall bombings, that’s all pretty normal out there for the Muslim resistance group called Abu Sayyaf, which is the equivalent of Al Qaeda in the Middle East.

This Filipino film ‘Cavite’ is written and directed by Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana has generated a deserved buzz after screenings at various film festivals across the world and winning several awards at various film festivals world over.

UTV’s ‘Aamir’, which released last week in India, is a wonderful adaptation of this brilliant film ‘Cavite’. Aamir, means leader, but the protagonist Aamir Ali (played by television star Rajeev Khandelwal) becomes a follower out of fear. The film begins off with Aamir Ali, a London based Muslim doctor with secular views flying to Mumbai to meet his family. He is questioned a lot by the custom authorities because of his religion; his family is not there to receive him. He calls home only to find the phone unattended. Suddenly out of nowhere a bike appears and a mobile is thrown into his hands. What follows later is a host of instructions, informing of his family being kidnapped and the task he has to carry out for the terrorists. Aamir finds himself in a state of strife. Does he succumb to the pressure of terrorists? Do the fundamentalist values entice him in the name of God? Does he end up doing what the terrorist ask of him or risk losing his family? The climax of the film is very much unlike most bollywood films.

One element that works for the film is its length which is less than two hours and the absence of unwanted monotonous songs. Another element that keeps the film going is the locations used – very similar to the locations used in ‘Cavite’, the film has been extensively shot in the bylanes of Muslim pocket areas of Dongri, Bhendi Bazaar covering all the impoverishment, bustling markets, the shoddy lodges, pimps and whores giving it more realistic feel.

This is one film that comes as a complete exception of all bollywood rules - no heroine, no supporting cast, no item numbers etc.., It’s purely a director’s vision carried forward by the protagonist’s splendid acting and excellent cinematography by Alphonse Roy. Rajeev Khandelwal does a terrific job by carrying the trauma and frustration the character Aamir undergoes with ease. Khandelwal comes as a revelation to Bollywood.

Aamir is definitely a must watch and once again proves that a good film in Bollywood (though adapted from another brilliant foreign film) can indeed be made without songs and without any big names.