Indian 'Hamlet' Adaptation Denounced by Hindu Nationalists; Praised by Film Critics

"Haider," an Indian film tragedy adapted from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," has been denounced by Hindu nationalists but drawn praise from film critics who cited its downright frankness.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film stars Shahid Kapoor. It is set amidst the disappearance of civilians and the Kashmir conflict in 1995. Haider is the name of a poet who returns to Kashmir during the peak of the conflict for the purpose of finding answers for the murder of his father. He then ends up in the middle of the politics of Kashmir.

"Haider," released worldwide last Oct. 2, 2014 and screened at the 19th Busan International Film Festival, has garnered much attention because of its controversial subject. However, it didn't please many Indians. In fact, a group of Hindu nationalists has called on the public to boycott the movie.

A Twitter post said, "Any movie that sympathizes with terrorists, glorifies them; insults Indian Army & justifies ethnic cleansing, goes to the bin. #BoycottHaider."

The movie won the "People's Choice Award" at the 9th Rome Film Festival, making it the first ever Indian film to win in that category.

Journalists applauded the movie for its remarkable adaptation. Mukul Kesava, a columnist for "The Telegraph," said the movie's "great achievement is to bring Kashmir out of the closet."

"The Mint" newspaper recognized it as an "immensely effective re-imagination of Shakespeare."

Now on its fourth week in theaters, the film continues to draw attention in India and elsewhere.

However, the movie is banned in Pakistan where censors claim that the movie is against the country's ideology.