Shahid

Shahid, directed by Hansal Mehta, is an Indian film based on the real life of human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi, starring Rajkummar Rao. Azmi briefly joined a militant training camp after witnessing the 1993 Bombay riots, was arrested under anti-terrorism law and began studying law in prison, and went on to defend numerous people wrongly detained on terrorism charges; he was shot dead in his office in 2010. Director Hansal Mehta decided to make the film upon hearing news of Azmi's murder. The film had its world premiere in the "City to City" section of the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival; at the 61st National Film Awards, Rajkummar Rao won Best Actor and Hansal Mehta won Best Director. Who it's for: anyone curious about a biographical film tracing a real human rights lawyer's path from prison to defending the wrongly accused, ending in his assassination, a double National Film Award winner. Who it's not for: viewers wanting a light, upbeat drama, since the film is grounded in a real story that ends in assassination.