The Illegal Movie Review: Suraj Sharma pays the price of his American dream

Directed by Danish Renzu, The Illegal stars Suraj Sharma, Shweta Tripathi and Iqbal Theba in the lead roles. The film explores the dark reality behind pursuing the shiny American dream.

When we picture the American dream, we see the triad of freedom, success and happiness, all rolled into a better life. But seldom do we weigh the cost of turning those fantasies into reality. The Illegal, directed by Danish Renzu, takes a hard, immersive look at the price of pursuing that elusive American dream. Starring Life of Pi’s Suraj Sharma, Shweta Tripathi, Iqbal Theba, Adil Hussain and Neelima Azeem, The Illegal was shortlisted for Oscars 2020 in the Best Picture category and won much acclaim at international festivals. The Illegal follows the life of Hassan, played by Suraj Sharma. Coming from a typical Indian middle-class household, he dreams of going to the United States and making his mark in the world. He has the courage to risk everything and plunge into the unknown. So much so that he doesn’t go for obvious professions - engineering or medical. He remains hopeful that America will let him turn his life around even in a film studies course. Hassan finds his greatest support in his muse and his sister Mahi, played by Shweta Tripathi. She believes if anybody can make it happen, it’s her big brother. He is a fighter in her eyes. Hassan also finds encouragement from his parents, who, despite all their fears, believe in him. So, Hassan ends up in America, with his camera and great expectations. As soon as he lands at the airport, he misses home, as anyone would, and immediately wonders how many days it would be before he returns. The bigger question hits him the next second if he would ever return.