Ambivalent feelings towards Saleem Mirza

In no way can Saleem Mirza be called the hero of Garam Hava. He is the tragic and rather faulty protagonist who becomes a victim of his own choices. At some points in the film, the viewer feels pity for him, his dwindling respect even at the hands of the tonga wala who otherwise felt privileged to offer him a ride and his great loss in business. But at other times the viewer is really frustrated at him for his complete lack of agency and his consistent inaction. His downfall is therefore not only the result of his identity as a Muslim in India but also because of his stubbornness to accept change causing problems for his entire family.

After reading Ehsaan Manzil with a character like Sheikh Irfan-ul-Haq who is ready to confront the people gossiping about him and his family as they welcome education for women, one could assume that people belonging to Muslim aristocracy would be vocal about their opinion even in situations that don’t particularly favour them. But Saleem Mirza who also hails from a Shareef household fails to live up to these expectations as he does not speak up for his rights and even against his enemies. Few instances in the film are worth pointing out to show Saleem Mirza’s passive and even subdued behaviour. When he is refused the loan, he doesn’t urge the banker or even his old money lender to trust him based on his history, when arrested he doesn’t question the officers but quietly follows them, even when his sister breaks a promise of making Amina her daughter in law, Saleem Mirza does not retaliate but closes the matter saying “Iss mein Allah ki bhalai ho gi”. Never has he voiced his demands, never do we see him insisting his factory workers to stay in India with assurances about a good livelihood and never do we see him negotiating with anyone in business transactions whether it is extending the deadline for an order or getting a loan. He seems naive when all his dialogues call attention to God as the rescuer of situations or as he often phrases it “Allah maalik hai”.

One can even go on to say that the death of his mother and daughter can very well be placed on his shoulders. Dadi died primarily because the idea of letting go of the haveli was too unbearable and Saleem Mirza refused to take any action to acquire it regardless of his wife’s insistence. Similarly, he was adamant on not migrating to Pakistan and his decision cost him Amina’s life who would much rather have been close to her two lovers. Therefore, not only did Saleem Mirza become miserable himself but his lack of action destroyed the lives of others. In the end, the viewer criticizes him more for his follies rather than pity him for his situation.