'' Firaaq '' ( English : '' Separation '' ) is a 2008 Hindi political thriller film set one month after the 2002 violence in Gujarat , India and looks at the aftermath in its effects on the lives of everyday people . It claims to be based on " a thousand true stories " . '' Firaaq '' means both separation and quest in Arabic . The film is the directorial debut of actress Nandita Das and stars Naseeruddin Shah , Deepti Naval , Nawazuddin Siddiqui , Inaamulhaq , Nassar ( actor ) , Paresh Rawal , Sanjay Suri , Raghubir Yadav , Shahana Goswami , Amruta Subhash and Tisca Chopra . It has largely been well received locally and internationally . '' Firaaq '' won three awards at the Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore in December 2008 , the Special Prize at the International Thessaloniki Film Festival , and an award at the Kara Film Festival in Pakistan . It won two National Film Awards at 56th National Film Awards
56th National Film Awards
56th National Film Awards
Firaaq