0 Talaash Review

 

Film: Talaash
Director: Reema Kagti
Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherji, Kareena Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Rating: 3/5

A tale of deceit, betrayel and revenge, Talaash is a murder mystery running through the underbelly of Mumbai. The mystery takes the protagonist on a journey of self discovery and he has to fight the demons of his past and present in order to find the answers to this baffling mystery. In the end, Reema Kagti creates a contrasting picture of Mumbai where the death of a movie star brings the whole city to a standstill while many continue to live and die in oblivion.

The story kicks off one night when a speeding car driven by a famous movie star mysteriously looses control, breaks the footpath and lands into the sea killing it’s driver. Troubled by the guilt of loosing his son due to an accident and a disintegrating marriage with his wife Roshni (Rani Mukherji), Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Khan) is called up to investigate the case. His investigation takes him on a journey through the underbelly of Mumbai comprising of shady brothels, seedy hotels, pimps and a limping Tapori Tehmur (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Just when Shekhawat seems lost in the maze of the case, he meets an irresistable hooker Rosie ( Kareena Kapoor) who seems to have all the answers he is looking for.
Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar set up the mood perfectly in the first half. An unusual death, the dark lanes of Mumbai which come to life during night, a protagonist with a troubled past, a lonely wife, a mysterious escort, Talaash had everything going for itself in the first half. The scenes between Shekhawat and Rosie in the car, at the hotel lift and at the sea shore are brilliantly executed. Equally convincing are the flashback scenes which bring out Shekhawat’s guilt at not being able to save his son’s life.

The second half constantly juggles between Shekhawat’s investigation and the emotional journey he undergoes along with his wife. A chase sequence involving Tehmur in Mumbai’s Church Gate Railway station is done quite well. Then comes the most important part of a murder mystery, the big twist, which sadly is a big let down. Not only is it illogical but also something which you don’t expect in an Aamir Khan film. For a film which plays out in a realistic fashion for most of it’s running time, such a fairy tale climax is not acceptable.

Aamir Khan is omnipresent throughout the film and speaks volumes with his eyes. Menacing with the goons and vulnerable with his wife and Rosie, it’s a brilliant performance by Khan as expected. Rani Mukherjee as the lonely wife who is trying to bring normalcy in her life after her son’s death is first rate. Kareena Kapoor looks stunning with an air of mystery around her and does full justice to her character.
Mohanan shoots the dark lanes of Mumbai in green and yellow tones and creates a beautiful painting of the city of lost souls. Ram Sampath’s music is average but the opening credits with the song Muskaanein Jhoothi hai playing in the background is one of the best you will see this year.

I am going with 3 out of 5 for Reema Kagti’s Talaash. Works for it’s noir like mood and and the message but not as a thrilling murder mystery.

Article by Saurabh Tiwari