Movie Review – Talaash (Hindi) – A genre-defying noir thriller!!

There was lot of hype surrounding the release of Talaash and everyone swarmed cinemas to find the answer that lies within. Some sources said the delay was due to some striking similarities between Talaash and Kahaani, so the team had to re-do most of it. Some say this and some say that, and finally the movie has hit the screens. Then what followed are spill-the-beans status updates on social networking websites which sent negative vibes across clusters of cinephiles who haven’t yet watched the flick. I, amidst all such spoilers, tried to avoid a few and gulped a few, and finally watched the film. What I got after watching the film is a mind-boggling experience that made me shun all the garbage that Bollywood gave us till now, and enabled me to draw a parallel between Hindi and French cinema.  

What is Talaash??

Noir, thriller, drama, melodrama, suspense drama, psychological drama, murder mystery, romance, tear-jerker, horror, a tale of who-done-it? Or simply a newly carved genre – FAR – Farhan+Aamir+Reema!!

It’s really difficult to categorize this movie under a particular genre because it brings shades of many engulfed in one. It’s a search for something by someone that translates into a search by everyone. If your sole purpose of watching Talaash is to understand “What’s the mystery about” then you’re going to be disappointed.

What’s in store??

You have to get trapped in the complex web woven by Farhan Akthar and Reema Kagti, and experience the flights of fantasy. They color it with a right mood and ambience, and then nourish it with a noir-ish texture for which you revere the movie. The film is a riveting combination of multiple layers that glue the narrative and the multiple characters that pop up surprises when the layers get peeled off. Involuntarily you root to the characters on-screen and empathize with them.

Get set go

The opening track of the movie slowly sets the mood for the rest of the film. It’s a rare one unlike other filmy title tracks showing svelte females donning skimpy apparel and crooning – something that’s archetypal for Bollywood. Cinematographer K U Mohanan deftly captures the night life in the grubby streets of Mumbai and you can hardly move your eyes away from the screen, and Ram Sampath with his music creates an aura that’s de rigueur for such set-up. The songs are ingrained in the narrative and don’t break the flow. Not to forget the impeccable production design of Sharmista Roy.

Game of cluedo or even more??

A typical way of watching a who-done-it tale is like playing a game of cluedo. In the game you are restricted to a mansion and here you traverse across the multiple layers and characters unearthing the clues and connecting the dots. The film throws many surprises and you shift gears from one character to the other to zero in on the suspect. Talaash is neither a perfect end for your quest to find a classy who-done-it nor it throws an insurmountable problem. It simply manages to engage you for 2+ hours with doses of chills that allows you to expand the horizon of your imagination.

A rare equilibrium

You will be surprised, at times shocked, by the twists and turns that completely engross you into the story. It very well portrays an individual’s belief in something which he doesn’t believe at the start but made to believe due to a volley of events that culminate towards the climax. But what surprises you more is how it engages the audience in a balanced manner with its equilibrium - Cause and effect, Good and evil, Revenge and justice, Life and death.

Hi-Fliers

Aamir Khan proved it again that he can play the role of a cop to perfection. He did a great job in Baazi, Sarfarosh and now in Talaash. The film has a gripping screenplay that hooks you to the seat. Despite knowing the whole story, you still go and watch Talaash that's the magic Aamir khan creates in one’s mind. Storytelling rules the roost along with brilliant performances by all. One fun-filled moment is when Aamir says “Tu comedy accha kar leti hain. Magar problem yeh hai ki mujhe aasaani se hasi nahin aati.”

The director plugged in emotional scenes to show her ability to capture Aamir and Rani’s acting prowess. Both outshined each other in the process. The real show stealer is Nawazuddin Siddique who embraced the challenges thrown in his way. Kareena Kapoor with her oomph factor did justice to her role of a hooker and her dialogues are striking and heart-touching – “Saala dukaan kholi nahi ke curfew lag gaya” - Coutesy: Farhan Akthar and Anurag Kashyap (additional dialogue).

Low-Liers

Though Talaash explodes as a smart, well-written thriller, the smoke trail dissipates slowly. At times you have to bear with the sluggish pace of the film. In the second half, the initial few minutes are occupied by lengthy conversations resulting in plight and boredom on the audience faces. Some of them get killed much before the suspense. The final scenes are again extended to bring tears to your eyes - In a way a good and in a way a bad move by the director. The psychological drama and the emotional tapestry woven around it was taken from the heart-breaking, award-winning Italian film The Son’s Room, and the other plot elements were borrowed from our western cousins - Fight Club and The Sixth Sense. One of the scenes in the climax is HIPed from What Lies Beneath.

Bottom-line: Talaash is definitely not the finest suspense film ever made but it’s a good one-time watch. It creates its spine-chilling moments by taking a peek into the dark side of the mind, and that makes it an unusual film. You may not like the film if you are expecting a high-octane thriller for a who-done-it film. The film stands out with its power-packed performances, taut screenplay and brilliance generated by its technical departments. We have taken enough junk from Bollywood this year, so let’s make way for this film and allow it to cleanse our system.

My Rating: Expectation – 8/10; Reality – 7/10