Fifteen years into the millennium, Bollywood still hasn't learned to clip off bad elements from a film. It continues to sample tried and tested components so as to rake in the moolah, without caring a tick for "cinema as an art." Since the start of this decade, we have been served with loads of remakes and sequels, and Tevar is nothing different. Only, it regards its audience as rocks.
Tevar tells a story (for the what time now? After Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, fifth?) about a real-life superman (Arjun Kapoor) who doesn't bear any superpowers yet makes his life-purpose to help a damsel (actually a derogatory word for Miss Sonakshi) in distress out of the clutches of a ruffian (Manoj Bajpayee) by making her stay in his own house without the knowledge of his family members including his father who is a cop. As stupid as the story sounds, one will jump out of the hall in exasperation. Unfortunately, there is no improvement in the story, the narration, the screenplay, the action, or at least the humor by the time it reaches its climax. Then the climax happens and I almost smothered myself to death with the corn buds in the basket that didn't actually pop.
The makers have welcomed new year with a bombastic escapade of amateur characters that look strange even in its fictional milieu. While one gets excited with Arjun Kapoor's hot bod and stylistic stunts, the dialogs come and wreak havoc with the whole play. They are both obscene and substandard to even relish. Manoj Bajpayee is good enough as the villain, but a film about heroism will definitely take the plunge if its villain is smarter than the hero. Just what happens with the 150 minute long drama that shows no hint of stopping.
Five songs fit through the drama is like adding chili flakes in a chocolate ice-cream. Most of the story unfolds or folds in these songs which help in the combined torture.
It is true when people say that the first major Bollywood release of any year is part of a jinx and will bomb at the box office. Arjun Kapoor's opening film of the year, thus qualifies, and once again confirms that the jinx is, after all, for real.
BOTTOM LINE: If you can handle tedious stories that are more dramatic and foolish than our own year-long Television soaps, Tevar is definitely made for you.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
