Talaash: The Answer Lies Within

I was waiting for Talaash from a long time and wondering what new Aamir has added into his new film. Talaash was very nicely narrated and holds you till the end. But somehow I feel disappointed when the movie moves on to the climax. It was not the kind of a movie Aamir usually do. Mostly all of his previous movies where really good and add something new to the Indian cinema. But this one, despite being a very good movie, failed to become a masterpiece. See, this is what we always expect from Aamir Khan, a masterpiece! Cinematography was good, acting superb but somewhere it was lacking the X-factor. Rani Mukherji with no makeup added the depth to the role on the other hand Kareena was looking as glamorous as always. Aamir Khan as usual did the best. Nawazuddin Siddiqui did what he is best in....acting!! The script keeps you holding throughout. All in all it is a good movie to watch but I feel that the climax could have been made better and more sensible.

Definitely a one time watch and worth watching at least once.

Talaash!!!

General: OK, where do I begin. To start off, the movie is very intriguing, thrilling and keeps you glued to your seats screen right till the end. The movie doesn't lose it's pace for even the shortest time and will keep you guessing as to what is going to happen. The movie starts off with the story right away and cuts to the chase, without wandering too much on what isn't significant to the main plot. The main aim of the movie is to keep the thrill throughout the movie and manages to do exactly that.

You may be able to predict the story to some extent, but then that won't ruin the experience. Personally, I felt, the ending could have been better, and was a bit of a let down as far as my expectations are concerned. All in all, a wonderful thriller / suspense movie experience with some minor plot holes.

Acting: Now, coming to the acting part, Aamir Khan does a very good job, exactly what is expected from him. Kareena was as usual, good but not exceptional (maybe that was exactly what the role required). Stand-out actor (for me) has to be Rani Mukerji, who plays a grief- stricken mother, very well. All the other supporting actors also do their part very well, not over-acting, and playing the characters exactly as required. Special praise, for Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Temur), who is proving to be quite the actor, after powerful roles in Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur and now, Talaash.

Story line: Well, its better to know nothing about the story, and go to the theater and have a whole new experience. Story / suspense wise it does have similarities with other thriller movies, but then again it's better not to name them.

Music: Music blends very well with the story, and is exactly what the situations require. The songs "Muskaanein jhooti hain" and "Jee le zara" are sure to stay on your mind for a long time even after the movie. The songs are perfectly timed during the movie, and don't feel like a squeeze-in.

All in all, its a worth watch movie, you may or may not like it, but the movie won't bore you, that's for sure... Enjoy !

Rating: 8/10

The movie opens with a random accident involving a popular film star that seems to defy all explanation. It also introduces the main protagonist, Inspector Shekhawat (played gloriously by Aamir Khan). The rest of the movie details how the good inspector peels away the mystery surrounding the accident. Along the way, he also battles his own demons in the form guilt for his child's untimely death in an accident.

The movie is scripted well enough to keep you interested all the way to the end, even if the end if a tad bit tame.

Five-star performances from all the leading characters ensures that you are sucked into the mood and world that Reema Kagti creates. Nawazuddin Siddiqi gives another stellar performance to follow-up on his performance in Gangs of Wasseypur. Rani Mukherjee redeems her acting credentials after the disaster of Aiyaa. Kareena Kapoor is competent. However, it is Aamir Khan who steals the show with a highly nuanced performance which I am sure he will rate among his finest.

The music from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is very complimentary and at no time does it intrude, as it is want to do in Hindi films, into the story-telling. Instead it is very much part of the story-telling and at times even takes things forward.

The movie is another feather in the cap of Zoya Akhtar who has penned the story and screenplay along with the director Reema Kagti. The credits for the dialogs are shared between Farhan Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap.

After the mindless films that preceded it during the Diwali weekend, Talaash comes as a breath of fresh air and bears a promise that Bollywood is not all about assuming that the audience is a collection of sheep waiting to be sheared.

The movie is weaved out of two fabrics, one of a crime-noir with many interesting and mysterious characters thrown in and the other of a drama about a couple dealing with the death of their only child.

The film introduces you to a promising plot dealing with the mysterious death of a movie star, and as the first half progresses the plot gets laden with many characters. As revelations continue to pop in the 'search' gets intense and just before the intermission the plot gets seated at a juncture beyond which the 'search' only looks more promising. But then comes the second half and the plots veers off in a different direction altogether, the intense buildup gets diluted, the story becomes sluggish as the psychological tribulations of a couple suffering from a tremendous loss take center-stage.

For those who were expecting a taut thriller the first thirty minutes or so of the second half transform the movie into a momentarily vapid experience. The complete shift of focus makes you ponder over the possible entwinement of these two fabrics but because these two fabrics were not rolled out simultaneously but in steps your interest in the mysterious story which was supposed to be the backbone of the plot begins to fade. After a while that story is picked again and as the plot borders its climax the intensity gets built up again. The climax is one which you could have expected around ten minutes before it actually happened and though it fits in the scheme of happening in the plot somewhere you feel that you have been left unsatisfied.

The problem is not with the plot or its climax, but with the weaving of the two stories in the plot, the transition from thriller to drama did not seem to be too smooth to me. Although the glimpses of the psychological quagmire in which the parents are stuck are shown in the first half but the way in which the story of the distressed husband and his closeness to a prostitute takes the centre-stage in the second half makes you doubt if the story of the dead movie star is actually that important.

Aamir as the policeman and the troubled householder, Rani as the grieving wife and Kareena as the mysterious prostitute were good in their respective roles, but the best performance of the movie, in my opinion, was by Nawazuddin Siddiqui who portrayed the character of a cripple named Tehmur. Siddiqui really blossomed in the character, he was really into it.

Overall it is a fine movie and worth at least one watch. The climax, I must say, though not entirely satisfying is at least unique. Nothing like anything you have seen recently in mainstream Bollywood.

Reema Kagti's much awaited 'Talaash' is An Interesting Noir-Mystery! Its well-written, crisply directed & fabulously acted, but, in no means, is it remarkable. Reason? The Suspense lacks weight.

'Talaash' Synopsis: A cop, a housewife and a prostitute get entangled in a mystery that links their lives in unexpected ways.

'Talaash' has an utterly masterful first-hour, with the drama as well as the characters working big time. The second-hour too begins well, but the actual suspense of this story lacks weight. It isn't bad, but it doesn't offer shock-value. Kagti & Zoya Akhtar's Screenplay is masterful in parts. How one wishes if the suspense was better. Kagti's Direction is mercilessly moody, adapting the film's structure most accurately. Cinematography is perfect. Editing is razor-sharp. Art & Costume Design are good.

Performance-Wise: Aamir Khan delivers superbly. He plays the tormented protagonist with force. Kareena Kapoor is excellent, as always. Rani Mukherji is terrific in a small, but significant role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is gloriously scene-stealing in a meaty supporting role. Raj Kumar Yadav is highly competent. Shernaz Patel is haunting.

On the whole, 'Talaash' isn't flawless, but it surely is an interesting watch.