Talaash: The Answer Lies Within

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.

Well, As is the case with any Amir Khan movie, this was also eagerly awaited. And to a certain extent the wait is worth. This is essentially an eccentric police officer who tries to work his way out of a traumatic personal experience.

While the personal experience is a major turn in his persona, keeping him sleepless at nights and increasing the spread between him and his wife; it comes at a time when an important case is at hand.

Who is the murder? What was the motive? All these are questions which grip you till the end and as an when the story tires to clarify itself, you find more riddles.

Till this part where the protagonist searches for the killer holds up tightly. Where lies the mystery is for one to believe and disbelieve. The proverbial mystery is where lies the search (taalash)...

Its a worth watch, but don't bank on a really logical ending. Its up to your faith to accept somethings!

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.

So keeping in mind to not disturb any one else's movie experience by giving out any spoilers ,, i would like to review this movie in short. All the AAMIR KHAN bluff of great movies is likely to get over after this one, he had a great time for last few year. Let me give points to just sum up how i felt about different aspects.

Entertainment - 4/10( A few laughs and mostly u will keep searching in your head)

Acting - 9/10 ( Especially Nawazuddin sahab)

Suspense - 8/10 (The core of the suspense was terrible but the unfolding was great.

Direction - 6/10 ( Some scenes really awesome, but some just bore u to death)

Plot- 5/10 ( The way it was hyped , "THE ANSWER LIES WITHIN",, if this was another country ,, the producers would have been sued for giving wrong info of the services the consumers paid for)

Overall- 7/10( Its a really watchable movie than the crap bollywood is producing these years,, don't go with ultra high expectations,, not memorable,and even if would be good if u don't't watch M NIGHT SHYAMALAN movies,,, ohhh and yes one point i gave extra just for Nawazuddin siddique)

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