As his forte
Aamir Khan has made his blockbuster appearance after a gap of almost three
years since the release of the super movie 3 Idiots in 2009, and his
magic worked for the much awaited Talaash; The Answer Lies Within that
released on November 30, 2012 all over. Talaash has grossed the sixth
highest Box Office earnings of the year over the release weekend and is
confirmed a hit. Aamir Khan, this time coming with a big mustache, plays a cop
and gives a powerhouse performance for his loving admirers yet again.
If you enjoy an
absorbing suspense buildup to the extent that it makes the end irrelevant then Talaash
is the right movie for you. We had said a similar thing in the review of Kahaani,
but Kahaani was almost flawless and the intended
power of the climax twist did not get diluted due to the ‘technicality’
whereas Talaash is not flawless and it ultimately does not stay loyal to
the genre of suspense. The Talaash climax is kind of a state-of-the-mind
affair—you like it or not like it as per you mental setup. Therefore, for some
of you the climax would be mind shattering while for others it would be plain
disappointing. And, if you are smart enough your disappointment starts at least
half an hour before the end and your disappointment climaxes with the move
climax. Maybe because of this the reviews of the move have been mixed.
The values are
stupendous though in this superbly crafted movie. It is almost a film noir or
neo-noir with its artistically maintained black mood and a psychological tinge.
Photography is brilliant creating the atmosphere of suspense and confusion with
the visual mix of light and shade and darkness, lilting music rendering full
support to the atmosphere and deft editing giving the cutting edge. The slimy
lanes and inhabitants of Mumbai’s dark underbelly have been captured
masterfully.
You do get
intrigued from the very start when a car suddenly makes twists and turns in an
empty Mumbai road in the dead of the night, hits the pavement and jumps into
the sea. Police inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Khan) takes up the
investigation and discovers that the victim of the mysterious car accident is a
movie superstar.
Following various leads Shekhawat and his aide Kulkarni (Raj Kumar
Yadav) keep visiting the Mumbai red-light district—the pimps, the madams in
charge and the prostitutes. But investigations get delayed as the subplot
involving Shekhawat’s personal life catches up.
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| Aamir and Rani |
He and his wife Roshni (Rani
Mukherjee) both suffer from depression since their only child got drowned in a
freak motor boat accident recently. But while Roshni regularly visits a
psychiatrist her husband who cannot sleep at night and considers himself solely
responsible for the accident seems entirely reluctant to help her and in fact seems
to be the real cause of her depression. A neighborhood lady adds an occult
angle to their already miserable existence.
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| Kareena Kapoor |
As for the main
plot Shekhawat hardly makes any more progress despite capturing and
interrogating Tehmur (Nawazudding Siddiqui), the limp errand boy of the pimps
and a crucial link to the case. However, Shekhawat’s sudden meeting with the
beautifully mysterious hooker Rosy (Kareena Kapoor) and the desperate antics of
Tehmur keep you intrigued and guessing. Just when things look most complicated
and you gear up for a treat the movie makes the genre-shift and your
disappointment starts. Till the climax and much beyond that you only engage
yourself finding what answers lie within or without.
 |
| Nawazuddin Siddiqui |
Characterization
in the movie is left far behind the desirable mark. Even Aamir Khan in the
protagonist’s role does not find a fully defined character to fit into while
Rani Mukherjee in the wife’s role is almost wasted. Husband-wife relationship
is portrayed most pathetically. The only two fully defined characters of Talaash
are that of Raj Kumar Yadav and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Of the two Siddiqui steals
the show with another effortless and superlative performance as the limp errand
boy who finally wants to capitalize on a new-found opportunity. However, on the overall
plus side several scenes of the movie including the climax do touch the deep
chords in your heart and move you.
Finally it is a
tremendous opportunity lost for Director-writer Reema Kagti. Talaash had
all the ingredients and the mood to be a suspense classic. Unfortunately it could
not turn out to be. Talaash is straightaway two stars less than Kahaani.
