The much-awaited Aamir Khan movie beckoned us on a Monday night. Rishi, being a huge fan of this ‘perfectionist’ actor, had booked Lounge seats in advance and was looking forward for an exciting evening. But his enjoyment was somewhat marred by someone playing a movie spoiler with him.
The film starts with a car speeding on the empty Worli Seaface in the wee hours of the morning and then suddenly plunging into the sea. It’s revealed later that the driver cum victim was a hugely popular Bollywood actor Armaan Kapoor (Vivaan Bhatena). Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Khan) is entrusted to look into this high profile case. What looks like a simple case gets more and more mysterious with various twists and turns. Surjan Singh in his quest to solve the murder mystery (it’s established early on that it could not have been a suicide) drives across the under belly of Mumbai in the night and comes across a medley of characters, all suspicious in nature. The murder case is interestingly interwoven with Surjan’s personal life. Surjan singh or Suri (as he is fondly called by his wife Roshni) is having a hard time coping with a personal tragedy, his marriage is in shambles; work is all he has that keeps him driving. His nocturnal meetings with a prostitute Rosie (Kareena Kapoor) keeps him away from his marital bed while his distraught wife, Roshni (Rani Mukherji) suspects him of having an affair. After a lot of unexpected turns, the mystery is revealed which is totally unpredictable and unconventional.
Though Aamir Khan is known to do films of different genres and you always expect them to be different, you are never completely prepared for the surprise factor in his movies. The same is the case with Talaash. Aamir Khan has given a power-packed performance. His emotions as a helpless father, troubled husband and a baffled inspector are very raw and palpable. You sympathize with the character and feel his emotions throughout the journey. Rani Mukherji, sans make up looks as beautiful and convincing. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get much of a scope to showcase her acting prowess. Kareena Kapoor (or should I say Kareena Kapoor Khan? I am not sure about her adopted name, so will stick to the original) is the soul of the movie. With her peppy performance, she infuses a bit of colour, mystery and romance to the otherwise dull and gray canvas. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is brilliant as a slime bag Temur. He has a lot of potential which is clearly visible in all his films. Writer-Director Reema Kagti and Script Associate Zoya Akhtar have done a brilliant job. The music is gripping and mysterious keeping in line with the mood of the film. The cinematography is wonderful, especially the montages of Mumbai after dark.
Verdict: Though the pace might be a little disappointing, this contemporary crime thriller is a good watch.