Woes of a gangster

May 22, 2003

For non-typical Indian movie lovers, it would be hard to imagine enjoying an Indian story that follows anything other than a doomed romance or something like that

Film: Talaash
Starring: Pooja Batra, Kabir Bedi, Raj Babbar, Ashish Vidyarthi and Arbaaz Ali Khan
Director: Suneel Darshan
Music: Sanjeev-Darshan’s
By: Sebidde Kiryowa
Showing At: Plaza Cinema

For non-typical Indian movie lovers, it would be hard to imagine enjoying an Indian story that follows anything other than a doomed romance or something like that.

Although Bollywood has rarely internationally succeeded with action movies, it does churn out a good number. And, enthralling ones at that.

Talaash, is one of them –– an Indian gangster movie! It is a welcome change from the ‘soft-tissue’ tragic love stories the movie house has been showing in the past few weeks. But like most Indian films shot these days, this too, is heavily dependent on a tried-before storyline.

Ashish Vidyarthi, an honest cop, has released Suresh Oberoi from prison. Oberoi works for a gang run by Kabir Bedi and his accomplices –– Raj Babbar, Dalip Tahil and Rami Reddy.

When Oberoi finds out that the gang did not look after his wife (Raakhee) and two kids, as promised, while he was held captive, he swears to revenge. But the gang kills him first and abducts his young daughter.

Unable to bear the shock, Raakhee ends up in a mental asylum, while her son, Akshay Kumar, decides to go on a hunt for his sister and settle scores with the gang.

How he reaches the kingpin and rescues his sister, forms the remainder of the story. The movie also has a romantic twist, but it does not seem to impact the general flow of the story because it is not well developed.

Indian critics seemed more concerned about the tried-before storylines than the other credits the film possesses.

“Talaash follows the oft-repeated track all through, from start to finish. And that’s where the fault lies. Although the basic storyline is interesting, the way the drama unfolds gives you a feeling of ‘been there, done that,” writes Taran Adarsh. However, credit has to be given to director Suneel Darshan for, keeping the element of suspense alive despite the commonplace plotline.

“The anxiety to watch the climax –– the identity of the sister and how Akshay rescues her eventually keeps the viewer’s interest alive. Even the Pooja Batra track is interesting...,” Adarsh says. Music is the oil that lubricates Indian movies and critics were full of praise for Sanjeev-Darshan’s.

“The climax number –– Main Masti Mein Mastani Hoon is the best song of the enterprise, in terms of rhythm and also placement. Tune Kaha is a tuneful song but its placement could have been better thought of.”

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