Skip to main content

Movie Review ‘Talaash’: Impressive performances that reveal Secrets of the Spirit World


The ‘Talaash’ movie reviews that I read across various sites disappointed me and discouraged me from going to watch the film. But let me share a delicious secret with you: Whenever reviews badly thrash a movie, I make it a point to watch it in the theatres. Most of the time, I actually like those movies because they are different.
2012’s best movie is not ‘Talaash’ but it is definitely one of the best and most impressive performances put forward by all of the three main leading actors namely, Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor. Credit goes to Reema Katgi’s direction and Zoya Akhtar’s script. Cheers to them – because good performances are what film goers look for when they spend their precious time in a theatre. 

Talaash story: Murder on the Surface, Guilt sinks deep  
The story of Talaash begins like this: Superstar Armaan Kapoor’s car nose dives into the sea in Mumbai. Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (starring Aamir Khan) is investigating the case. While investigating, he gets assistance from a prostitute called Rosy (starring Kareena Kapoor). 
However, in his personal life, you can see that Shekhawat has many problems. He suffers from insomnia, does not communicate nor does he have a happy relationship with his wife Roshni (starring Rani Mukherji). Some of the dreams that he has represent the thoughts of the sub-conscious mind that he has tried hard to suppress. The nature of a dream is transitory, deceptive yet nothing can be more inspiring to mankind than being able to make some dreams come true. 
In his search for Truth, Inspector Shekhawat is as disturbed by his dreams as he is hunting for the clues to decode the murder mystery. The couple are not at ease with each other and you can sense that there are layers of grief that have created a shutdown in their once happy relationship.
A nosey parker neighbour (we can all relate to this) comes to their new home and delivers messages from ‘Karan’ – their child who had died an unnatural death. This triggers Inspector Shekhwat’s fury but his wife begins to find peace in spending time with the Parsi neighbour who can help her receive and write messages from the spirit world.
Aamir Khan is impressive in his portrayal of an intense, moody and sensitive Inspector. His body language, mannerisms and style of investigation is interesting to watch. The performance is so restrained and I felt that this is one of Aamir’s most remarkable performances. You can see how hard he has worked into becoming ‘Inspector Shekhawat’ and he has truly succeeded.
Rani Mukerji portrays the natural grief and sense of shock that can envelope a mother who loses her child in an accident. Her maturity, immaculate balancing between role, timing and skill is evident in very sensitive moments enacted between the husband and wife.
But of the three leading cast, the one who won my heart is Kareena Kapoor who looks ethereally beautiful despite her cheap bright outfits and painted face. In her role as a prostitute, she comes across as unapologetic yet warm and open. She is at her seductive best in terms of her body language. In the scenes where she is trying hard to win Inspector Shekhawat’s attention, she totally catches your eye as a bold and beautiful woman. Her portrayal of Rosy is sensitive and intense without the alibi of innocence or sexual exploitation. She demands your sense of compassion, not attraction or passion.

There are many other fine actors in this film but it goes without saying that Nawazuddin Siddiqui is impressive in his ‘limping’ avatar. The film has a slow narrative but the dialogues and the performances are very subtle, impressive and symbolic, almost respectful of treading the highly protected secrets of the spiritual world.
Talaash Music glides in with melody and soulful notes
It was a pleasure to listen to the songs in Talaash. The track Jee Le Zaraa is so melodious and soothing that it transports you to your own secret world. Talaash music composition is soft and gliding, just perfectly aligned to a soulful script. Another track is Hona Hai Kya and it goes very well with the feel and genre of this film. Yet again, I liked Laakh Duniya Kahe because it has a bitter sweet yearning in its notes and the notes of a piano chime into your mind in a poignant way.

‘Talaash’ story is inspired by Khurshed Bhavnagri’s Laws of the Spirit World
Now this is the part that you shouldn’t skip reading: I believe that the real seed of the story of ‘Talaash’ may have been inspired from a brilliant and authentic book titled The Laws of the Spirit World, written by a Parsi lady called Khorshed Bhavnagari. This is her picture given below. 

The Foreword to Khurshed's book was written by none other than Shiamak Davar, who is a household name, so to speak.
Khorshed Bhavnagari had lost both her young sons in an unfortunate car accident. She lost her will to live and that is when her sons began to communicate to her directly from the Spirit World. She began to write down whatever they told her about the world of spirits and why it is important for those who are living to constantly send their love to their loved ones who have passed away and how it is possible for us to communicate with the spirits of the loved ones in a beautiful way.
 All the gems and priceless nuggets of information was written down by her and years later, she published this to help others who have lost their children in an unfortunate, unnatural way. On February 22, 1980, she passed away but her book is not just a bestseller but it is a beacon of light, hope and wisdom for those who have lost their loved ones to death.
Lets come back to the movie, shall we? After all, that is the reason you are reading this post. Are you wondering:
Does the super cop find who killed the superstar? Why does a prostitute called Rosy keep giving tips to the Inspector who is investigating the case? How does Inspector Shekhawat manage to tackle the burden of guilt and keep it separate from the reality of his work? Do Inspector  Shekhawat and his wife find happiness together despite Rosy’s increasing presence in his life? 
Watch ‘Talaash’ not because it offers a thrilling experience or a portrayal of intrigue. Watch it because it is closest you will come to knowing the secrets of the Spirit World. Everything is symbolic. So, concentrate, absorb and discover all that you can about the Spirit World from the subtle dialogues and impressive performances.
So, what are the secrets of the Spirit World? I know them as closely as I know myself but sorry, I don’t have the permission to share it with you now.
But one thing to keep in mind is this: it is possible to communicate with spirit souls and once you begin to communicate with them, there is no going back. It can strengthen and transform your life in the most unbelievable ways. Or it can completely destroy and consume you because of the terrible, heart breaking pain it can bring when you are trying to lead a balanced life.
So, don’t try it unless you are ready to take that risk.  
Note: This movie offers one of the best and most impressive performances by all three leading protagonists: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor in equal measure. Gear up for an intense, soulful film that comes out with a rather cheesy end. 


Comments

Mélange said…
That's a wonderful sensible review I have found so far.Reg.Amir and Rani,of course I expect something valuable always.Coming to Kareena and her beauty vs seduction art,we have already witnessed 'chameli' and yes even as that 'pooh' in kabhi khushi....Whatsoever,thanks so much for the review and will definitely give my senses for this film..Cheers Swapna.
Ellen said…
Hi! I'm here to thank you for your lovely message of strength and faith in my blog. The pain is lighter when shared with others who understand. My prayers are with you too. Blessings!

P.S. You have an interesting blog. I'll return to read more soon.
Vidya said…
Wow! Swapna, I want to transport myself right now to the best theater screening this movie:) Thanks for such a detailed review:)
pranjay mittal said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
pranjay mittal said…
Dear Swapna,
We saw your blog and instantly loved it. And we wish to invite you to FirstQuarto.
FirstQuarto is a social original-content sharing tool that lets you post original content in the form of articles, blog-posts, opinions, commentaries, reviews etc. and have your ideas rated, shared and publicized by fellow users. We believe in aiming to make the world's best original content easily accessible and usable. In an age when the world rates just about everything from restaurants to presidents, we realize how important quality-rating is and how beautifully it serves the dual purpose of providing absolute publicity and saving one's time.
Your already existing blog is easily connected at FirstQuarto. We are, as yet, only beginning to open up to the web so you are one of the first few people we're inviting.
Please visit http://firstquarto.com/about to find out more.
We hope you register with us and like our effort.
With pleasure,
The FirstQuarto Team
Glad to hear that you found the review useful. :)
Hey Vidya, glad to hear that you liked the review. Did you get to watch the film? What's your verdict?
Hi Ellen, Glad to know that things are getting better at your end. Take care,do drop by when you have time.

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.    The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra  and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. .  Also read: The Power of OM   Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here are some important thi

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning, Benefit of Chanting and Who can Chant the Mantra

Mahadmrityunjaya Mantra: Benefit of chanting this mantra There are very few mantras that are as powerful as the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Do read my post: Does Mahamrityunajaya mantra really work?       Mahamrityunjaya mantra is believed to have the power to remove all sufferings, diseases and bestow the one who chants it with good health and long life.   It is also believed that constant contemplation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can help spiritual aspirants to overcome the cycle of birth and death. What got me fascinated about this mantra is something personal.  I learned this mantra from my father but it is my maternal grandmother who chanted it all the time and repeatedly told me of its tremendous power to protect. However, I did not chant this mantra regularly.  At the age of two, my son was taught some mantras by my mother who explained what it means to him and he became very enthusiastic about chanting the mantras. Following this, my mother taught him the Maha Mrityun

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h