Being an avid filmgoer, I’m extremely particular about not knowing what a film is about or having any preconceived notions about a film before watching it. For thrillers in particular, it goes without saying that it’s extremely irritating (and that’s an understatement) and uncalled for when you tell people the climax, unless they ask for it. It was for this very reason that I stayed away from the tell-all world of Twitter…until a friend, whom I will always make a point to stay away from before a film, decided to spill. Having said that, you’re safe to read on.

The story:

Directed by Reema Kagti, Talaash is about a cop, Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Aamir Khan) who investigates the mysterious death of a popular film actor with the help of a junior police officer Devrath (Raj Kumar Yadav) and a prostitute, Rosy (Kareena Kapoor Khan). Simultaneously, Suri also deals with the tribulations he has to face with regards to his personal life. Having recently lost his son in a tragic accident, the relationship between him and his wife, Roshni (Rani Mukherjee) has been affected. His wife, suffering from depression, turns to her neighbour, Frenny (Shernaz Patel), who possesses the ability to speak to dead people, to communicate with her late son. Blaming himself for his son’s death, Suri suffers from insomnia, leading him to wander the streets of Mumbai late at night, obtaining clues in relation to the investigation from Rosy.

The goods:

Aamir Khan. It goes without saying that he is, undoubtedly, one of the finest actors the country has to offer. Every successive film stands out with the sole reason that he is in it. Talaash is no different. The handlebar moustache wasn’t a bad idea either. A great end to Movember! Rani Mukherjee. For the few of you that unfortunately saw Aiyyaa, this was a quick attempt at redeeming herself as a brilliant actress. She’s sincere and looks stunning in her de-glammed role as Aamir Khan’s on-screen wife. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the amount of screen time I was hoping for. Kareena Kapoor Khan (gotta love the alliteration). It’s rare for me to put her in a list of anything good, for the simple reason that I believe she’s rather overrated. However, her role in Talaash, one that could have easily been overdone, was carried out with extreme conviction. Shernaz Patel. Rising to fame after her incomparable role in Black, she brings to life the character of Frenny, the main protagonists’ strange and crazy neighbour, as soon as she appears on screen. Nawazuddin Siddiqui. With exceptional roles in films such as New York and more recently, Gangs of Wasseypur, he’s the perfect example of an actor that can stand out in the midst of well-known faces. The music. As far as the music of Ram Sampath goes, there’s very little that can go wrong, like Muskaanein Jhooti Hai. With the exception of that, every track stands out in the film as well as when listening to the soundtrack alone.

The bads:

The climax. It’s unpredictable; I’ll give it that. However, it isn’t one that surprises you as it does disappoint. With an amazing build-up, the last ten minutes of the film become rather dissatisfying. This is the point at which I wished the rumour were true. The pace. Despite having an engrossing storyline, the execution of the narrative is too slow, risking the audience to fall asleep and miss key elements regarding the story. Just a little bit of editing needed.

The rating:

After the debacle known as Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Reema Kagti makes a much better attempt at directing a film. For this effort and the individual performances by each actor, my rating for Talaash is a 3.5 out of 5.

The last word:

If you happened to read the opening credits, the film’s dialogues were written by Farhan Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap. Unfortunately, the screenplay was nothing out of the ordinary and seemed to be a waste of two talents. I’d much rather have seen Farhan Akhtar in the teaser of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Oh wait, I did.

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