It has been a long wait for Talash, with even the finish product being put in canes for more than six months for Satyameva Jayeta to complete its first round.     I also delayed the review by a week so that I do not disclose the non-existing suspense.  

With Aamir Khan’s movie not hitting the theaters for quite a while this wait created a positive vibe which might have helped  in initial collection but the over the top expectations it created has lead to a bit of disappoint after seeing the final product.    In any such movie based on crime investigation, one expects the central character (Aamir Khan in this movie) to have razor sharp mind and brilliant investigation instincts and the script to be absolutely water tight.   But unfortunately none of these are present in this insipid Talaash.    It will be an insult to compare this movie with the likes of Sherlock Homes and Agatha Christine but it could not even measure up to our own desi version investigator like  Byomkesh Bakshi, or KD pathak in Adaalat.

There is hardly any thing to speak about the story.    When a built up is given that why accidents are taking place at one spot and that is what is the central investigating point, I expected some modern and unique way of triggering the event and more exiting revelation through findings by the hero, but just to fall back on bhoot/rooh/atma being the reason for the accident and ultimately that the bhoot itself has to descend to help our lousy sleep walking inspector is as old a formula as the Indian Cinema is.  

Even for the sake of experiment, it is hard to imagine why Aamir khan accepted this role, there is lot of footage eaten away to express his guilty feeling on his son’s death.   He could have seen face off how Nicalous cage express his guilty on shooting down John Trovalta son by accident which forms the central theme of the movie.    As far as acting is concerned it is a forgettable performance by Aamir (may be some marks could be given to accept such unconventional role), Rani did a very good job in a tiny role she got, Kareena did a competent job specially in looking bitchy.  

Anyone who has been lucky to have not seen the movie till now, my advice is to see any of the episodes (or all the episodes) of  Byomkesh Bakshi in youtube for its brilliant story and screen play and fantastic performance by Rajit Kapoor, who portrayed a very simple but intellectually stimulating role (though I saw these episodes more than decade back I still vividly remember how interesting they used to be) or follow Aadalat, though Ronit Roy goes over the top many time, the script and unfolding of investigation and its presentation in the court is very interesting.    Even the episode televised yesterday and today about murder taking place in a hospital and a patient in an immobile state being accused with so many twists and turns made an interesting viewing.      By the way the next week episode on Saturday and Sunday will be on black magic and you better watch out that episodes rather than Talaash with high expectations.  

Amongst so many disappointing movies released over the last 2 months of high profile heros, I watched a very interesting movie while travelling between Bangalore and Delhi in Air India’s newly acquired Dreamliner the 2008 release `The Body of Lies’.  I found the movie to be so griping and interesting – I will review separately – don’t miss to see the movie.

S. Prabhakar

9.12.12