Talvar!

I was dragged away by Ramesh during my siesta time yesterday, screaming and yelling all the way to the theater to watch this movie.

In retrospect however, I am glad that Ramesh dragged me to it. A film based on real and very much alive events of the last few years brought to Indian audiences without any major hiccups is a tribute to the way the story has been handled.

Other than the names Gulzar, though not the first name there, Irrfan Khan and Vishal Bharadwaj, I had not heard of any of the others involved in the film and I agreed to go based on just one name. Irrfan Khan. And he never disappoints me. He did not in this case either.

Enough has been written about the film by critics comparing it to various genres of films from across the world and I don’t want to join the chorus. I have followed the real story with some interest and have despaired at the ham handed way in which the whole case has been handled by the police and the media; so much so that it has become a big joke about our system.

The film does exactly what it is supposed to do. Keep viewers as ignorant as to who the possible murderer/s were in real life and speculate about the future of the currently in jail, parents convicted of murdering their child.

Those who have not followed the real life story on which this film is based,  will find the viewing experience unusual with all kinds of sub plots working their ways through the narration and thus be entertained to a rather different from the usual Hindi film experience.

One scene that will always remain in my memory is the retiring Director of the CDI telling his Assistant “The public sees the statue of justice as blindfolded, with scales in one hand,” It doesn’t see the sword in the other hand.  The sword is us, the police.  That sword has rusted through 60 years of disuse.  We have a real chance to clean some of that rust through your investigation of the double murder case in the 32 days before I retire.” That particular scene and the Retired Director’s return for another meeting later are powerful and difficult scenes that have been handled very well by the cast and the Director.  There are many other scenes which are memorable to lesser extent and I compliment Meghna Gulzar who apparently has directed other films which have escaped my attention.

Creditable performances by all concerned makes it a worthwhile viewing and I have no hesitation in giving it a full[rating=6] rating.