Tahaan - Movie Review

Tahaan means thirst in Marathi and Tahaan means kindhearted in Urdu. Tahaan the movie lives up to both the meanings. The story is that of a kid but to me Tahaan is the story of Kashmir and childhood in the stressed out heaven on earth. There is hardly anything for kids to do in such a place and that's what the whole movie is all about.

Santosh Sivan has an eye for beauty. The way he has captured the beauty of Kashmir is breathtaking. Each and every shot is really beautiful and he has paid a lot of attention to minor details. Be it the white and gray snow covered mountains or the early morning mist or the sunrays trying to bring life to the cold valley; every shot is like a beautiful painting. The use of real folk music helps in getting the authentic Kashmiri experience. I like the way he has captured the essence of Kashmir, be it the broken houses of Kashmiri Pundits or the plight of youth or be it the innocence of young kid. The best I like is how he has depicted the dreams of wives who wait for their turn to cry over the dead body of their husband, as if they are tired of waiting for the inevitable. That is the real picture of Kashmir.

Music is not really great except the two folk songs by Gulzar Ganai. Purav Bhandare, the kid, plays true to his character and delivers a brilliant performance. Sarika who plays a mute mother delivers an exceptional scene without uttering even a single word. Anupam Kher acts out well but at times you can notice him slipping from the character he plays. Talent of both Rahul Khanna and Rahul Bose has been wasted in the movie. But that is what Tahaan is all about trying to build story at a place where life is fighting hard to survive. The only things that people of Kashmir have are the thirst to live and the kindheartedness to take unquestioningly whatever life has to offer. This Tahaan (thirst) is something that is keeping them alive; this Tahaan-ness (kindheartedness) is something that is keeping their hopes alive.

Tarun Chandel
Trying to write a movie review,
do let me know how have I done.
(*If you are wondering why a movie review? Well I attended a preview show for bloggers arranged by Moksh, just like the last time. For more professional review read Meetu's Wogma.)