Review of Talaash (2012) by Hemant B — 14 Jan 2014

Talaash (the Quest) produced under the banner of Amir Khan Productions and directed by Reema Kagti. Talaash stars Amir Khan ("3 Idiots or Three Idiots" Bollywood's magnanimous actor alongside with Shahrukh Khan), Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee. Film's song-lyrics were written by legendary former script-writer Javed Akhtar (the co-writer of the Bollywood's most celebrated film 'Sholay' 1975). It earned $2million worldwide.

Film opens in Mumbai at night, a car at limitless speed plunges into ocean. Mumbai police-officer Amir Khan arrives at the scene and launches investigations. Amir has just moved in to Mumbai with his wife (Rani Mukherjee), he is suffering from insomnia, after tragic death of his little son, which he blames upon himself, careless enough to have let it happen. He stays or better to say finds opportunities to spend nights outside at work, to evade suffering of his son's death. Amir meets a call-girl (Kareena Kapoor) from red-light area, who was seen in a hotel surveillance-video with her client; who died in a car-accident, in the beginning of the film. Rani, is approached by neighboring lady who claims to have been talking to her dead son; when desperate mother, tells this to her husband (Amir), he rebukes her and insults the lady. Slowly, murder-case is progressing to solving - and the climax has too much twist and surprises.

Let me tell you first, that I do not watch Indian movies because of frequent plagiarism and stealing of others works (except classic movies of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and current actors Amir Khan and Shahrukh Khan - who rose to their stardom with early critical work). Anyways, 'Talaash' is a film that I watched longtime since it was released. What actually made me to enjoy it, are mystery/crime/twist/music-score and filming at night, boost noir-touch in it. I truly loved the climax that ends with similar opening-scene - this time, Amir inside the car, same location and same circumstances surrounding the accident.

Will he survive the accident? Who is red-light area call-girl? Why does she meet him when he is alone? Is the neighboring lady, an opportunist to deceive Rani about seeing her dead son? Will the murder-case of prominent celebrity be solved? Is Amir going to live rest of his life with grief about his son?