Review of Tashan (2008) by Krishna S — 30 Apr 2008

Tashan is a tough movie to review. It is a silly, loony, mad cap action comedy which is strongly reminiscent of Hindi masala flicks. And there is nothing wrong with that. That was the â??pharmoolaâ?? that gave us many classics of that time (including Sholay) and has been rehashed successfully in movies like Dhoom and Bunty aur Bubli. There is a plot unlike what most critics argue and there are enough twists and turns thrown in to keep the viewerâ??s interest alive. As a final product, it is far better than Race which also had an interesting plot but was executed way too poorly. Incidently, while Tashan was almost universally panned by critics, the opposite is true in the case of Race. The movie is about an unlikely duo thrown together by a warlord in order to catch a damsel who is not everything she appears to be. What follows is a labyrinth of twists driving the movie forward including double crossing, triple crossing, past romances etc.

There is a lot going in favour of the movie. There is gloss and everything that goes into making a film a Yash Raj Production. There are exotic locales, high production values and some serious eye candy. Yes, true to its name, there is style. It has star value to it as well. Akshay Kumar returns to the Yash Raj banner after 11 years (his last work with the company being Dil To Pagal Hai). In addition there is Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and of course, Anil Kapoor who also works with the banner after a hiatus. The music is easily amongst the best of this year and one which is instantly likable. The technical aspects of the film are largely excellent. The editing is very good although some parts tend to get a little to long. However, the movie as a whole is well paced. In fact, the first hour or so move at an almost feverish pace. The cinematography is splendid and the exotic locations of Greece and the locales of Rajasthan, Kerala, Kanpur and Ladakh have been captured with beautifully highlighting the special features of each place from the rustic Kanpur to the mellow Kerala backwaters. The background score is also great although â??Tashan Meinâ?? gets overused. Also, the choreography is quite ordinary and could have been much better. The art and the costumes are superb primarily because of the use of vibrant colours which blend with perfection.

But there is a strong flipside. Sure, you can copy the 70s in terms of plot et al. But the same needs to be updated in its execution to keep up with modern audiences. Dhoom succeeded in doing precisely that. Tashan fails in this part to some extent. Sure, its entertaining and it has style. But many times it pushes the line too far. The action sequences for example are simply crap. Akshay Kumar shows greater skill than the people in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and deserves superhero status for his jumping and climbing skills. All the four leads show greater skill in dodging bullets than Keanu Reaves in the Matrix and equal skill in resisting fire. In terms of entertainment value, such sequences leave a lot to be desired and stick out as a sore thumb. The same is true of several other sequences as well. Although the viewer can suspend disbelief when it comes to the plot, one simply cannot defy every law of physics and get away with it (unless its sci-fi of course). Similarly, some of the sequences have been executed extremely amateurishly. An example of this is the pre-climax which is basically devoid of intelligence. Also, some of the plot developments are dealt with highly inadequately. For example, the change in the relations between Saif and Akshayâ??s characters is rather abrupt. These also prevent the movie from being as entertaining as it could have been. The finale sucked big time primarily because of these reasons.

As regards the performances, Akshay Kumar shines above all others. Like Dil To Pagal Hai, this movie offers Akshay Kumar a role which is quite distinct from the usual characters he has come to play in recent times. The actor sinks his teeth into the opportunity and delivers a sterling performance. Second in line is Kareena who for the first time, in the humble opinion of this reviewer, looks sizzling hot and there are no two ways about this. She also performs well enacting the alternating roles of the simple girl, the vamp and the seductress with equal élan. Saif is just about adequate and does not really do anything exceptional. Anil Kapoorâ??s character is clearly directed towards the masses and its going to work well in relation to them.

Overall, Tashan packs in a solid 2 hours of pure entertainment. It doesnâ??t achieve the levels it could have, but what it does achieve is fairly adequate for its purpose. It has style and mass appeal. Donâ??t expect a brilliant plot or some high funda execution. Expect loonyness. If you enjoy it you will not be disappointed. Not for pseudo intellectuals or people who seek intelligence in their movies at all times. Recommended for people in the mood for massy entertainment.