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Film: Talaash
Director: Reema Kagti
Cast: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukherji, Kareena Kapoor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Producer: Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani
Release Date: November 30,2012

Story:
Talaash starts off with a delectably picturised opening credit sequence that shows Mumbai in the dead of the night, set to the jazzy Muskaanein jhoothi hai. The sequence is captured beautifully by KU Mohanan (whose work on Aushim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely was among its redeeming qualities) in an attractive dark tint, a feature that remains admirably consistent throughout the film.

In Talaash, Reema Katgi has shown the dark side of Mumbai which hides behind its glamor. The movie opens with a car accident in which actor Armaan (Vivan Bhatena) dies and Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Khan) is the one to investigate the case. But soon he realises that there is more to the accident than what meets the eye.

On the other hand,  Surjan is fighting his own demons of the past. Surjan and his wife Roshni (Rani Mukherjee) lost their only child in an accident. Since then, the couple hardly communicates. Though Roshni undergoes therapy to accept the reality, Surjan spends restless, sleepless nights and becomes workaholic to avoid thinking about his son’s death.While investigating Armaan’s case Surjan comes across various people including a sex worker Rosie (Kareena Kapoor), who may have the missing link to the jigsaw puzzle.

Performances:
While the script is indeed the hero of the film, the cast brilliantly adds to the charm. Aamir Khan, as usual, has done perfect justice to his role. He has been successful in balancing the character of a helpless father and an honest cop while a deglamorised Rani Mukherji convincingly plays the role of a devastated mother and a caring wife. And Undoubtedly, Kareena Kapoor is at her seductive best in the movie. She looks beautiful despite her gaudy outfits.

The other shining star of Talaash is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is commendable in the role of a limping pimp.Reema Katgi and Zoya Akhtar have written a gripping story though we will not say that the movie is flawless. However, Kagti will keep you hooked and guessing till the end which
in itself is no small accomplishment! However, the actual brilliance of Talaash comes in its climax that shall leave you spellbound.

Anand Subaya’s editing is crisp and the the cinematography of Talaash is woth a praise as it brilliantly captures the red-light areas of Mumbai.

Music:
Ram Sampath’s music is wonderful, even though the background score sounds a tad like the Taj Group of Hotels’ signature music. The other thing that could have been completely avoided in the film is the railway station scene picturised on one of the key characters in the film, which sees him “do a Mazhar Khan”. It is very reminiscent of the classic Mazhar Khan scene in Ramesh Sippy’s Shaan (1980) in which he, as a cripple, paddles his way through the city on a flat board with wheels. This “borrowed sequence” just takes away from the film’s own pace and contemporary style. Other than that, Talaash is a markedly exciting film, possibly one of 2012’s best.

Final Word:
Reema Kagti’s search for a loyal audience for her kind of cinema ends with Talaash, which seems poised to make some serious cash at the box office as a sure fire winner. Her debut film, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007) established her as someone to watch out for, and now, Talaash confirms the expectations weren’t off the mark in the least.Talaash is a delight to watch, because of the surprises it throws at you and by the power-packed performances by its cast. Though the first half of Talaash is a bit slow but still it’s enthralling, absorbing and engaging.