Yahoo Movies Review: Tamasha

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Javed Sheikh Direction: Imtiaz Ali Rating: ****

A story about a storyteller, ‘Tamasha’ is an incredible tale spun by Imtiaz Ali.

Ranbir and Deepika share an easy and amazing chemistry and that adds zing to this complicated love story. When they meet for the first time, in Corsica, France, it’s like seeing old lovers reunite. Going along with them on a fanciful journey through picturesque locations is effortless.

It doesn’t seem real but you are willing to play along. Who doesn’t want the chance to break the monotony of everyday life and the opportunity to live out a fantasy? A holiday where you can be footloose and fancy-free. It is so easy to live in the moment when you know time is at a premium.

What happens when there isn’t a deadline? Do you still feel the passion course through your veins?

No one understands the complexity of a romantic relationship better than Ali. You can sense the director’s involvement with his main leads - his protagonists are always crafted with nuance, exhibiting in equal measure conflict and intensity.

After a recent insipid run in Bollywood, Ranbir belts out a solid performance. The brief couldn’t have been easy – the hero is a charmer and despite his rather impeccable manners it is really difficult to like Ved Vardhan Sahni. He is perfect and boring and the complete anti-thesis of the fun guy we had met in Corsica. And when you see him devolving - while his almost schizophrenic outbursts are often funny - you mostly feel sorry for the guy.

This story can be a very personal love story – where the person you fell in love has changed over time and has transformed into someone you barely recognize. Is it tough to realize how your affection could have been so misplaced? Was it the flush of first love that made everything seem so perfect? Does this happen in every relationship, fiery passion eventually yielding to the mundaneness of daily routine?

On the other hand, this can also be a very common story, of every person who wants to just fall in line. We are hardwired to believe that we are “supposed” to live a certain life – compromise and live it. We are afraid to break the mould. Our happiness is held hostage but we are okay to compromise. There is always a choice – create a “tamasha” or just stay cool? It is always easy to live an average life– of romantic mediocrity, half loves and complete lack of passion.

Tara played by Deepika looks vulnerable and exquisite at the same time. The gay abandon with which she holidays in France, the helplessness of her desperate love and her resignation at accepting Ved the way he is – Deepika absolutely nails it.

Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Tamasha’ plays out like a tamasha, it doesn’t try to follow a formula. But I guess Ali stopped playing to the gallery quite a while back.

Will his narrative work with the larger audience? I am not sure. Did it work for me? Hell, yes, it did. No one understands a complicated heart better than Imtiaz Ali. Did you like the film?

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