What should one say about Tahaan? It is like sheer poetry on celluloid. The film, directed by Santosh Sivan, is a showcase for the ace cinematographer's masterly hold over his medium. However, for those who have been watching Iranian films of the Nineties, Tahaan does not break any new ground. Rather, it seems to parallel that experience, in the beauty of its simplicity. The film is seen through the eyes of its young protagonist, who is perhaps the most endearing thing about the film. The child actor, Purav Bhandare, in the lead role, is nothing short of brilliant. Sivan's casting is impeccable.
The gloom of terrorism seems to looms ahead large over our mental landscape. All three of the films, A Wednesday, Hijack and Tahaan, released this Friday, deal with it in one way or the other. Tahaan is, of course, set in the strife torn picturesque Kashmir and plays out the two possibilities of peace and violence which are played out every day in the Valley. Pitting innocence against violence, Sivan's film is like a cry for peace and compassion in these times of war.
The film's story is simply about young Tahaan, who lives in the valley with his grandfather (Victor Banerjee), his mother (Sarika) and an older sister (Sana Shaikh). Tahaan's father has been missing for over three years, and the entire family lives in the hope that he will return one day. Life was tough anyway, but with the death of Tahaan's grandfather, the mother is forced to sell off the family's assets to the moneylender (Rahul Khanna), including Tahaan's pet donkey, Birbal. It becomes the little boy's mission in life to bring home Birbal. On his trail to bring back Birbal, Tahaan discovers that he has been sold to Subhan (Anupam Kher), an old trader, who has taken him across the mountains. Devastated and lonely, the boy enslaves himself to Subhan in the hope of getting back his donkey. He accompanies Subhan and his aide, (Rahul Bose) across terrorist infested land, but the old trader refuses to relent. He meets Idrees, a young teenager, who convinces him that he will get back Birbal for him if he will carry back a package for him. The package is, of course, a grenade. The young boy's tryst with the terrorists is nothing short of gripping.
Through the story of Tahaan, Sivan talks of hope and love, and of deceit and manipulation, even of a child, by the traders in violence. Sivan himself has delt with the subject of terrorism before but he breaks new ground here. The strength of Tahaan is its utter simplicity. It explores this magical world of childhood, which Tahaan inhabits, where everything is possible, even magic. The film has been exquisitely shot and some of the frames are enough to blow one's mind off. The film rests on the premise of the love that a young boy has for his donkey and comes out brilliantly due to the bravura performance by Purav Bhandare. The scenes between him and Victor Banerjee, or the ones between him and Subhan (Anupam Kher) are a treat to watch.
One's heart goes out to little Tahaan and his love for his donkey. The film is touching in the manner in which it explores the magical world of childhood, set against the dark world of terror, which threatens to blow it apart anytime. The film, the boy and his beloved donkey touches one's heart because of sheer simplicity and innocence, making one almost feel protective about him. The film's music and cinematography add to the atmosphere of the film.
Sivan's film is a case of superb casting. Purav Bhandare floors one with his performance as Tahaan. Also equally brilliant is Anupam Kher, who delivers his second moving performance of the week, the first being that of the police commissioner of A Wednesday. Sarika, as Tahaan's mute mother is excellent. Victor Banerjee is a treat to watch for however little time that he is there on the screen. The only disappointment, if one can call it that is the performance of the two Rahuls Bose and Khanna. They seem a little out of place at all, in this otherwise flawless film. Tahaan bowls you over with its sheer simplicity and innocence.
