Story: A Muslim family in old Lucknow tries hard to maintain the veneer of honour and dignity, despite their extenuating circumstances. Husband SM Zaheer is an invalid, son Sameer Aftab is unemployed and mother Reema Lagoo is the only earning member, making ends meet with her handiwork. Life takes a turn for the better when Sameera ( Rituparna Sengupta) from Dubai offers the son a strange assignment with a promise of loads of money. Aftab leaves his aged parents and newly-wedded wife, Gauri Karnik and sets sail for El Dorado, hoping to put an end to his family's travails. But will the prodigal ever return?
Movie Review: Once upon a time in Bollywood, they made Muslim socials which ended up as cult films. Remember Mere Mehboob, Chaudhvin ka Chand, Mere Huzoor and the rest. These were films which captured the tehzeeb and culture of the Muslim community with mellifluity and artistic detail.
Bas Ek Tamanna tries to recapture that era and create a similar idiom while focusing on the highs and lows of a struggling Muslim family. But unlike the earlier classics, this one is so full of melodrama, and takes so long to come to the point, it almost enervates you with its tedium. The only highpoint of the film, if any, are the performances by Reema Lagoo and SM Zaheer as the old, still-much-in-love couple who are content despite their poverty.The youngsters are totally overshadowed by the veterans.
But when did character artists sell a film, specially when they hardly have a story to support their talent. |
