Tamasha is a unique beast, an experience bound to leave no two people with the same opinion. So here, rather than doing a regular review, rather than labelling into good or bad or tiresome, I'll tell you about a conversation I had after the film with another movie-goer at the cinema's washroom. Let's call him PP - peeing partner.
Because, why always the same story?
PP: Kya bakwas picture hai. Yakeen nahi hota I sat through that.
Me: Kyun? It was such a relevant film told in a way that was both, funny and engaging. Mujhe to maza aaya.
PP: The acting, the costumes, the locations were beautiful....and I like to watch these things in a film. Par boss, story kya thi?
Me: The story was about a story-teller who'd forgotten to tell stories and instead, became part of a story he wasn't meant to be in.
PP: Bro, that means, Ranbir was a story-teller before he got the Product Manager job?
Me: Of course. He is raised on stories, mythical and real. And that's what he was meant to do. Tell stories. To mountains, to rivers, to the wild, to the girl who'd go on to break his heart...
PP: But all that he pretends to do, no? That is fake stuff you tell to set girls up. That's not real.
Me: You are missing the film's point. While putting up the facade, his true self comes out. Rest of the time, he, you and me - we all become what the world *expects* us to rather than what we want to.
PP: But why is it that he's like that only in Corsica and comes back home to become this boring person? Isn't that lying to yourself?
Me: It seems like lying, but isn't. Maybe on a secluded island with nobody to judge him, no societal pressure....no conditioning to *behave* in a certain way, he is actually free?
PP: Hmm. Back home, he is more conscious... but I still didn't like the film. I was hoping ek dum Jawani Deewani type hogi.
Me: But that's everything this film doesn't want to be. Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani was a formula film. Tamasha doesn't only want to break the formula for the heck of it...
PP: What nonsense! All Imtiaz Ali films are the same formula. People getting married and realising they love someone else....waisi bhi hoti toh, I would have loved it.
Me: See, even we want Imtiaz to behave in the way we expect him to. The film's point is the exact opposite.
PP: Utna koi nahi sochta. Look at Chennai Express. Simple film and so entertaining. The only thing I liked about Tamasha other than the songs was Ranbir. He was excellent...Rockstar aur Barfi ko bhi peechey chhod diya.
Me: And what did you think of Deepika Padukone?
PP: She gets sidelined. He is too powerful an actor. I wish she had more screen time although jitna time mein hai, she looks drop dead gorgeous.
Me: I think that's because it's not her story. Tamasha is a man's journey to find his actual self. She is the awakening to his lost soul.
PP: But it's still rubbish. I will tell you how. I loved the way it was filmed. I want to go to Corsica now with my girlfriend. For that, I need the job that I am doing... even though it is as boring as Ranbir's job in the film. But can I leave it, like he does?
Me: It'd be rather reckless unless you plan it through. In the film, Ranbir wanted to be a storyteller ....tujhe kya banna tha?
PP: Yeah.... as a child, even I had these hobbies. I wanted to be national level cricketer. But after 12th, I had to make a choice. I became a chartered accountant.
Me: Why didn't you pursue cricket?
PP: I was scared of letting Dad down. He is already a big CA. So he expects me to live up to that. I am proud that I can make my Dad happy.
Me: And what about your happiness?
PP: Abhi ke liye itna kaafi hai.
Me: The day you discover yourself all over again, you will perhaps like the film a little more!
PP: You mean I will finally get the story?
Me: Maybe you will find your own...
Image source: facebook/TamashaOfficial