TALVAR was truly impactful

Movies are reflections or derivations of reality, but most of the times, fortunately or unfortunately they are far from reality. In an era where movies like Happy New Year turns to be big hit, it is a pleasant surprise to see “Talvar”.  Before I go into the lucidity and clarity of the narration and its portrayal on celluloid, I want to convey my satisfaction on seeing something so close to reality. The houses, dresses and the people, are so real, so tangible, that you immediately establish a connection. And offcourse the acting part, which is far from acting, what appears on screen is a bunch of real people, in real life scenarios.

Talvar is largely or completely based on the infamous double murder case that had stirred the nation and its perception of humanity and parenthood. Aarushi and Hemraj murder case, is one of the few cases where reality is stranger than fiction for sure. In 2008, when 14 year old Aarushi Talwar of Noida and Hemraj a domestic help in the house, were found brutally murdered, the nation had come together to seek justice for the deceased. With loads of twists and turns in the case, finally Aarushi’s parents Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar were declared guilty by court and sentenced to Life imprisonment. However, many conjectures and doubts had nested since the declaration and before. The verdict was based on only circumstantial evidences, without any concrete proof to pin point the guilty.

Talvar, the movie and a much researched one, intricately portrays the investigations and the loopholes in it, thus leaving you dumbstruck. And making you wonder about the integrity of the largest institution of investigation of the nation, the CBI, however in the movie they call the entity CDI for obvious reasons.

The movie starts with the discovery of a dead Aarushi and devastated parents Rajesh and Nupur pointing to missing domestic help Hemraj for the crime. The names however were changed. The depiction of Noida police is negative from its very first appearance on screen. The investigating officer’s coldness and lack of interest, leaves you feeling insecure of your safety. Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar evidently sided the convicted parents and goes on to narrate how police and CBI frames them, to fuel their internal strife and their inefficiencies. The cast of the movie has really done justice and I say that with conviction, as I have personally seen my videos and interviews of the Talwar Couple. Konkona Sen Sharma and Neeraj Kabi who play the mother and father of the victim, are very laminar with the portrayal of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar. If the highly researched movie Talvar and Avirook Sen’s Aarushi is to be believed, it is also almost impossible to overlook the coldness in the behaviour of Talwars seen in different interviews. And this aspect was portrayed truly magnificently by the actors. However Irfan Khan as the good cop steals the show, with his charm, frank approach and comic timing.

Overall probably, what Gulzar attempted to show, was not unknown to the nation. Yet it is a brave attempt to depict such a talked about case and putting the facts on face. I do not know the reality like most people, but if the reality is as gruesome as TALVAR, RIP justice. As an individual and a responsible citizen of the country, the movie/incident impacted me to an extent that a feeling of insecurity have permanently nested within me.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.