Core Connection!
By MovieTalkies.com, 01 April 2010
4 / 5
They say that when you do something from your heart, the results are always fulfilling and positive. And there could be no better example than director Kabir Sadanand's 'Tum Milo Toh Sahi' (Fourth Wall Entertainment).
Produced by Nikhil Panchamiya, the film comes straight from Kabir's heart and connects with the hearts of the audiences. No matter what stage of a relationship you are in, no matter what your age or background, you will instantly identify with at least one of the characters in 'TMTS', although chances are you will identify with more than just one.
Kabir proves that simplicity when combined with a tight screenplay, great performances and the right message can truly create entertaining cinema meant to be enjoyed with your loved ones.
A simple story based on relationships, 'TMTS' looks at the meeting of souls, the meeting of minds and the meetings of hearts and how each individual and their relationship impacts and influences the people around them.
To clarify, Kabir Sadanand's movie is not about three individual stories or romantic tracks; it is a film in which all the characters are connected; their relationships are multi dimensional. And 'TMTS' spotlights as to how they all come together to save something of immense importance to each of them, albeit each for very different reasons. In the process what they discover about love, relationships, life and more importantly… what they discover about… themselves is what makes the film so easy to connect with.
The film's heart lies in its screenplay, which amidst sharp humour is laden with subtext which is thought proving and also strikes an emotional chord. Each of the characters is extremely well etched out which in itself is an amazing feat, considering that there are six primary characters.
However, what enhances the screenplay even more is how Kabir has used a slightly varied colour palette for each of the couples along with a subtly different treatment through the camerawork to give further depth to each character. Director of photography Pushan Kripalani proves that he is great technician as he uses colours and movement to add life to the screenplay and characters.
Each of the performances stand out, right from veterans Dimple Kapadia and Nana Patekar to the seasoned Suniel Shetty and Vidya Malavade and the youngest pair, Rehan Khan and Anjana Sukhani.
Dimple plays Delshad, a Parsi woman who runs an Iranian coffee shop with such perfection that you cannot imagine any other actor in the part. Apart from perfect timing in the humourous scenes, Dimple manages to bare the emotional undercurrent simmering under Delshad's psyche.
Cast as Subramanium, a retired lawyer with a slightly cynical take on today's generation, Nana Patekar is a refreshing change from what we normally see; he adds multiple layers and depth to Subi which make him seem so real. His timing and chemistry with Dimple reaffirms their screen magic, whenever they work with each other.
Upper middle class families will swiftly identify with Suniel Shetty's character, a persona with gray shades to it. Suniel's portrayal of Amit is one of his finest, till date.
Vidya Malavade proves that she is a powerhouse of talent, especially in the emotional and dramatic scenes, which she handles with such élan. As Anita, the working mother who balances her professional and married life, Vidya slips effortlessly into character with such ease, that you wonder why you don't get to see her in more films with scope for performance, given her range of acting skills.
The finest discovery of the film, however, comes in the form of…. Rehan Khan, truly the new Khan on the block! Enacting Bunty, Rehan is loveable and cute and he makes the character one which you instantly fall in love with and take away with you, even post the film.
Rehan infuses the perfect amount of innocence to Bunty, while yet making him stand his ground and stick to his beliefs while fighting for what he feels is right. A fine performer who also shows off his amazing dancing skills, Rehan handles the comic sequences as well as the emotional ones with the maturity of a seasoned performer. To match acting honours with Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia is no small feat, and yet Rehan handles his scenes with them unfazed. He's surely an actor to watch out for.
Anjana Sukhani looks her best on screen since 'Salaam e Ishq' and displays her ability to portray a character like Shalini with conviction, given her spunk and feistiness.
As a director, Kabir Sadanand has grown leaps and bounds since his debut film 'Popcorn Khao! Mast Ho Jayo'. Kabir emerges as a fine story teller who knows how to derive the best from his technicians in order to support the screenplay, while also extracting the finest performances from his actors. Kudos to Kabir for tackling such a challenging story with multiple characters and pulling it off without a hitch.
'Tum Milo Toh Sahi' is not a gimmicky film, nor does it preach. It just unspools a story which leaves a great feeling inside, puts a smile on your face and fans the desire to reconnect with some of the people you may have lost touch with. Go, meet.