Tathastu Movie Review: Little out-dated

Tathastu is an emotional thriller inspired from the Hollywood film 'John Q.' Sanjay Dutt plays a factory worker who is living in a world of middle-class bliss with his wife (Amisha Patel) and eight year old son (Yash Pathak). They are essentially a hard working, happy family until one day Yash collapses while playing outside and it diagnosed that he has a hole in his heart. The only way to save his life is through a heart transplant which will cost 15 lakh. Sanjay does his best to raise the loan through his employer, through the insurance company and all possible decent means available to him but to no avail. To add to his woes, the hospital also refuses to give free treatment to his son. In a state of desperation, the father who sees all doors closing around him, makes one last attempt to save his son; by makes hostages of people in the lobby of the hospital. He threatens to kill them if the operation on his son is not performed. This is the essence of the film and whether Sanjay able to save his son?s life is revealed in the climax.

The production values are appropriate and Ravi Walia?s cinematography is up to the mark. Vishal-Shekhar?s score suits the film and Allan Amin?s action is also good. To a certain extent the film also manages to hold interest and it highlights the plights of the lower middle class and their struggle in such drastic situations. But the attempt to justify the action of the protagonist does not work. It is basically a tragic story and thus the happy ending looks rather forced and has possible been constructed only keeping the box office in mind.

Performance-wise, Sanjay Dutt is as usual in his element, and suits the character of a helpless, desperate father to the tee. Amisha Patel is too loud and her look is in no way representative of a lower middle class housewife (the highlights in her hair and perfectly nail polished hands just take away completely from the character). Jaya Pradha is wasted while Gulshan Grover impresses with a controlled portrayal. Master Yash Pathak is good. Manoj Pahwa scores with his bit role. Amit Divetia, Lalit Tiwari, Ravi Jhankal and Anoop Soni provide able support.