Sanchita
Thar feels like boiling milk that is on the verge of spilling over but never does. Like a sneeze that never comes. Like an orgasm that fizzles before peaking.
Read Full Thar Movie Review:
Director: Raj Singh Chaudhary
Cast: Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Jitendra Joshi
Rating: 2.5/5
Runtime: 1 h 48m
As someone who is a fan of Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, I was looking forward to Harsh Varrdhan’s act in Thar. The dude has incredibly expressive eyes and that brooding aura down to a T!
For the unversed, Harsh Varrdhan is also making his debut as a producer with this film. We gotta laud him for taking the road less travelled… between the two Kapoor siblings, Harsh’s cinematic choices have always been rather daring and unconventional. Thar draws you in with its foreboding, bleak air but unfortunately stays a mirage.
Storyline:
Meet Siddharth (Harshvarrdhan)…an ‘antiques’ dealer, who looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. The arrival of this handsome stranger coincides with a horrific killing in the dreary, sleepy village of Munabao.
Anil Kapoor plays the world-weary cop Surekha Singh who has led quite a complacent, dull life. When things FINALLY start to happen as he’s on the verge of retirement, naturally he’s excited to dig his teeth in. Be a REAL cop.
Singh’s investigative trail plants him straight under the fire of opium smugglers. Clearly, this gaon is not as sleepy as it seems.
Now, is the newcomer Siddharth connected to the smuggling and murder? Is he after more than just antiques? What sinister motivations fuel Siddharth’s bloodlust for …what can only be described as grisly torture porn? (trigger warning for gore, discretion advised if you’re icky about blood) Why is he leering so intensely at the breasts of someone else’s wife (Fatima Sana Shaikh)?
Watch Thar to see how this tale of intrigue and vengeance unfolds…..
What Do We Think:
Thar spends too long establishing its premise. It holds its cards too close to the chest, showing them just a tad bit late. By that point, you no longer feel invested in the character’s motivation.
With such anticipation and build-up, the pay-off is a let-down. Thar succeeds in creating an uneasy, tense mood, with bleakly beautiful visuals, but a more tight screenplay would’ve worked better.
Harsh has potential but despite having a layered character, his acting in Thar felt too impassive. The fault lies in the way his role is written, eclipsing what would otherwise have been an interesting part.
Anil Kapoor brings in the energy in this rustic drama. His onscreen dynamic with his son is quite engaging. Fatima Sana Shaikh does well enough in her underwhelming role as the smoldering, barren wife of a crook. Satish Kaushik is dependable as always and a delight to watch.
Hit Or Miss?
Thar is a one-time watch, especially if you’re a fan of Harsh Varrdhan’s and like the curry western genre. Though we can admire the vision behind it on paper, sadly it doesn’t translate perfectly onto the screen.
