8 x 10 TASVEER

8 x 10 TASVEER
*ing: Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore, Girish Karnad, Javed Jaffrey, Anant Mahadevan, Rushad Rana and Uttara Baokar.

Percept Picture Company's long time-awaited Akshay Kumar-Ayesha Takia starrer film 8 x 10 TASVEER releases in cinemas worldwide on 3rd April 2009. The movie is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor who shot to fame in industry through Subhash Ghai's Mukta Arts Production IQBAL and widely acclaimed DOR. Produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-series, 8X10 TASVEER is a thriller with supernatural element to it. 8X10- TASVEER is an edge of the seat action thriller that promises to never let up the pace and culminates in an unexpected climax.

The talented duo, Salim Merchant and Sulaiman Merchant has composed the soulful music for the film though in the film only one song is a part of story, of course this song does not obstruct the flow of tight gripping screen play. The lyrics are penned by Irfan Siddiqui, Sameer and Bohemia. The background score elevates the thrill element.

Story
Jai Puri (Akshay) is a forest ranger in Canada. For over a year he is having a live in relationship with Sheela (Takia) and staying separately from his parents Jatin (Benjamin Gilani) and Savitri (Sharmila Tagore) because he doesn’t approve of his father’s business dealings. Jai is blessed with supernatural powers with which he can look at any photograph and can actually go right into that moment when it was actually clicked. Through this he helps the needy who come to him to seek answers but at the same time this whole process is dangerous to his health as the high anxiety caused because of it can even kill him. His life gets shattered when he comes to know about his father’s death. It is supposedly an accident as his father slipped down their yacht and had a heart attack when fallen into cold water. His mother, father’s business partner cum brother Sunder (Anant Mahadevan), business associate Adit (Rushad Rana) and good friend cum lawyer Anil Sharma (Girish Karnad) were present on the yacht when the accident took place. While Jai too dismisses it as an accident, Habib aka Happi (Javed Jaffery) played as a whimsical ex-cop, who knew his father well, he meets him and explains the possibility of a murder. Jai in the beginning disbelieves him but Happi tries to bring to notice proofs that lead Jai to believe that it was indeed a murder. Jai starts using his special ESP kind of power to trace the murderer through that one photograph which was clicked just minutes before his father died. But then two more murders take place and Jai is left stunned. How one shocking revelation leads to other. Ultimately after chain of events he comes to know that the murders were performed by his own brother who was accidentally separated in his early childhood. What was more shocking to him was the fact that his live in partner Sheila was also associated with his lost brother.
The film begins well. Though slow paced you understand it is intentional and go along the flow. The premise of the film and the setting keeps getting really interesting and also some superbly shot sequences keep you on the edge. If we talk about its technical excellence it is at par with any hollywood suspense thriller. But the whole premise falters during the last 30 minutes in what appears like a never ending climax. With the big suspense tumbling out and the reasons given by the murderer appearing slightly unconvincing.. But one can admit, the identity of the murderer is indeed very shocking and something that even the biggest of suspense film fan’s can find it difficult to predict. However, even after it is revealed, the film takes too much time to wind up. After a point you lose count of how many dead bodies are fallen.
But to give him due credit, Kukunoor shows tremendous progress as a technician and has done just the perfect casting for all the parts. His interval point is simply superb as it wipes out all the predictions you are making up till then.
After Chandni Chowk to China fiasco, this time Akshay Kumar deserves a pat for taking the risk to be a part of such an unusual project which will pay him well. He has acted sincerely and given it his all. Ayesha Takia is back in form and impresses. Javed Jaffrey is simply superb right from his entry to exit. Girish Karnad makes a rare appearance and is good as usual. Sharmila Tagore lends grace to her character. Anant Mahadevan and Rushad Rana are good as well. The actress playing Javed Jaffrey’s nurse ex-girlfriend is very natural.
Something about the landscapes of the movie, the Canadian cities, countryside is an eye candy.
But this film is made keeping in mind Multiplex kind crowd so will have a limited appeal.