User Reviews

Thakshak is that rare character-driven movie coming from the era when Hindi cinema was largely plot-driven. Govind Nihalani scores in giving us two fully developed emotional arcs through the characters of Tabu and Ajay D. Bold and spirited, Tabu is a simple middle class girl, who is not afraid to stand up for the truth. She abhors deceit and lies in all forms. Born and brought up within the world of crime, though questioning, Ajay does not have the guts to break away from his domineering father, and his even more daunting friend Sunny (Rahul Bose), who is unapologetically entrenched in evil. As their relationship evolves, so does Ajay. In one scene, Ajay tells his father that Tabu is an individual in her own right and he cannot dictate to her what to do. The scene where Ajay comes clean to Tabu about his criminal background is handled with maturity. Tabu is shown to have the choice to break off the relationship with no emotional blackmailing.

Understated Ajay uses his brooding eyes to make a lasting impact. Tabu is authentic and endearing as the fiercely independent and level headed girl who shows her heart is in the right place when the occasion demands. Rahul Bose enacts the role exactly as any other role of his - serious, anglicized and stiff - he has his limitations as an actor.

The relatively slow pace of the movie is a deterrent given the genre.

Can a good woman make a 'bad boy' into an honest man? That's the theme of ThakShak - it's not that Ajay is deeply bad, it's just that he has grown up in a mafia (Hindu) family that is competing with the Moslem mafia for big real estate deals in Bombay - and that sometimes leads to ugly power struggles, beatings & guns.

Ajay 'by chance' meets Tabu, an intensely idealistic poet & a dancer. Tabu's character can barely deal with the violence she sees around her and so Ajay quite naturally keeps his real life a secret from her until ... ... Their relationship is very sweet very believable. He seems to be in awe of her intelligence, her talent, and her purity.

Perhaps it is Ajay's mother who has kept his soul pure all these years as she anguishes over the tormenting (to her) life her husband Amrish Puri has led. Puri is excellent here and his deep voice reminds me that I miss him - in spite of what he did in Koyla!

Ajay's acting here is wonderful, he's deeply conflicted, tender and tough --- and he looks great ... ... and he looks real ... good. Uh huh! His struggle to find himself and choose between Tabu's ideal world and the violence he has grown up with is well portrayed. Also the intrigues between the politicians and the mafia guys are interesting. I really like this film. It took me a long time to get a DVD with subtitles and as a desperate Ajay fan I (foolishly) have copies without subtitles that freeze up at various points ... (idiot!) ... that I have watched a few times anyway for the music and for Ajay.

I feel ThakShak has been under-rated and neglected. For one thing AR Rahman's music is superb! Ajay's romantic number by the pool at night is a treasure for all Ajay fans ... and Tabu's dance numbers are very good. The nightclub singer girl is OK, but her numbers are a little glaring perhaps a nice contrast to Tabu's gentle world. Rahul Bose is not one of my favorites, but he gives a good performance in this film. He loves guns!

The night club numbers were too crass for my taste - even though I suppose they might have suggested the whole mafia vibe and as you say Rahul's psycho thing. The scene where Ajay is fighting the terrorist in the back room cut with one of her songs works in that both activities are somewhat ugly and violent.

I find the slow pace of Thak Shak very appealing. I like to put it on now and then to watch the relationship deepen between Ajay and Tabu. I love the moment when - after Ajay has rescued Tabu's relative in the road and actually 'formally' met Tabu in the hospital - Tabu is sitting on the grass in some park and Ajay walks up to her and gets the most adorable vulnerable smile on his face that she (and me!) cannot resist.

Also I love the scene where he spots her sitting in the bus - he looks so perfect as the totally unconscious (hormonally driven) young male looking around at nothing and then fixating on the girl in the window. So sweet, so human ... ...

I feel that the characterizations and their development were handled with sensitivity and depth. The young mafia thug takes a real interest in his girl friend's poetry and her poems are profound. These people hold my interest. Thak Shak is an action film, but with deeper insight than usual and offers Ajay an opportunity to show off his evolving acting skills. He comes up with some very interesting 'conflicted' facial expressions.

I also really love Tabu's wet sari number, "talking to raindrops" - the film definitely has some great Rahman songs. This is not a great film, but still very good in many respects and I recommend it.

I highly recommend this film - especially to Ajay fans, but also to all BW fans. ThakShak (1999) is compelling, well produced, with great Rahman, and a good story. This role is probably the one that led to Company (2002) for Ajay.