The story, setting, cast, and climax of TE3N were pristine. How one grandfather heart-wrenchingly fights a war day in and day out to get justice for his grand daughter, has been so perfectly portrayed, that words fall short. Every time Amitabh Bachchan plays a new character we think this is it, it could never get better, and he just keeps on proving us wrong.
Director Ribhu Dasgupta has smartly used Kolkata as a backdrop for TE3N. While the city has a charm of its own for cinematographers, the story is written such that it could have been anywhere. You may as well as break the fourth wall and be a part of the story.
TE3N Review – The Excellent Points
Amitabh Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan are the topmost talent in the Hindi film industry. With such powerhouse performers playing the central characters, there were tremendous expectations from the movie. Right from the word go, following were what set TE3N apart and kept us hooked
- A huge applause to “Senior citizen” Amitabh Bachchan for once again playing the aging character, a heartbroken yet determined grandfather and giving the audience a glimpse of why he is considered the best actor cinema has produced. His body language is impeccable, especially when he conveys the grief of losing a granddaughter and the audience is bound to feel his pain and loss.
- Such an inspirational performance needed equally dynamic co-actors and Nawazuddin as the policeman-turned-priest has played his part to the perfection of a man with a troubled past, trying to find peace.
- Vidya Balan in a “special appearance” is truly special and lends her own distinct touch to a no-frills role of the investigating officer, Sarita.
- The by-lanes, dark alleys and the crumbling walls of a decaying city have been wonderfully captured and themselves become a character. A haunting music score by Clinton Cerejo with Bachchan singing “Kyun re”, is another highlight of this highly engrossing film. Though the pace of the movie is languid and deliberate at times (Movie duration: 137 minutes) as the director indulges in multiple close-ups, the engrossing story and some clever execution hold the viewer’s attention right up to the end.
All those who love whodunits and would love to solve a mystery as one of its characters, this movie is definitely for you.
TE3N Review – Could have been better (?)
The people behind the camera put in special efforts to capture all emotions. Portraying a thriller while retaining the emotional quotient set its pace a tad slower than what perhaps a different sort of editing could have set.
TE3N Review – Plot (Without Spoilers)
While the movie is set in present times, TE3N has a certain old world charm to it, due to the Kolkata backdrop and this certainly adds to the omnipresent mystery element. John Biswas (Amitabh Bachchan) plays a grandfather whose life is shattered when his granddaughter Angela Roy becomes a victim of kidnapping. Martin (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), the police officer who managed the case, albeit unsuccessfully, has retired and has become a priest. While the case is closed, John refuses to give up and keeps looking for her for eight long years, without any luck.
A kidnapping occurs in the present time and the focus once again shifts to John and Martin due to some uncanny similarity in the modus operandi. Sarita Sarkar (Vidya Balan) is the case in charge this time and how the three main characters team up to solve the two kidnappings forms the crux of this intriguing plot. The two kidnappings, occurring eight years apart, bind these three characters together, each one trying to solve the mystery.
The audience is privy to many scenes that lift the movie several notches higher and this is primarily due to the amazing characters played by such capable actors. Pitted against each other in many powerful scenes, Amitabh Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan impress us with their studied nuances and mannerisms.
TE3N is seemingly inspired from a thriller movie named “Montage”. Montage is an Korean movie which was released in 2013.
P.S: Bachchan fans, you cannot afford to miss this movie, no way.
TE3N Official Movie Trailer
source: YT / Reliance Entertainment