Tamasha Is an Old, Old Story, Poorly Re-Told

Tamasha lacked the imagination of its grander, epic ancestors. It is an old take on an old story.

Tamasha asks why every story must be the same, while telling the same story anyway.

We owe it to each other to tell stories.

<b>Neil Gaiman</b>

Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha was no great shakes. The plot was thoroughly unimaginative but the music was thoroughly enjoyable. The movie opened in Corsica, and each shot, while beautiful, had about as much character as a generic screensaver on a Windows XP desktop. Ranbir and Deepika participated in some baffling courtship rituals which included breaking and entering people’s homes, some casual racism and the regular dose of sexism. All in all, nothing really to write home about.

However, there is one way in which Tamasha attempts to distinguish itself. The film is a tribute to all the stories that shape our consciousness, and by extension, our cultures. The stories of Romeo and Juliet, the Trojan War, Majnu and Laila, the Ramayan – all of which are tributes to the power of eternal, steady-as-we-go love. Through the enigmatic storyteller in the opening scenes of the film, Imtiaz Ali tells us that these stories, irrespective of their origins are interchangeable, because at the end of the day, they are essentially the same. Everyone falls in love the same way, across cultures, risking their hearts and their lives. The Ramayan and its foreign kin, therefore, also become cautionary tales about the devastating, inexorable power of love.

Dear men, here’s how to woo women. We love the moves, even though we don’t recognise them. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube screengrab)

If one were to break it down, here’s more or less what these stories would look like. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Boy lays claim on girl. Somebody kidnaps girl and/or boy and girl are kept apart because of predictable circumstances. Boy must prove his machismo (or love, call it what you will) and therefore rushes to her rescue. Boy and girl either die together or live happily ever after. If they die, love is tragic. If they live, their love is what we must all aspire to.

Boy met girl. The ensuing results were baffling. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube screengrab)

Love must be vaster than my smiles or touch
for brave men died and empires rose and fell
for love, girls follow boys to foreign lands
and men have followed women into hell
Neil Gaiman

Tamasha is the same formula, poorly executed. When Deepika turns Ranbir down for being the most boring person alive, he loses it. He is a nightmare at parties and a pain at work. The film forgives all his violent tendencies because he has been spurned by his one true love. The dumping results in a chain of obvious epiphanies and extremely bad behaviour. However, inexplicably, Deepika is sorry and eventually, they live happily ever after.

Imtiaz Ali, my friend, you had the kernel of a good idea. It would have been lovely to see it grow. Instead, you reaffirmed all the stereotypes and perpetuated the status quo. How many more ex-boyfriends and their violent posturing will you validate? We owe it to each other to tell stories, but perhaps with just a little more imagination.