The editor of filmfare magazine,Khalid Mohammad,made a film previously called ”Fiza”.The film was very different from the routine Bollywood movies,and now he is back,with another film ”Tehzeeb”.There are so many specialities in “Tehzeeb”.The star cast is exciting,moreover,its soundtrack also has some nice music,but the biggest specialty of this film is that after so many years,Shabana Azmi is playing Urmila Matondkar`s mom.First she played Urmila`s mom in ”Masoom”,which was Urmila`s first film,as a child.Now,that so many years have passed and both of them have teamed up again,you might want to see,how it looks like,So,is the film that good,as one might expect?
THE FILM:
”Tehzeeb”,directed by Khalid Mohammad,stars Shabana Azmi,Urmila Matondkar,Diya Mirza,Arjun Rampal,Namrata Shirodkar,Rishi Kapoor and Diana Haydens.Khalid Mohammad,can be classified as a completely different filmmaker than all those Chopras and Johars.Like his earlier film,this film also has a different story,but does he succeed to impress us once again?
THE CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCES:
1.Tehzeeb(Urmila Matondkar):Tehzeeb is the main character of this movie.She is one such girl who hates her mother and can never agree with whatever she says.Urmila Matondkar gives another remarkable performance.This year saw her maturing as an actress.She amazed all her viewers through her brilliant performances in ”Bhoot” and ”Pinjar”,and this time also she registers an impact.When,you`ll see this actress on the screen,as Tehzeeb,you`ll feel that no other actress could have done this role!After all,this is the complete ’Urmila’ style.
2.Rukhsana(Shabana Azmi):Rukhsana is a singer,by profession.Her talent lies in her voice and she loves her profession as much as she loves her daughter,but still her elder daughter,Tehzeeb,suspects her to kill her own husband.Shabana Azmi,is one of the most talented actress Bollywood has,and through this film,she proves her worth again.If Urmila is the ’beti’ (daughter),then she is the ’Ma’ (mother),and everyone knows that Ma is far more superior than the beti.So,she proves to be Urmila`s Ma in the acting department,as well.How she expresses herself as an unhappy mother,whose daughter is against her,is amazing.She impressed us in her last film as the the witch ”Makdee”,and after that she is back in a completely different role,but she is outstanding,in this one too!
3.Nazneen(Diya Mirza):Tehzeeb`s younger sister,Nazneen is mentally challenged.Though,she looks like a grown up,still her mind is that of a small girl.Diya Mirza,as a mentally challenged girl!Now,that`s different and better.In her previous films,she got nothing else to do,just than crying or dancing,but here she has been given a better role.She doesn`t disappoint you that much,because her innocent face fulfills the demand of this character.
4.Salim(Arjun Rampal):Salim,is an energetic,happy-go-lucky boy ,who is now married to Tehzeeb.This marriage was against tehzeeb`s mother wishes.Arjun Rampal,in this women-oriented film,is wonderful.He makes the most out of his supporting role!
Rishi Kapoor as Rukhsana`s husband is alright.Namrata Shirodkar looks nice,though her song could have been easily deleted.Diana Hayden,proves that she doesn`t need to be in Bollywood.
THE STORY:
The story of this film revolves around a girl called Tehzeeb,who hates her mother.The reason of this hatred is very simple-she suspects her mother,Rukhsana,to be her father`s murderer,but as the society believes she is innocent,there is nobody else to suspect her.Rukhsana is a lovely singer and lives with her two daughters.One is Tehzeeb and the other one is Nazneen,who is mentally challenged.Later,Tehzeeb goes against her mother`s wishes and marries Salim,after which she takes her sister Nazneen with her.She marries Salim,telling her mother,she is jealous of the fact,that someone loves her.After sometime,Rukhsana also goes there,to visit her daughter,but Tehzeeb doesn`t welcome her mother and doesn`t treat her well.
THE WORK OF THE CREW:
Khalid Mohammad succeeds as the director of the film in some portions.The scenes between Tehzeeb and Rukhsana have been executed very well.There is lots of drama,in those scenes,which will grip your attention,but then there are some unwanted scenes thrown into the film,unnecessarily.Script is half-baked.You will be able to observe some flaws,in the movie.First of all,the only thing which will hit the back of your mind is,why Rukhsana behaves in a way that one might think,she is a negative character?Screenplay is a minus point which will make the film seem here and there.Dialogues are well-worded.Those spoken by Shabana Azmi are the good ones.Santosh Sivan`s cinematography is brilliant!After all he is the one who was the cinematographer of ”Asoka”.Editing is loose.In the second half,this film drags like anything.Also,Dia Mirza,acting like a glamorous model in ''I wanna be free'',looked odd.A.R Rahman-the musician.His name is enough,to excite the music lovers.He,being the musician of the film,does a wonderful job again.The songs which can be chosen as the best in the soundtrack are ”Meherban Meherbaan” (my favourite!),”Khoyee Khoyee Aankhein Hain” (If you love “O Humdum Suniyo Re….from Saathiya,then you`ll love this one too) and ”Na Shikwa Hota” (A situational song,which a helpless mother is singing!).Javed Akhtar`s lyrics for these songs are also beautiful.
ON THE WHOLE:
”Tehzeeb”,is one film,which we call ’hatke’!Though this film,has some of the ’masalas’,still it is not the one in which the boy and girl dance around a tree.There is no denying,that the film has some flaws in it,but then there are some wonderful performances and dramatic portions in the film,as well,which makes it a watchable one.So,you can definitely see this one!
