TE3N

Set in Sujoy Ghosh’s Kolkata TE3N is a reflection of the city , its languid pace , its myriad mood , its fixation on hanging on to the past and its determination to stand up for justice . In an age where Whodunit are quick paced and sleek, TE3N, which is based on South Korean film Montage, surprisingly takes you back to the world of Ray’s Feluda . Eight years is not enough for John Biswas to let go the memories of her granddaughter Angela, who was kidnapped and then subsequently got killed. Every single day he visits the police station to seek justice. His eyes may be anguish laden, but time has not withered his determination to seek the truth.  Nawazuddin’s conversion from Inspector Martin to Father Martin on the other hand is to escape from the truth. The transition has happened, but not the transformation. Deep inside both realise it is truth that will bring them peace.

The film’s narrative oscillates between past and present making it edgy. Considerable time and effort has been given to build the story.  The setting, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Bada Imambara, the Ganges, Immersion of Durga Idol, the lanes of Kolkata and an old scooter add layer to the narrative and help in building tension. Amitabh Bachchan gives a fabulous performance. He makes John Biswas’s pain so palpable, his haplessness so conspicuous and his determination so blatant. That long face, that open mouth, that hunched walk, those determined eyes, he doesn’t play the character , he becomes the character. Nawazuddin playing the role of a Cop turned Father with Cop- Instincts is at par. But we have seen Nawaz in much better form.Vidya Balan , whose part surprisingly has been mentioned as a cameo, plays a full fledged role. How I wish her character has been written with a bit more fineness and nuances. The music keeps pace with the mood.

However where TE3N misses out is the twists, so essential for a crime thriller. Fifty minutes into the film you would have guessed the whodunit. And that makes the wait for climax so boring and predictable. Ribhu Dasgupta who had earlier directed Amitabh Bachhan in TV series Yudh makes the same mistake once again of not letting his story move. And that is where the film suffers post interval.

TE3N is much like that old, rickety scooter that Mr Biswas rides. It stop- starts quite frequently. A new spark plug and few kicks would have made it such an enjoyable ride. I will go out with 2.5 out of 5. If not anything else, go and watch it just for that Man, the superstar of the Millennium! He for sure doesn’t need “TEEN” to lift a film .