Some movies are made to be seen, some to be rejoiced, some to be forgotten and some to be simply ignored. ‘Tulsi’ is one such movie, which you would like to ignore. If by certain chance, you don’t have anything to do and you are lucky enough to stumble upon some free tickets, then I would suggest going for this movie. Also, if you are badly in need of watching some catharsis and break loose your tears that you have been stocking up till now, then you might like to go to the theatre to shed some tears.
Rating: 0.5/5
Tulsi is the remake of a Telegu Movie named ‘Mathru Devo Bhava’. If director Ajay Kumar has tried to send any message out with this movie, then he has simply missed it. Being in the pipeline for over 5 years now, has somehow made the theme stale. The whole cinematography seems outdated and lagging ages behind the current Bollywood lot. The movie reminds you of some emotional soap opera (Choti Si Asha) telecasted over television eyeing at the sentimental housewife to relate to the protagonist, who puts her children for adoption after loosing her husband and is diagnosed with some dreaded disease. She ends up trying to get her family back when some philanthropist Richie Rich saves her and gives her a warm house to live in. However, our movie here doesn’t have such happier ending.
Manisha Koirala plays ‘Tulsi’ who is a beautiful house wife married to Suraj (Irfan Khan), who is a chronic drunkard. The couple are blessed (blessed is not a personal choice, four children to a poor family may sound more like a curse, a sheer failure of family planning!). The couple and their children are somehow making ends meet with their meager means with getting enough food and drink (Irfan Khan is a drunkard you see!). Poverty has not diminished the love between them, when we don’t have anything else, we stand by each other. Luxury may seem like a vice at this moment but slowly you realize that poverty isn’t really a blessing. As a twist, one of Irfan Khan’s friends, played by Yashpal Sharma, tries to molest the sultry Manisha. He manages to succeed to some extent but when Irfan Khan comes to know about it, he goes and beats him up. Yashpal trying to make things even kills Irfan Khan in a fight. Manisha is diagnosed with blood cancer (don’t we have any other disease, for god’s sake!), meanwhile. She realizes that she won’t be able to look after her darling children. Hence, she decides to put them for adoption for their better future. The family has been close to each other amidst the poverty and sorrows and it becomes difficult for them to adjust to their newly adopted families. The story deals with the theme of a poor ill mother and her children.
Manisha Koirala makes a come back with this movie, but even with her potential as an actress, couldn’t do much to save this movie. I doubt if she would have been much better with some toning and slimming thing done to her body. But full credits to her for appearing sultry and sexy even in cotton sarees, only handful of actresses look this sultry. Whatever have been the pros and cons of Manisha as an actress, she falls a martyr to a bad script and heavily emotional sequences. She proved being out of shape had definitely added to her career’s going to the drain.
Manisha Koirala, Irrfan Khan in Tulsi
Irfan Khan does well and again proves that he is made of tough material. He has done some good performances in the past and his common man looks makes the mass relate to him. I still remember him in Doordarshan and he has his simple charm with him till now. No doubt, if anyone’s voice has the power to reach the masses in the form of advertisement, then after Om Puri and Amitabh Bachchan, Irfan Khan would be the next choice. His career growth has been slow but definitely steady.
Vinay Tiwari has given some touching music, but seems all the effort might go under the carpet with such lack of publicity. Pity him for the waste of energy! Ajayan Vincent’s cinematography would have been called excellent had the movie released 5 years back.
Ajay Kumar was most probably sleeping over this movie, he is lucky that the movie finally released and with the no or less hype, it reaches the audience’s ear. He has done well with the heavily emotional scenes, but apart from the ronadhona he has not done much. I would suggest him to understand the theme he is dealing with prior to expecting the audience to understand it. Had he completely understood it, the movie would have been something else.
Over all, if chocolates are not giving your broken heart any peace then shedding some tears might help. Go for this movie and you do not need any pretence to cry your heart out. Don’t be surprised if you find that the world has left you alone to enjoy your peace and harmony of the theatre.
Rating: 0.5/5
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