Tribhanga - Review

Tribhanga - such an unusual name for a movie! A feminist plot with Renuka Shahane calling the shots, and Tanvi Azmi and Kajol leading the show simply could not be ignored and I decided to watch the 90 minute movie today afternoon after a friend highly recommended it. I found myself glued to the screen all through, on occasion rewinding a few seconds to fully understand what was being said just so I missed absolutely nothing!

The movie has received reviews that have ranged all over the spectrum from outright bad to outstanding, and understandably so. It is pretty intense. Just like that piece of modern art in an art gallery that may throw some completely off balance but may mean nothing to some others. Some may find the characters to be underdeveloped, but some may find them extremely well developed right from the beginning and very familiar. Be it the protagonists, or the seemingly less significant ones like Nayantara's husband or her Mother-in-law. These people are all around us - each of them doing what they think is right, and is "their" right!

The characters, barring one, are not black or white. But the charm of the movie lies in the fact that none of them are grey either. They are just what they are!

Kajol is outstanding - like always! She transitions seamlessly from an outspoken, confident woman to a fragile, emotional and broken individual from moment to moment. Tanvi Azmi is very graceful and utterly likeable, even when we see sides of her character that are everything but that! This is nothing but the poise that only age and maturity can bestow. Mithila Palkar - the girl making the most unusual choices that come to the fore only during the last fourth of the movie is extremely convincing despite the inherent irony. Kunal Roy Kapur - a character that is a bit exaggerated but balances out the whole drama beautifully.

What did the movie say to me? Each person has a story to tell.

Children have their own stories to tell - no matter how parents believe the story should be.

But parents, too, have their own story.

And no story is ever wrong!