The power of love and togetherness can sometimes be so strong that it can make you go through the thick and thin of life with a smile on your face. This is the gist of Yashraj Film's latest presentation 'Tara Rum Pum'.
The movie, written and directed by Siddharth Anand (of Salaam Namaste), is a feelgood flick with doses of all the necessary ingredients that go into making a wholesome entertainer. It has light humour, romance, thrills, tragedy, the drama of life, hardships, struggle, the test of human spirit and the final triumph.
Set in New York, the film tells the story of Rajveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan), his wife Radhika (Rani Mukherjee) and their two kids Champ (Ali Haji) and Princess (Angelina Idnani).
Rajveer and Radhika are as different as chalk and cheese. He lives for the moment and doesn't think much of future. She, on the other hand, plans every move of her life carefully.
Rajveer and Radhika first meet in a crazy cab ride in which Rajveer is at the steering wheel. It is the same taxi ride that opens the door to fame for Rajveer, who works as a tyre changer on the car race tracks. Impressed by Rajveer's driving skills, Harry (Javed Jaffery), gives him a chance to be the driver of the racing team called 'Speeding Saddles'.
Before his first race, Rajveer has a couple of chance encounters with Radhika. He asks her to come to his first race.
With Radhika rooting for him in the stands, Rajveer pushes the limit of speed and emerges the winner of the race. A new race star is born. He is called RV.
Love blossoms between RV and Radhika. Despite opposition from her millionaire father, Radhika marries RV. Over the years, the couple have two children: Princess and Champ. Together the four make an ideally happy family.
Tragedy strikes when RV is pushed to the corner in a car race by a new racer called Rusty. There is a deadly accident and RV is hospitalized for months. A year later, when RV returns to the race track, he no longer has the same edge as before. After a series of losses, RV loses his job and Rusty is signed on in his place.
Unable to pay their loans and debts, RV and Radhika lose their home and have to shift to a low-class cabbie neighborhood in New York.
It is now that the family's love and bonding is tested. To keep their children out of the strain and stress of poverty, RV and Radhika create a masquerade that they have to live in poor conditions as a part of a reality show. If they win they will get a big prize.
The movie's director clearly borrows this idea from Italian film 'Life Is Beautiful'. Not just the idea but even one or two scenes are inspired from portions of the Italian flick.
Moving on, even as RV and Radhika struggle to make ends meet, every member of the family makes sacrifice for the other.
There comes a situation when RV needs huge amount of money to save his son. And he gets a golden opportunity to drive in another car race. But can RV fight his inner demons and emerge victorious?
'Tara Rum Pum' is not so much of a romantic story than a story of familial bonding. It is about how a couple and their two kids face the hardships of life with a smile on their face. It is about how a man overcomes his inner fears for the sake of his loved ones.
Siddharth Anand's direction is tight and he keeps the story moving at brisk pace. However, there are a few scenes that look very childish. For instance, when Saif is being chased by his landlord and he hides his face behind a magazine on a restaurant table where Rani Mukherjee is sitting.
The film's music (by Vishal-Shekhar) is also mediocre. There is hardly any song that remains with you after the movie is over.
As for performances, Saif Ali Khan is once again top rate, playing a guy with devil-cares attitude. His acting is particularly noteworthy in the film's second half when his inner fears begin emerging on the race-track.
Rani Mukherjee, who plays a pianist, looks glamourous and acts her part pretty well. Only she could have really learnt to play a few chords on the piano a little better. Her discomfiture with the instrument is quite apparent in the scenes that show her playing.
Javed Jaffery goes over the top in many scenes. But this is how his character is designed. Child artiste Angelina Idnani is impressive, while Ali Haji is cute but cannot act.
'Tara Rum Pum' has the hallmark of a Yash Raj film. It provides feelgood entertainment for family audiences and children.
Movie Review : A wholesome entertainer (6/10) The power of love and togetherness can sometimes be so strong that it can make you go through the thick and thin of life with a sm...
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