Hania Amir, Kubra Khan, Iqra Aziz at Parde Mein Rehne Do premiere

8x10 Tasveer
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Producer: Percept Picture Company, T-Series
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore, Javed Jaffrey, Anant Mahadevan

After his flop 'Bombay to Bangkok' last year, Nagesh Kukunoor has come back this time with a supernatural thriller titled '8X10 Tasveer'. The film which is released today (April 3) stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role opposite Ayesha Takia, besides Sharmila Tagore, Javed Jaffery, Girish Karnad, Anant Mahadevan and Benjamin Gilani, among others.

Though the movie was initially called 'Tasveer' but the producer added '8x10' to its title later as he felt that the earlier name was jinxed. The movie's hero has a supernatural gift to look into the past of dead people by touching their 8×10 photographs. And, mysteries begin to arise when a 8×10 photograph reveals his past. Later a personal tragedy leads him to use his power to come up with the answers!

Both the director Nagesh Kukunoor and the actor Akshay Kumar are pinning their high hopes on this mega movie costing Rs 600 million with around 1,500 prints worldwide. In spite of initial delays due to visa and luggage problems, the film's budget increased more than expected.

The film was further delayed too because of the producers-distributors dispute with exhibitors over revenue-sharing terms and the IPL. The Guild had decided not to release any new movies from April 3 but paying heed to Percept Picture Company's request decided that the strike will commence from April 4 facilitating the movie's release on April 3rd.

Even recently, the movie's release was going to be deferred because of a controversy over a financial transaction between its co-producers - Percept Picture Company and T-Series. However, the matter has been settled and Percept has released it single handedly.

While Akshay says it is one of his most exciting 129 movies he has so far done, for Kukunoor, this is a very significant film inasmuch as its subject makes it stand out among other films. Besides, the performance of all the actors have further added to its beauty.

Akshay, Ayesha and all others have done a great job in the film and he is sure the audience will praise their hard work. The film has already generated mass appeal courtesy its promos and music by Salim-Suleiman and because it is the first big-budget project after two months' draught in Bollywood!

Tasveer' is the story of Jai played by Akshay Kumar, a young man in his 30's, who has a supernatural gift. His father, Jatin Puri, played by Benjamin Gilani, feels very strongly that his son is wasting his life away instead of managing the vast business empire he has created.

This leads to a complete breakdown of relationship between the two. Jai's wife Sheela Puri played by Ayesha Takia, is grudgingly supportive of her husband but has a 'real' job and is the actual bread-winner of the family. Sometime later, Jatin is killed in a boating accident under mysterious circumstances and Jai feels very bad about losing his father and the times that could've been shared.

He accidentally stumbles upon the last photograph taken of the entire group of friends and family on the boat, minutes before the accident. While being consumed with grief and curiosity, he starts to investigate by undertaking the dangerous experience.

He eventually unravels the mystery and in a nail biting finish comes up with a startling answer. Other significant factors that have lent support to the success of the movie are that Salim-Suleman has composed its music and rap artist Bohemia and has sung its promotional title song that is picturised on Akshay Kumar. The cinematography, especially of Canada, is worth mentioning.

Overall, the movie rests on strong shoulders of Akshay Kumar. However, the recent allegation of a vulgar scene enacted by him at a ramp walk at the Lakme Fashion Week of getting his jeans unbuttoned by his wife Twinkle Khanna has affected his reputation.

But there being no other movie released during the past two months to compete with it, Nagesh' 'Tasveer' is likely to reap the benefit. Anyway, it's a definitely better than contemporary movies.


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