Thar

While the parched setting and the cinematography (by Shreya Dev Dube) are definite positives, the bland writing, familiar plot beats, and the overall failure of the performances to make us root for a single character, let alone the protagonist(s), pull the film down to an average fare. Written differently, this could have been a gripping thriller set within the vast expanse of the desert. The final reveal fails to add anything substantially new, and we still know very little about Harshvarrdhan Kapoor's forever-wooden character. Anil Kapoor, being the seasoned performer, does alright. Fatima Sana Sheikh adds yet another confused character to her filmography.

Despite a rustic period setting and a clutch of fine performances, Anil and Harshavardhan Kapoor's "Thar" reduces to yet another case study in what could have been, with a plotline that was a bundle of cliches with nothing new or interesting enough to keep viewers invested. Director Raj Singh Chaudhary's well-intentioned western oozes intensity and tension yet falters in its tepid screenplay that never builds characters strong enough for the audiences to empathize with or a narrative that offers any real surprises.

We follow the journey of a veteran cop (Anil Kapoor) in a 1980s sleepy village hamlet in Rajasthan, intent on creating some impact in his otherwise mundane job as he approaches retirement. Enter the quintessential 'tall, dark and handsome stranger' in Harshavardhan Kapoor who is seemingly a visitor passing through the village in his quest for ancient artefacts as a trader. How the inspector unravels the true motivations behind the stranger's arrival and the chaos that ensues in the investigation for the rest of this visually pleasing yet narratively thin storyline.

While Anil Kapoor shines in the role of a deadbeat yet earnest cop, Harshavardhan is one-dimensional and monotonous as the young stranger, never providing any nuance or depth to his character, so much so that one gets the feeling that he was sleepwalking through this role. Satish Kaushik is expectedly terrific as Anil Kapoor's aide-de-camp while Fatima Sana Shaikh continues to improve her stock as one of Bollywood's finest leading ladies with a superb supporting performance as a village lass who gets inadvertently embroiled in this tale of deceit and revenge.

Cinematographer Shreya Dev Dube deserves praise for capturing the rustic western aesthetic of rural Rajasthan in all its glory and the Production Design by Wasiq Khan remains authentic and on point throughout. However, the film never rises to be more than the sum of its parts with the lack of narrative clarity and the absence of any real surprise elements beyond the beaten path of umpteen westerns before it, resulting in "Thar" reducing to another damp squib effort. Not recommended!

It is dark, intense, gritty, & beautiful. Only watch if you have a pallet for slow burn thrillers and brutal storyline. Definitely much better than all those pan India over the top commercial non sense.

If you are unaware of the genre of this film, then not very long into this film when you will easily realize the genre of this film. That's it! From there onwards you pretty much know what the film is going to tell you. This is the biggest underwhelming part of the film ( in fact yesterday only I watched a Tamil film Saani Kayyidham and i could not help but find remarkable similarities between the this film Thar and that Tamil film).

When finally the makers reveal the reason why Harshvardhan is in a torture mood, it is just too flat. No emotional connect, everything shown in a montage form, which is why you dont feel for harshvardhan at all. You don't feel the slightest bit of anger for the accused (yeah you might think these are spoilers I am hinting at but mark my words it is so predictable that these are not even spoilers). Story definitely is nothing new and is a let down.

Still, it does hold on to your attention atleast the way things move, you want to know why harshvardhan tortures the three guys but you will know that they must have done something to deserve that, its just this "what must they have done" that is left to see in the film.

Locations and settings are terrific! Never seen bollywood do this ever with such authentic setting in the desert with good use of BGM, especially that whistle one. This is where the film scores brownie points.

Despite a sub par story, the actors have given their best. Anil Kapoor to harshvardhan to Satish Kauahik to Fatima, everyone.

Another negative point is the dacoit part. I felt it an absolute unnecessary addition. They are pnly there as show pieces .

Overall, a film that deserved a much better story. Such a weak story and a poor climax let's down the film.

This movie was somewhat refreshing and different from many of the boring movies normally churned out by Bollywood and other so called " woods " of India. Did not know that Harshvardhan Kapoor was Anil Kapoor's son, till after watching this film. Anil Kapoor, Fatima Sheik did rather believable acting. The major jarring issue felt was was perhaps Harshvardhan is ' gifted '; with woody expression (almost similar to Sunny Deol in the good old days). The revenge story was very believable and genuine, depicting a woman who was wronged by uncouth, brutal savages. The depiction of still existing patriarchal mind set in Indian society is very genuine. One of the antagonist is not a happy man because his wife is infertile. Here, he cannot even remotely consider the probability that maybe he is sterile or that he is shooting ' blanks '. The rape, torture and mutilation of the protagonist's wife is similar to the new Delhi Nirbhaya Rape / Murder case (2012). It may seem that the torture of the antagonists was a tad too realistic. Same can be said for the initial intercourse scene. People cursing is also a bit much for a mainstream movie. The lack of training of the Policemen was very clearly indicated. In the movie they are seen armed with ancient rifles. In fact this is reality of the Police Force in India. The rugged and dry beauty of Rajasthan Desert (Thar) is filmed very beautifully. Altogether the movie was quite ' different ' than the run of the mill commercial ones.