Political satires are frequently produced in Bollywood, and most of them (Miss Tanakpur Hazir Ho (2015) being an example) are worth a good watch. But, this one here is an amateur concoction which lacks good writing.
Tukaram (Shreya Talpade) and his wife Sunanda (Manjari Fadnis) are a farmer couple from the state of Maharashtra who have come to Uttar Pradesh with the intention of taking back the land which is rightfully theirs. The land which they claim to have inherited from their forefathers is where the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, now sits. This revelation puts the whole country in a tizzy as politicians and policemen shift in their seats and scramble to get to the root of Tukaram's alleged claim. The story then employs a comical style as the duo knock the doors of the high court.
The story is less of a satire and more of a political farce created just to vent the ire regarding the difficulties faced by farmers due to crony commercialization of land. The primary subject of the film being exploration of corruption in land deals around India, the film takes a dig at politicians - both sitting and opposing - who are known to exercise nepotism to help industrialists grab lands from poor farmers who are then left with the only option of suicide. However, the silly premise which the film bases its whole mountainous topic on is hardly entertaining. It reeks of unimaginative writing, with no care given to research.
With a contemptible twist towards the end, the film faintly brushes on the history of Indian monuments and preaches about the demerits of industrialization which is often cited as a cause for development in India. Talpade is pitiful in this drama as he tries to look appealing in his avatar as a Maratha-faithful farmer. Fadnis should take acting lessons and improve her ability to control her expressions, which are not always helping. Supporting cast is fine, but they are not directed well.
Lastly, the title of the film is straightaway misleading. If people are thinking that it talks only about a farmer claiming to own Taj Mahal, then they will only be satisfied for about 5 minutes. Rest is pure contrived nonsense. Overall, this could be a light-hearted watch for a family only because of the theme it explores, but make sure you leave your logical thinking capability at home.
BOTTOM LINE: Ajit Sinha's "Wah Taj" is a film that is something totally different than what its title hints at. It is an amateur film about land sharks and the curse of industrialization. Watch it on TV if it airs.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
