9 years of Tamasha: Why Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone's Imtiaz Ali film continues to speak to a generation

It's been nine years, and people are still grappling with and decoding what Tamasha was as a film. Being the most relatable to millennials, the film explores people's consciences. Imtiaz Ali penned and directed the 2015 romantic drama/psychological coming-of-age film, which Sajid Nadiadwala's Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment produced. Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor are the main actors in the film. A. R. Rahman composed the score and album of music for the film, and Irshad Kamil wrote the lyrics.

Overview of Tamasha: A non-linear journey of self-discovery

For the uninitiated, Tamasha, a nonlinear storyline, follows Ranbir's character, Ved Vardhan Sahni, through three distinct periods: when he is a little boy of nine, a teenager of 19, and an adult of 30. The film's protagonist is a guy who's lost his edge while conforming to societal norms for acceptable behaviour. The fundamental idea of the film is the erosion and loss of identity that occurs when one tries to integrate back into society.

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Ved Vardhan Sahni, the protagonist, has a challenging time conforming to societal standards. While going through this, he begins to lose touch with who he really is, and the story unfolds around his journey to find his life's calling.

Mixed reception and box office performance

Film critics gave Tamasha mixed reviews upon its release on November 27, 2015, with some praising Ranbir and Deepika's performances and others critiquing the film's complicated premise. Compared to its ₹87 crore budget, the film's worldwide gross was ₹136.63 crore. 

Tamasha had a weak run at the box office upon its initial release, but it went on to amass a dedicated fan base, particularly among younger generations.

Characterisation and the role of emotional agility in Tamasha

Previously, Ali regarded Ved (Ranbir) and Tara (Deepika) as emotionally agile and storytellers, respectively. He referred to these people as the closest to him. In Tamasha, the protagonists both opt not to reveal their identities when they initially meet. This was the film's way of honouring star Dev Anand, and to perfect his mime skills, Ranbir studied with mime performers.

It's interesting to note that all of the film's emotional tenors were taken into consideration when designing the outfits. The film's depiction of mental health is renowned. Ranbir portrays a character exhibiting signs of borderline personality disorder, illustrating a mental health crisis.

Locations in India that contributed to the making of Tamasha included Kolkata, Gurugram, Delhi, and Shimla; additional locations included Tokyo and Corsica.

Where to stream Tamasha

Tamasha can be streamed on Netflix and ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

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