3 Years of Tamasha

Often some things are meant to overcome the anathema of transience and attain a sublime status of immortality. Such things are hard to find in our sojourn on earth and make us wander in the realms of abstract identities. I believe it was one of my fortunes to have come across one certain piece of art that has spoken to me in myriad ways. And, I wouldn’t deny that it still continues to tug my heartstrings and help me drive inspiration in moments of both ecstasy and grief.  

It was three years back when I got to walk past the corridors of this cinematic expression created so beautifully by Imtiaz Ali. The movie Tamasha has since then found its relevance at different stages of my life. Whether it’s the incessant longing to travel the unexplored hinterlands of the world like Corsica or the quest to find yourself in the midst of all the chaos. Sometimes through the poignant words of Tara and often through the bewildered actions of Ved, Tamasha goes down my memory lane not only as a fascinating memoir but also a happy respite in times of distress.

Maybe, I am a hopeless sentimentalist who connects deeply with movies like Tamasha. And without any qualms about it, I continue to be captivated by the movie time and again. Often while being transported to another world during the five minutes when ‘Agar Tum Sath Ho’ plays on my playlist and often when I see Ved and Tara playfully dance their hearts out in the multihued streets of Corsica. And sometimes, moving to tears when Ved finds his true self only after his proposal was declined by Tara and finally convincing his authoritarian father about his true passion.

Underrated it may be, in its innocent portrayal of characters, the movie has sent out a number of messages. Ranging from career to love, travel to theatre and from family to finally finding one’s individual identity, it is a gamut of emotions that one goes through life.  I am still journeying through them as I watch the movie with a fresh lens every time. And maybe, I will reflect and write about it on some other day.

Hustling from random gaiety to conscious heartbreaks, Tamasha is a movie not to be forgotten. I have seen Tamasha an umpteen number of times, learning from it and collecting my share of inspirations through Imtiaz Ali’s enchanting writing. And probably, going to live my life watching it again and again until I have lived through an abyss of feelings.