Te3n (2016)

I always felt the movies which I watched with the least expectations were the ones I liked the most. Te3n once again confirmed my theory. The story of an old man hunting for the individual who cost his granddaughter's life could have been woefully depressing boring us (the audience) with its unending melancholy (Read Talaash). But fortunately Te3n's deft screenplay ensures the movie rumbles along at a brisk pace. So here are three things which make Te3n an engaging watch apart from the screenplay (read on there are no spoilers ahead):

Te3n

The Performances: Amitabh Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan breathe life into their characters. Amitabh plays a feeble old man run down by the scars of time and punctuates his role with a steely resolve. Nawazuddin Siddiqui turns in a restrained performance as a cop turned priest while Vidya oozes toughness as a no non-sense police woman. They say great actors convey emotions through their eyes. Amitabh, Nawazuddin and Vidya prove this adage once again by slipping effortlessly into the skin of their characters so much so that only the characters are visible and not the actors who play them.
The Setting: For suspense to work the setting is as important as the plot. Mystery writing greats such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie weave the setting into the fabric of the story such that the setting adds to the mystique and the suspense of the plot. Similarly Kolkota where Te3n is set reflects not only the mood of the characters but also the characters' tensions. Kolkota as the setting makes for an engrossing watch. Who doesn't want to watch a thriller unfold in vintage Kolkota where every street seems to tell a story of its own.
The Conclusion: I hate movies which leave the audience hanging with a 'Go Figure Yourself Out' ending. When I invest my time and money in a movie I expect a resolution and when I don't get that I infer the movie makers were either too confused to come up with an ending or too greedy to make me pay for a sequel. Either which way they lose me as a viewer forever. Te3n fortunately offers a closure not only for the characters but also for the audience. Thrillers seldom end on a positive note but there is something in the ending for everyone and that's what makes Te3n an engaging watch.

Te3n is not perfect. Frankly, the movie doesn't justify its title very well, there are some logical flaws and some implausible scenarios but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Its a perfect movie to watch on a day when you want to relax and watch something which doesn't insult your senses. I recommend it for every Amitabh Bachchan fan, this legend hasn't lost any of his earlier fire and can still turn it on when required.

Rated: Time Pass

Until Next Time,

Your Movie Buff,
J.J. Chaitanya

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