As a fan of biographical dramas, I was excited to watch Tumko Meri Kasam, directed by Vikram Bhatt. Usually known for his horror stories, I had high hopes for this seat-gripping court-room thriller. The film is an emotional ride with court-room battles and personal turmoil based on the life of Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF. Although the idea was thrilling and the plot had much potential, I would give this movie a fair try to deliver an enthralling journey. But what stands out is the performance of all actors.
Performances:
Anupam Kher’s portrayal of Dr. Ajay Murdia is undoubtedly the standout feature of Tumko Meri Kasam. The way Kher conveys both weakness and strength is remarkable. The performance of Kher is multifaceted, reflecting his professional journey and devotion, while fighting his personal problems. Ishwak Singh, who plays the younger version of Ajay, delivers a sincere performance, and looks convincing as younger Anupam. Adah Sharma’s role as Indira is impactful but feels somewhat underdeveloped at times. While she brings warmth to her character, there are moments where I wished she was given more back story. Overall, the casting couldn’t have been better.
The Story:
The movie starts with an intense premise: Dr. Ajay Murdia(Anupam Kher) is accused of attempted murder by Rajeev Khosla(Meherrzan Mazda), who aims to take over his job as chairman of Indira IVF. The legal thriller is weaved in between a love affair that follows the early struggles of Ajay to set up a fertility clinic in the 80s. The story keeps alternating between the past and the present, highlighting his relationship with his encouraging wife, Indira. We see flashes of his life as well as the courtroom suspense. As the story unfolds, his relationship with his family and the determination to battle for his company becomes firmer.
Positive Points:
Emotional Resonance- The film does a good job of capturing moments of authentic emotion that resonate with the audience The scenes showing the connection between Ajay and Indira are genuine.
Strong Performances- Anupam Kher’s performance is a masterclass in crafting empathy with the audience.
Cinematography- The scenes are thoughtful and give some justice to the overall theme, along with good music and camera angles.
Negative Points:
Pacing Issues- The extended length of the film makes it a bit boring. A tighter editing would have been able to significantly enhance its pacing.
Weak Character Development- Whereas Kher’s character is deeply developed, the others such as Indira remain shallow.
Inconsistency- The transitions from romance to legal drama can feel confusing at times, thus making it hard for audiences to be completely immersed in either story.
Predictable- Ultimately, the movie became predictable after the second half. The climax is disappointing and the build up goes to waste.
Final Verdict:
Overall, Tumko Meri Kasam is a film with good acting but fails due to execution errors. Even though the actors try to make it good till the first half, glaring storytelling and direction lacks make the film monotonous. Also, a close-to-three-hour runtime left me wondering if the stretch was worth it. For those who appreciate good performances in emotional dramas but can tolerate pacing issues and predictability, Tumko Meri Kasam may still be worth a one-time watch.