'Tumko Meri...' review: Ishwak Singh shines in overlong, melodramatic tale
What's the story
Vikram Bhatt, known for horror films such as 1929, Raaz, and Shaapit, has directed the courtroom drama Tumko Meri Kasam.
Starring Esha Deol, Ishwak Singh, Anupam Kher, and Adah Sharma, the film works in parts due to the strength of the ensemble cast.
However, this factor isn't enough to help it sail through, and a meandering, undercooked screenplay leads to the movie's downfall.
Story
Follows a doctor trapped in a false case
Loosely based on the life of IVF pioneer Dr. Ajay Murdia, TMK stars Kher as the older Dr. Murdia, while Singh essays the character in his younger years.
Sharma plays Indira Murdia, his wife.
When Dr. Murdia (Kher) is falsely accused of murder by his professional adversary Rajeev, Meenakshi (Deol) takes up his case.
Will he be able to walk scot-free?
#1
Singh and Sharma are perfect in their roles
Sharma is well-cast opposite Singh and their scenes are easily the project's biggest highlight.
Together, they play their parts extremely well: An ambitious couple that reflects the middle-class sentiment and wants to gradually work their way up.
Singh effortlessly brings a beautiful warmth and gravitas to his role and the film is at its strongest whenever he dominates the screen.
#2
Does justice to all the characters
Another appreciable aspect of TMK is how it cuts right to the chase without wasting any time and gradually peels off layers of the mystery.
Despite its predictable nature, I found myself immersed in the investigation track, at least in the beginning.
Even though the story is narrated in a non-linear way, it's never confusing and all the characters receive ample screen time.
#3
Unfortunately, it isn't able to sustain momentum
However, after a promising start, the film starts to crumble.
The present-day track, featuring Kher and Deol, feels extremely dated and weary and tries every trick in the book to spice things up.
Additionally, weirdly enough, TMK has a typical TV show-esque feel to it.
Everything is loud and exaggerated, and TMK's interesting ideas are drowned out due to the heavy melodrama.
#4
The blend of numerous genres doesn't work well
A romantic story, a saga about a man's breakthrough IVF achievements, and a courtroom drama—Tumko Meri Kasam wants to be everything all at once.
It can't make up its mind about the track it wants to commit to, and it could have been much better had it not tried to awkwardly blend these contrasting genres.
The ear-piercing background music does it no favors, either.
#5
At nearly three hours, it's too long
The story isn't strong enough to last for 166 minutes and the film overstays its welcome.
This isn't a whodunit, so the "mystery" aspect dies in the first half itself, and thereafter, the film just keeps slogging on.
Moreover, each character is either black or white, the antagonist seems straight from a '90s film, and the lack of nuance is TMK's other major undoing.
Verdict
Can safely skip 'Tumko Meri Kasam'; 2/5 stars
TMK has a somewhat engaging story and the actors rarely disappoint.
Had it been clear about its overall tone, had sharper execution, and shorter runtime, it would have been an enjoyable entertainer.
It's not entirely successful at mining its potential, and while there are some excellent sequences, on the whole, Tumko Meri Kasam doesn't qualify as a good film.
2/5 stars.