Taal (1999)

Taal Poster
Original Title: ताल

On a sight-seeing road trip of India, U.K. based Manav Mehta meets Mansi, the daughter of a singer, Tarababu. He is attracted to her, and makes his attraction known. She also is attracted to him eventually. Her dad approves of Manav, and both go to Bombay to meet his family. On their arrival itself, they are shunned and treated as second class citizens, and this lasts throughout the day.

Introduction
"Taal" (Rhythm) is a Bollywood musical romantic drama, launched in 1999. It is directed by the multi-talented Subhash Ghai, likewise called the 'Showman' of Indian cinema and produced under his banner, Mukta Arts. The film stars Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna in the lead roles.

Plot
"Taal" tells the story of Mansi (played by Aishwarya Rai), the gorgeous and skilled child of a spiritually talented but economically struggling singer from rural Himachal Pradesh. She falls for Manav (played by Akshaye Khanna), the wealthy and kind-hearted child of an industrialist who takes place to visit their town on a vacation. The love blooms between them, but when Mansi and her daddy method Manav's household, they are embarrassed and turned down for their lower social status.

Ravaged, Mansi chooses to make something of herself on her own and ends up conference Vikrant (played by Anil Kapoor), a famous music director. Vikrant assists Mansi embark on an effective singing profession, and in the process, he falls for her. On the other hand, Manav, who recognizes his family's mistake, leaves his home in search of Mansi and chooses to win her back.

Efficiency and Soundtrack
Aishwarya Rai's efficiency as Mansi is praised for her innocence, grace, and dancing prowess. Anil Kapoor provides a nuanced efficiency as the enthusiastic music director helplessly in love, and Akshaye Khanna flawlessly embodies the privileged, yet repentant, son of an abundant industrialist. The movie's soundtrack, made up by the genius A.R. Rahman and lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi, is undoubtedly one of its highlights. The music scored by A.R. Rahman wonderfully encapsulates the essence of the film, containing a mix of emotional melodies and alert numbers. The tune 'Taal Se Taal Mila' became a chartbuster and is considered a classic.

Styles
The movie contains a much deeper style of class dispute and the social discrimination towards the less privileged. It illustrates the journey of a typical town woman, her battles with societal standards, and how she increases above all of it through sheer determination and skill. It also showcases the transformative power of music, love, and forgiveness.

Conclusion
"Taal" ends on a delighted note with the love triangle resolving itself. After many misconceptions and heartbreaks, Mansi and Manav lastly reunite, understanding the depth of their love for each other, while Vikrant happily accepts their relationship. Not just was the film a business success, however it also got critical praise for its direction, performances, and especially for its harmonic and impactful music. The film was also evaluated at the Chicago International Film Festival. Nevertheless, "Taal's" genuine success depends on its timeless appeal and the emotional resonance it continues to hold for audiences even twenty years after its release.

Top Cast

  • Anil Kapoor (small)
    Anil Kapoor
    Vikrant Kapoor
  • Akshaye Khanna (small)
    Akshaye Khanna
    Manav Mehta
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (small)
    Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
    Mansi Shankar
  • Amrish Puri (small)
    Amrish Puri
    Jagmohan Mehta
  • Alok Nath (small)
    Alok Nath
    Tara Babu
  • Jividha Astha
    Ila Shankar
  • Tanya Mukherji
    Shanno Shankar
  • Mita Vasisht (small)
    Mita Vasisht
    Prabha Shankar
  • Saurabh Shukla (small)
    Saurabh Shukla
    Banerjee
  • Supriya Karnik (small)
    Supriya Karnik
    Shakuntala
  • Prithvi Zutshi
    Shakuntala's husband, Jagmohan Mehta's brother, Manav's uncle