Tashkent Records REVIEW: Vivek Agnihotri's film is tiring and OTT's repetition of Shastri's mysterious death

Film Name: Tashkent's Files

Director: Vivek Agnihotri

Cast: Shweta Prasad Basu, Naseeruddin Shah, Joshi Pallavi, Pankaj Tripathi, Mithun Chakraborty and Vinay Pathak

Rating: 1.5 / 5 [Appartement] "Anyone who raises soil meethi ) is strangled," repeated the film Vivek Agnihotri titled The Tashkent Files several times in a film of more than two hours. The film produced by Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi essentially denounces the "reality" behind the mysterious death of the second Indian Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who died a few hours after India signed the Tashkent treaty with Pakistan to resolve the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

In the midst of several theories, the film through the prism of Ragini Phule (Shweta Prasad Basu) attempts to engrave many stories based on major documented facts, confidential narratives and archived video interviews journalists and politicians of the past. Shastri's family members and their story are also part of the scenario that fails terribly at the end, making it a tedious watch. Even if we ignore the sloppy scenario and the timing of the film, motivated by a political agenda to shift votes to a given party, Agnihotri fails to establish or provide anything more than what is available on social media to the death of Shastri.

The dramatic effect of the film is a total chorus, while the ambient music that evokes a few tears only makes one's eyes shake. While you expect the film to resume in the second half, OTT and fiction make it more yawning than nationalism. Although the film takes a stand on "nationalism" and the term "anti-national", the context in which it was presented seems to have a lot of prejudices. The whole plot aims to prove the greatness of Shastri, about which we have no doubt, defaming the Indian National Congress, accusing them indirectly of all the conspiracy is too obvious to be ignored.

Despite actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Pallavi Joshi, Pankaj Tripathi, Mithun Chakraborty and Vinay Pathak in essential roles, this seems like a mess. Basu as Ragini is too too dramatic in parts making me tremble of teeth, while Mithun as Shyam Tripathi is convincing as a corrupt politician. Pankaj Tripathi shines in his small role and proves again why he is a jewel and a boon for Indian cinema. Naseeruddin's talent is ruined by a random appearance.

Although the film is suitable for a criminal act in the death of Shastri, it is not the chapter of the story you want to reopen, at least not via an Agnihotri movie! Better to visit archives and do some research yourself!