Maachis to Haider: 5 Timeless Films Ft. Tabu

In an industry where actors are rejected, replaced and retired on a weekly basis, those like Tabu have a range that keeps them relevant for years altogether. Be it a bar dancer or a psychotic lover, she takes up characters as a challenge and does complete justice to them. Having started her acting career at the age of 14, she has a wide repertoire of films to her credit. And mind you, these are not just any films, but those that have amassed the love of audiences and critics alike. Some of her movies, such as Maqbool and The Namesake have made it to prestigious international film festivals. Others, like Maachis and Haider are made by accomplished directors the likes of Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj for whom some artists can give their all to work with.

Tabu, though, doesn’t seek opportunities but creates them. Not only is she ageing like fine wine, but also adding a touch of timelessness to her films. She is an institution in herself: a woman who has the knack for switching between subtlety and surprise like it’s no big deal. Her mystery-driven movies are like a game of chess - the chess master being Tabu’s brilliant acting talent.

AskMen India shares 5 of her timeless films:

Chandni Bar

Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, Chandni Bar reveals the dark reality of Mumbai’s underworld riddled with prostitution and rampant gun crimes. Tabu plays the central character Mumtaz - a young rural girl who, having lost her family to communal violence, is left with no option but to become a bar dancer.

The ensuing scenes are a sad ripple effect of this decision that destroys her future family. The onus of the film lies completely on Tabu, who did a fabulous job in communicating how her husband’s association with the criminal world rubs off on their children and ruins their life. Among the four national awards the film received, one of them was ‘Best Actress’ for Tabu.

Maachis

Maachis was a deadly combination of Gulzar’s direction, Vishal Bhardwaj’s lyrics and Tabu’s acting. Set against the backdrop of Punjab post the riots of 1984, it portrays the story of a young boy who turns cool-blooded upon being labelled a terrorist by the political system and state that refused to take accountability for its actions. Even though the film had an ensemble cast with talents the likes of Om Puri and Jimmy Shergill, Tabu’s character stole the show with her layered acting and mysterious actions as always. Thanks to powerful performances such as hers, the film received both commercial and critical success.

The Namesake

The Namesake is a Mira Nair directorial based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel of the same name. Its story revolves around the life of married couple Ashima (Tabu) and Ashoke Ganguly (Irrfan Khan) who get a serious culture shock when they move to New York with their children. This was Tabu’s first Hollywood film.

She did a wonderful job of depicting the difficulties that first generation immigrants face in the US. As Ashima, she emphasized how important it is to hold onto some traditional ways and values, such as the family system in India, even if the Western world tells you otherwise.

Haider

A Vishal Bhardwaj film based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Haider was set against the backdrop of Kashmir’s insurgency conflicts of 1955. The film, starring Shahid Kapoor, Tabu and KK Menon in significant roles, was received wonderfully by critics and audiences alike.

Tabu’s performance as Haider’s mother Ghazala was particularly praised for being enigmatic. Her son, having returned to the war-ridden state, constantly questions her role in his father’s killing. Although she loves Haider, her suspicion-inducing acting makes the story a nail-biting watch full of twists and turns.

Andhadun

Andhadun is one of the most mind-boggling Bollywood films of recent times, thanks to the thousand twists and turns it throws at the audience in every scene. While Ayushmann Khuranna was immensely praised for playing a supposedly-blind pianist, Tabu’s performance was no less. The unpredictability of her character’s moves, be it killing her own husband or throwing her neighbour off the terrace, keeps you on the edge of your seat and riveted to the story. And how she maintains a straight face through it all is an art in itself!

Tabu’s films are already considered timeless but she’s only getting started. We’re sure it’s onwards and upwards from here!

Cover artwork by Dhaval Punatar/AskMen India