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Dekh Tamasha Dekh

18 April 2014Hindi1h 49m
ComedyDramaPolitical
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 11 scored reviews · 2 not rated

A timely communal satire that loses its grip in a shapeless, protagonist-free sprawl.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Timely political satire, honest and balanced
  • Criticised: Loose structure, no clear protagonist

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What 13 critics are saying

Critical reception for Dekh Tamasha Dekh is mixed-to-positive, with most reviewers acknowledging it as a rare and timely political satire that handles communal tensions with intelligence and balance. Several critics praised its stark, docu-drama approach, its refusal to be preachy, and its honest indictment of systemic failures around religious violence. Common criticisms include an overstretched, episodic narrative structure, the absence of a central protagonist, and a tendency to fall between genres without fully succeeding as either satire or drama. Commercial prospects were flagged as poor by at least one reviewer, and one critic found the film largely ineffective despite its evident intentions.

How the 11 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 13 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (13)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    Dekh Tamasha Dekh offers a combination of farcical, funny and depressing. How many movies can you say that for?

  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    This is an important film, and I do hope it gets seen widely, timely and topical as it is in the time of Muzzafarnagar, misguided mullahs and modified bhakts.

  3. Zee News

    Film review ·

    This is a film that addresses itself to ideas and thoughts buried away from human consideration. We don`t want to consider to what depth human nature can fall if pushed against a dirty wall. To record the dirt on the wall and the blood on the floor with such clarity and honesty is not within the creative powers of every filmmaker. This is an important treatise of our times, and it should not be missed by any Indian.

  4. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    What it spotlights is a system that panders to stupidity which always spreads like an epidemic. It indicts the system, i.e. police, that is so scared of religion and religion-wallas, is so desperate to seem neutral that it would rather watch people kill each other than step in and put a stop to this nonsense. The film tells us that snuffing out a riot is possible at every moment of the life of a riot. You just have to cut off phone lines first.

  5. Glamsham

    Film review ·

    Feroz Abbas Khan's DEKH TAMASHA DEKH is a well-nuanced film which is frighteningly disturbing and intelligently engaging at all levels; be it at the stark portrayal of political situations, comedy or tragic relationships. DEKH TAMASH DEKH is liberating.

  6. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    A rare film that treats its audience as intelligent enough to understand the nuances of the subject that it deals with. You may squirm in your seats as the harsh truth is served in a cold plate. Even so, go watch it because the truth always stays longer with you.

  9. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    The admirable part about this cleverly-mounted liberal dialogue is that despite its mid-90s setup, this film refuses to take sides. Khan tries too hard to stick to a multi-tracked parallel setup though, and perhaps loses out due to the absence of a sole protagonist. At times, he tilts towards an idealistic newly-transferred cop, but stops short of giving him a voice. Still, this unfamiliar balanced treatment only adds to its topicality today, at this moment, in a country on the verge of a fierce political revolution.

  10. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    ...rolls out like a play or a social commentary with staged events (often over-stretched) that result in an abrupt narrative. The stark portrayal of bare-faced reality (devoid of background music) with a cast of commoners - gives it a docu-drama flavour. 'DTD' is 'grave' alright, but offers hilarity in decent doses.

  11. Sify

    Film review ·

    Neither a biting enough political satire, nor a moving drama— Dekh Tamasha Dekh hangs precariously in-between. You understand the intention, you even connect with a few scenes, but overall the film is dismal. Avoidable.

  13. LiveMint

    Film review ·

    Like every other genre of films besides romance and action, political satire is a scarce commodity in Hindi cinema. Khan makes one without alienating any kind of audience. Far from being preachy; its politics is utterly engaging.

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