This is essential viewing, if only to understand the world we live in.

The film is as real as a constructed-for-the-camera document can be, with its portrayal of the professional rivalries between the investigating teams, and insatiable media persons.

A tightly-coiled procedural made with such dryness that it seems, in parts, documentarian — resembling a reenactment more than a feature film — Talvar is one of those rare films that remains constantly aware of what it is doing and what buttons it is pushing.

Talvar is an intriguing and gripping thriller and boasts of brilliant performances, witty dialogues and much more. You should definitely not miss this one.

There are few fleeting moments towards the end when it seems the scales of sympathy might be tipping in favour of the (now behind bars) parents, and that could be the only weak link in the film, after all the ruthless objectivity displayed thus far. But that doesn’t, even for a second, take away from the fact that the makers have given us a film that is as sharp as its title. Whether or not you have followed the real case, this reel retelling is definitely worth your while.

Talvar is a very well made film — despite its length and some brief scenes that could have been edited out. But it is also a very uncomfortable film to watch, and that is what makes it so good. A good film should be able to get into our skin, challenge us, shake us up and Talvar does all of that.

More than anything else, what Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar does is bring home that horrifying reality — that the life you knew could, in a blink, get flushed down the toilet, like an ‘alleged’ murder weapon maybe, never to be seen again.

One of the high points of Talvar is a long climactic sequence in which two investigating teams sit across a table and have a go at each other as they strive, with no holds barred, to get their respective points across.

Talvar is a must watch.

Talvar’s compared to Rashomon but while that wandered through forests of fantasy, Talvar boldly tackles reality. It offers totally different takes on two murders. But it is unambiguous about a third – fairness, slashed to pieces by incompetence and callous crassness.

In wiping away stains from the sword of justice, Talvar shines.

For all its positives, “Talvar” fails to keep that distance, and therefore compromises its ability to be an impartial, unbiased chronicle of what is India’s most sensational murder case.

Talvar is an absolute must-watch not just because it deserves to be seen. It NEEDS to be seen.

Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar is a disturbing revisiting of the Aarushi-Hemraj murders, one that might just see the public memory digging the remnants of the case out from the depths of oblivion. In all, Talvar needs to be watched, for its performances among other things.

Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar is one of those rare films where what is being said is much more than what is being shown on the screen. Based on the Aarushi Talwar murder case which was debated and dissected endlessly in the media for quite a while, Talvar tells us of what possibly could have happened on that fateful night. This is our Rashomon.

Overall, it’s a well-rehearsed, well-meaning film highlighting the ineptitude of our legal system. You leave the auditorium with the feeling that Aarushi will never get justice, that a re-examination of the way our judiciary functions has become necessary… You feel angry and disillusioned. Maybe things may change if enough people got angry…

TALVAR is not breakthrough cinema. Neither is it exciting or informative. In fact, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth as most in India have seen ad nauseam on national television the ‘live’ findings of the double murder on a daily basis when the murder rocked the nation in 2008. Same is happening now in the Sheena Bora murder case.

I feel the industry could have spared Aarushi and her parents this embarrassment.

It’s an extraordinary feat that Gulzar keeps the finger-wagging at bay, and delivers a sharply scripted and angry look at mishandling of the case.

…there is no denying that Talvar is easily among the best Hindi films of the year. It is in equal parts absorbing, heartbreaking, and infuriating, much like the case it’s based on.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s tight screenplay, great casting and Meghna Gulzar’s slick-yet-with-an-emotional-undercurrent handling of the material in hand, makes this an immensely watchable film. Even though rather skewed towards their point of view.

As the movie draws to an end, and you find your own truth, you will be left haunted by the images of a giddy teenager flashing on your screen…

Vishal Bharadwaj’s retelling of the Aarushi-Hemraj murders will leave you shaken and heartbroken…

It’s after a long time that I’ve seen a film that has spent so much time and effort on research. Hats off to Gulzar and Bharadwaj for their digging and making a documentary thriller, a genre that is largely unexplored in Indian mainstream cinema. To make a film like this with a cast that has no commercially viable star, you really need to believe in the story you are telling.

Taut screenplay back by extensive research, well shot and neatly edited, Talvar makes a fantastic watch. But it is important to keep in mind that it is just a film and not a statement.

Overall it’s the gritty storytelling and the remarkable actors who help make Talvar a mature, well-executed piece of work.
This makes so much more sense than those noisy television debates!

Overall, Talvar is a rusty film that disappoints.

The film has an engaging plot and is backed with superb performances. If you are planning to catch a film during this long weekend then Talvar should be your first choice.

Even if you have a whole lot to do this weekend, make a point to watch this film. I bet you haven’t seen a better whodunit in recent times in Indian Cinema.

One believes that the laws that govern our land are competent if not entirely snag-free. But Meghana Gulazar’s Talvar subliminally suggests that while the system provides a framework for doling out justice, its construct can sometimes be a contraint. As a dialogue in the film explains, “Gathering information in an investigation is often called a legal act carried out illegally. The trick is to find a balance between what is legally right and what you, as an individual, feel is right.”

Its intentions might be blunt but as a piece of cinema Talvar is a sharp procedural.

Armed with in-depth research, powerful screenplay and brilliant directorial skills, Gulzar keeps the drama engaging and taut. Irrfan, Konkana Sen and Neeraj Kabi sink into their characters and yet their awareness about presenting the case is palpable. This ain’t just an intense story that needed to be told. It’s a must watch for facts, as they are presented and consumed, could be stranger than fiction.

Talvar is a compelling piece of cinema. Not to be missed.

Talvar shines because of its loftily detailed screenplay. It is hard to find suspense in a widely discussed case like Aarushi’s. It is inevitable to be aware of every detail, prominent and petty ones alike, given the amount of media interest in the murder.

Talvar makes an elegant and convincing case for the Talwars, but it ignores one of the biggest factors behind their conviction. A separate, cautionary tale can be spun on how news anchors in hot pursuit of ratings and tabloid-influenced editors stacked the odds against the couple. Avirook Sen’s book Aarushi provides several instances of how unverified claims about the private lives of the Talwars created an unassailable image of the dentists as scheming and swinging monsters.

Meghna Gulzar’s direction is commendable as ‘Talvar’ is a pretty well made film and might manage to strike a chord with the audience who like realistic films. But to be honest, the film might not be able to do the same with audience who like masala entertainers and hence we would say that ‘Talvar’ is a strict no-no for the masala flick fans.

The extensive research done in constructing this film speaks for itself. Re – visiting the same tale with the intention of creating clarity in the minds of the audience was the purpose behind making Talvar which may or may not be achieved.