Tehran movie John Abraham, Manushi Chillar and others is now streaming on Zee5. Is it worth watching? Read the full review here.
Director – Arun Gopalan
Cast – John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, Hadi Khajanpour, Neeru Bajwa
Rating – 4
Duration – 118 Minutes
Entertainment is flooded with action thriller with same generic plot and cliched characters and glossy narrative with an invincible hero, but Arun Gopalan directorial Tehran will hit differently. This one is an authentic geo-political thriller that builds its pace, develop the characters, let the main narrative slowly engross you without you even realizing and then sets your pulse racing with a narrative running from Delhi to Abu Dhabi and Tehran. This one hits you hard, not just the deafening explosions, but with the weight of consequence, and at the center of this gripping thriller is John Abraham as Rajeev Kumar, giving one of his most restrained and human performances to date.
Based on 2012 attack on Israeli diplomats in Delhi, Tehran takes shape in the backdrop of two warring nations, and India turning into their battle ground. Iranian radical bombs an Israeli diplomat in capital that injures many and claim one live, a young flower-seller girl, who was personal to DCP Rajeev Kumar (John Abraham). This case isn’t any other incident, it’s a calling and Rajeev Kumar, takes it personally and answers it.
During the second half there is a crucial tonal shift, amidst of bureaucratic red tape and diplomatic pressure, which starts to strangle the investigation, Rajeev takes an unwarranted risk, he goes rogue with his team. He is being hunted by two nations, abandoned by his own government, and on the other side of the aisle, an international radical terrorist along with his own gang is hunting Rajeev, and amidst of all this crisis, the movie reaches its climax. This is not a hero in search of glory. It’s a human being attempting to do the right thing, in a system that has conditioned him to turn a blind eye.
Apart from John Abraham, the film also features Neeru Bajwa as Sheilaja, a diplomat whose silence speaks louder than words, she adds poise and cool steel to the cast. Making her foray into action thriller, Manushi Chhillar, her character SI Divya Rana is someone who a good team player, she is the support everyone needs, she adds weight to the narrative, particularly as the story takes a quick, dramatic turn.
Asraf Khan, the real and true villain, played by Hadi Khajanpour is a menacing figure, someone who is blinded by his own hate that he is slowly consumed by it, and doesn’t even realize it. He is someone who will give you nightmares, he is that good in the film.
The film is visually breathtaking, Ievgen Gubrebako and Andre Menezes’s cinematography is sublime. Whether it’s the whirling worn out Old-Delhi or the frozen calm of Abu Dhabi, each setting captures the mood of the characters. The visual tone cleverly changes with the story.
The background score is masterfully crafted by Ketan Sodha, its impactful, and never overwhelming. Editing by Akshara Prabhakar keeps the pace steady and even.
The script is penned by Ritesh Shah, Ashish Verma, and Bindni Karia, and trio cleverly constructed a narrative which refuses to take sides or simplify motivations, which allows the viewer to sit in the uncertainty of the greys. India’s role as a middle-power attempting to navigate international alliances is seen with depth, which is commendable.
On must hail the makers for not using the slow-motion moments and people jumping off moving trains, the action is sharp, crips and realistic. Each chase, each shootout feels necessary, nothing is out of the place. There are no soaring orations, no victory laps, just an individual, trying to do the right thing.
Streaming on ZEE5, produced by Maddock Films and Bake My Cake Films, Tehran is an extra-ordinary thriller. It’s smart, realistic and John Abraham at his best, one doesn’t need anything more!
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