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Starring: Purav Bhandare,
Saarika, Sana Shaikh, Victor Banerjee, Rahul Bose,
Rasika Dugal, Rahul Khanna, Anupam Kher, Ankush Dubey,
Dheirya Sonecha
Director: Santosh Sivan
A fable-like journey of the eponymous eight year old
boy, Tahaan (Paurav Bhandare) lives with his grandfather
(Victor Banerjee), his mother Haba (Sarika) and older
sister Zoya (Sana Shaikh) in the serene meadows of
Kashmir. They all live in the hope that someday Tahaan's
father who's been missing for over three years, will
return.
This lil boy spends his time in the meadows with his
sheep and closest friend Birbal, his donkey, and
conjures up a million questions about this world for his
grandfather to answer. Grandpa’s profound teachings help
Tahaan to choose the right path at the time of grave
difficulties. Tahaan's mother is a powerful character
representing the woman who stands strong in the face of
hardships. The little boy's 14 year old sister Zoya
provides great support to her mother. Her concern for
her little brother Tahaan's well being makes her pivotal
in bridging the gap between right and wrong amidst
troubled times.
But Tahaan sums up courage and chases after Subhan. The
prophetic old man doesn't befriend Tahaan at first sight
but slowly warms up to his energetic and determined soul
whose love for Birbal is paramount. But at the end of
the journey, Tahaan is further disheartened when Subhan
gifts Birbal to his orphaned eight-year-old nephew, and
even the long-time helper of Subhan called Zafar (Rahul
Bose), cannot be of any assistance to poor Tahaan.
On his way back home, Tahaan
finally encounters a teenage lad Idrees, who convinces
him that his efforts would never be sufficient to get
Birbal back. Instead, he promises to get Birbal back for
a favour. All Tahaan will have to do is carry a package
across the mountains on his next journey. Seeing
Tahaan's eagerness, Idrees hands him a grenade. He tells
him that when the time is right, he will be told what is
to be done.
Cast
Tahan - Purav Bhandare
Haba – Saarika
Zoya - Sana Shaikh
Grandfather - Victor Banerjee
Zafar - Rahul Bose
Nadira - Rasika Dugal
Kuka Saab - Rahul Khanna
Subhan Daar - Anupam Kher
Idrees - Ankush Dubey
Yaseen - Dheirya Sonecha
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The death of his grandfather
leads the local moneylender Lalaji and his manager (Rahul
Khanna) to take away the assets of the family, including
their pet donkey Birbal, against repayment of a pending
loan. Now, life for Tahaan, his mother and sister takes a
turn towards rougher pastures. For Tahaan, bringing his
favourite donkey Birbal back home becomes the sole purpose
in life.
After various efforts at money-making, Tahaan approaches
Lalaji with the prospect of regaining his lost asset, but
is devastated to learn that an old man Subhan Darr (Anupam
Kher) has bought Birbal and taken him across the
mountains... the same mountains from where Tahaan's father
never returned.
Tahaan sets off on his second
journey with Subhan and Zafar, the grenade and package
tucked away under Birbal's saddle.
Very natural and fine parts played by Anupam Kher as the
old prophetic man Subhan, and even his foolish helper
Rahul Bose as Zafar which are a delight to watch. Rahul
Khanna shines as the Lalaji's business manager who strives
to bring some sort of corporate structure to the money
lending and apple business in this primitive valley. The
child artistes - Ankush Dubey as Idrees and Dheirya
Sonecha as Yaseen are remarkable.
A touchy film, brilliantly showcased story of a young
child who is obsessed with his pet donkey and how far he
can go to save his only meaning in life.
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PAW
CREDITS:
Director: Santosh Sivan
Producers: Shripal Morakhia, Mubina Rattonsey
Story & Screenplay: Santosh Sivan, Ritesh Menon, Paul
Hardart
Dialogues: Anirudhya Mitra
Director of Photography: Santosh Sivan (ISC)
Production Designer: Sunil Babu
Editor: Shakti Hasija
Music Composer Taufique Qureshi
Sound Designer: Rajakrishnan
Costume Designer: Shahnaz Vahanvaty
Sound Recordist: Paul Schwartz
Line Producer: Milind Verekar
Casting Director: Abhimanyu Ray
Executive Producers (Santosh Sivan Films): Kamal Mohammed,
Alberto Lopez, Kyoko Dan
Executive Producers (Idream): Ashish Bhatnagar, Rohit
Sharma
Assistant Directors - Ritesh Menon, Sanju Surendran,
Santosh Vasandi
Art Department - P. Chandraiah, Vaishanvi Reddy, Juhi
Shekar
Costume Department - Abdul Jabbar, Ravi Pawar, Deepti
Trivedi
Editorial Department - Sanjay Gharat, Shakti Hasija, S.N.V.
Ramana, Kireet Rathod, Joginder Singh Varna
Makeup - Ulhas Adnekar, Aamir Bhat, Mangesh Desai, Rekha
Gurav, Deepak Kharade, Tariq Ahmed Wani |
