Te3n is an intense dark whodunit thriller with some sub-layers. Story revolves between three main character John Biswas (Amitabh), Martin (Nawaz) and Sarita (Vidya). John plays victim whose granddaughter Angela had been kidnapped and being murdered 8 years ago. He still is searching the man who kidnapped Angela. Investigation officer of that time Martin failed to solve the case and turned into a 'padri'. Sarita is the new investigation officer and an incident connected these three people that after 8 years of Angela's kidnap, another occurrence has taken place and of same style. The film is on searching the kidnapper. It's skilfully simple but very brilliantly rendered. It is very clear that the relation between Amitabh and director Ribhu Dasgupta is awesome that portrayed in the ease of execution of the film. Making a television series 'Yudhh' with Big B definitely made the difference. Also producer Sujoy Ghosh mastered the technique of working with Amitabh. Big B is just on the top form of his career as he is delivering master class again and again. Through the film he carried the grief of a victimized old man is just next to best and peerless. But the character more or less carried the same tone of victimized senior citizen he recently played in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Wazir and its very co-incidental that the treatment of these two characters is almost same. In both of the case after being a victim of a situation where the system failed to do the needful then it turned into a one man show but in comparison to supporting role, Wazir's Farhan Akhtar got more scope to act than Nawaz in 'Te3n'. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, probably one of the most talented actor Bollywood ever have is as usual worth watching but there were no such extra scope for any actor except Big B to excel their previous best. But Nawaz's character portrayed dual tones as he played investigation officer first then he turned to a father in a church and the slight difference of two mannerisms is present. In 'Kahaani' Nawaz was a rude police officer whereas this time he is on receiving end. Vidya Balan reminds us of 'Kahaani again through her looks and portrayal of a investigation officer. Sabyasachi Chakraborty (Mr. Sinha) plays a significant role but the trademark sharpness of his acting is nowhere and he is just a misfit for the thriller. Watching him on screen was a real shock as he remains expressionless. As the director and producer are 'Bangali' there is no big deal that some Bengali actor shown face in the film. Tota Roychowdhury, Sagnik and Arindol Bagchi grab a blink and gone role but their character never affects the film. It's really a negative sign that just because of a Bollywood film the efficient actors from Kolkata are showing their face in a random basis without any aim to be noticed. The entire film has been made in Kolkata. The feel of the tiny by lanes, trams and ancestral house of city through Tushar Kanti Roy's lens is undeniably a visual treat for Bengalis. Khidirpore, Lalbazar, Wrtiters Building, Second Hooghly Bridge, Rabindra Setu, Nimtala Ghat, Cemetry to idol immersion just like a heritage tour of Kolkata. In a chase sequence the use of Santragachhi car shed is very indicative and seems real because the presence of original car shed. Last time in Shoojit Sircar's 'Piku', where Amitabh plays a Bangali Babu was mostly shot in Kolkata but 'Te3n' is completely a Kolkata based story. Ribhu had done a commendable job but editing and background score would have been better. The set designing has fulfilled all the criteria of detailing as presence of radiogram and old fashion wooden cabinet in Amitabh's house is superb. Using a going to be a scrap scooter somehow complemented the economic class of the character. Bargaining in the fish market and thumb-pressing the fish to check freshness is typical Bengali attire and Big B is just stupendous in all the frames. Uses of song are justified but using Bengali song "Sujan Majhi Re'' is to instigate the Bengali sentiment. Director successfully leaved a conjecture game through the film for the viewer which is most important for a whodunit. Now, why Te3n? There are three main character involved in search of a criminal in three different ways and three different mindset. They reached on three different conclusions but the mastery is here that three of them are right on legal way. This unique treatment made 'TE3N' a worth watching thriller.
Review of Te3n
