Rating: 3.5/5
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Takia, Girish Karnad, Anant Mahadevan, Sharmila Tagore, Benjamin Gilani, Jaaved Jaaferi
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

8 x 10 Tasveer is the story of Jai Puri (Akshay Kumar) who is a forest ranger in Canada. Living with his girlfriend Sheila (Ayesha Takia) he has nothing to do with his father Jatin’s (Benjamin Gilani) multi million dollar business. However, one day his father dies on his boat. This surprises many as Jatin was a strong swimmer and often traveled on his boat.

Now Jai has an ability to see into people’s past after seeing their latest picture. He has helped many find their lost relatives like that. Detective Happi (Jaaved Jaaferi) arrives on the scene claiming to be a man who has benefited a lot from Jatin’s help. He tells Jai that according to him, Jatin has been murdered and his death is not as simple as it seems. Jai too on the other hand is quite restless. He has this recurring dream which shows his father asking him for Jai’s help.
And that’s what leads Jai into a search to discover the truth behind his father’s death. The picture taken just before his father’s death shows Jatin, Jatin’s brother Sunder (Anant Mahdevan), Jatin’s lawyer Anil (Girish Karnad) and Adit (Rushad Rana). Jai begins to suspect each of them as the murderer. But every time he sets about trying to find out who the killer is, the person in question gets killed. Just when Jai thinks he has found his father’s real killer, there is yet another twist in the tail.

Will Jai ever be able to find the real killer? And when he does what ghosts from the past will he unearth?

8 x 10 Tasveer is a brilliantly made film. From the script to the direction, Nagesh Kukunoor has done every job with perfect precision. The script leaves you at the edge of your seat and the ending is something that you would never expect.

And I think when Nagesh sent on email on Thursday evening requesting reviewers to not disclose the end, it made complete sense! No one should reveal the end for this one!
In terms of acting, all those who questioned Akshay’s superiority at the box office will be eating their words. I was at an early morning screening and the theatre was 80% full. That speaks a lot for a working day first day first show. He has carried out each scene with perfection and this is definitely one of his best performances till date.

Ayesha Takia who is now crediting herself as Ayesha Takia Azmi delivers one of her better performances. She shows many shades in her character and each is pulled off well. Sharmila Tagore plays the mother’s role with ease. The rest of the cast have done an equally good job but since the film does revolve largely around Akshay, it his performance that stays with you well after the film.

All in all 8 x 10 Tasveer is a very well made film that will get the cash registers ringing at the box office once again!