September 8, 2008 – Sifymovies - (Sonia Chopra) – The bonds between an animal and a human being cannot be denied, they carry special effects and this is the message of this  movie. It probably stems from a lack of adult conditioning, lack of fear, and lack of the human ego that insists it's superiority over all other species. Naturally, almost all kids' movies are revolved around this precious tie. This one, too.

Tahaan’s case: Purav Bhandare,Rahul Bose,Anupam Kher,Sarika,Victor Banerjee,Rahul Khanna,Sana Shaikh,Ankush Dubey,Dheirya, Durector: Santosh Sivan.:

I did fear that Tahaan would have the regular trappings of the kiddo-pet flick with the formula of friendship and separation. The film does showcase a little boy's concern for his pet donkey and what he does to get him back, but still, the film is intelligent, full of things to say and supremely enjoyable.

Tahaan is a playful eight-year-old who lives with his Habba mother (Sarika) and elder sister Zoya (Sana Shaikh). His father has gone missing since three years now, and the family is under financial strain owing to a huge loan. The mother sells off almost everything to pay the interest on the loan and that includes giving off Tahaan's beloved donkey. Everyone reacts differently to Tahaan's inconsolable state – his mother is sympathetic, but his sister and neighbourhood friends ridicule. The donkey, we learn its name is Birbal, is further sold to Subhan Darr (Kher) a short-tempered man.

The man has bought the donkey as a gift for someone and Tahaan decides that the only way to get back Birbal is to somehow join the troupe on their journey. They are joined by girl-chasing, entertainingly stupid Zafar (Bose). The film then showcases the risks Tahaan takes to rescue his beloved Birbala.

This simple, staid story gives off enough messages nonchalantly. Note the scene where the kids are simulating a terrorist gunning. While one bunch has the toy guns that they use gleefully; the other group plays the frightened victims who get shot dead. It's heartbreaking to see children, so casual about cold murders and so influenced; they think it normal to incorporate it as a game.

Technically, the film is a masterpiece. But that you already knew since director-cinematographer Santosh Sivan is at helm. Beautiful, beautiful Kashmir is cold and serene; an irony to its political situation. You wonder to yourself if you'll be lucky enough to see it for yourself at least once.

But the lyrical shots are not principal, rather incidental, to the tale-telling. And that's refreshing coming from Sivan known by his exotic shot-taking. Of course there are those aesthetic shots of sun-rays streaming in, landing right on Tahaan's sleepy face.

Sivan, for once, is not so serious and has some fun with his camera angles, placing it once, right behind the donkey' wide ears. More subtle humour is there to relish throughout. A truck standing in the background has the words 'No girlfriend. No tension' inscribed above its nameplate.

Performances are flawless. Sarika brings out the grief of her character without once, reducing it to a sympathy-seeking one. Sana Shaikh does very well. Anupam Kher is great as the tough on the outside-but-marshmallow inside character. Rahul Bose brings on the laughs. Victor Banerjee is the loving grandfather who makes the warmth of his character come alive.

The film belongs to Purav Bhandare who plays Tahaan without reducing it to one of those smart-mouthed, desperately cute child characters. He's incorrigibly adorable, as all children are, but a toughie as well, whose world includes curfews and random midnight interrogations by the army. Little wonder that once Birbal is gone, he doesn't waste too much time crying and even offers to work hard in exchange for his pet.