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Tanvi The Great review: Soulful acting bogged down by uneven pacing, flat execution

Tanvi The Great review: Soulful acting bogged down by uneven pacing, flat execution

India Today18-07-2025
The soul of every underdog story is the universal spirit of human resilience and rising against all odds. Be it fighting limitations or battling adversaries, the journey must relate to human struggles. In order to find resonance among audiences, the narrative needs to honour the emotional engagement with subtle nuances and fleshed-out characters. Writer, director and producer Anupam Kher's emotional drama commences as a light-hearted take on autism, coupled with serene landscapes and heartfelt interactions. Do the plot, direction and performances serve justice to a delicately sensitive and crucial subject that demands human attention?advertisementDebutant Shubhangi Dutt accepts a Herculean challenge as ambitious as director Kher's vision as she portrays the titular role in 'Tanvi The Great'. Shubhangi, as Tanvi, considers herself to be different but no less. Inspired by her deceased father, Captain Samar Raina (Karan Tacker), an Indian Army officer, Tanvi dreams of hoisting the national flag in the Siachen at the Line of Control (LoC).While the protagonist is well-intended and determined, just like the film's narrative, there are many obstacles to her path. Can a specially-challenged individual qualify for the Services Selection Board (SSB) exams and join the Indian Army? Can an autistic girl undergo the intense physical training of the defence forces? Are patriotism and self-confidence the ultimate fuel to make you worthy of the army uniform?
'Tanvi The Great' begins as a deeply moving story, skillfully weaving a narrative of human compassion with high emotional stakes. However, the film loses focus, weighed down by an overly ambitious emotional arc that drifts from its promising premise.Tanvi's inner turmoil and angst due to the constant pursuit of not being heard has been amicably portrayed by Shubhangi. Under Kher's direction, the actor gave it her best shot in her first film. Her dedication to the craft reflects in her committed performance as an autistic girl, a challenging role for any newcomer indeed.Kher does an incredible job of extracting the acting brilliance of all the actors on board. However, the movie somehow loses its sheen as an emotionally enriching story. 'Tanvi The Great' bets big on Tanvi's dreams, but they unravel like glossy daydreams, not a grounded arc. The SSB (Service Selection Board) training feels more staged than lived-in, lacking the grit of real stakes. Defence protocols get tossed aside like plot afterthoughts, leaving realism in the rearview.Spoiler alert...Tanvi's inclination towards classical music and bhajans could have been a powerful window into her inner world. The film instead reduces a potentially nuanced trait to a caricature of savant-like brilliance. The protagonist's training under Major Srinivasan (Arvind Swami), her late father's former acquaintance, does have potential for emotional depth. But this setup is also squandered by an unrealistic training arc.Instead of showing the gruelling, incremental process required for qualifying the SSB (Service Selection Board), the film reduces Tanvi's preparation to drilling and an adrenaline-fuelled heroic act. The idea that, with minimal training, courage, will-power and endurance, the protagonist has the potential to clear SSB and reach the interview stage seems completely implausible. The SSB is a gauntlet that tests candidates over days, yet the film bypasses this reality, opting for a shortcut that diminishes Tanvi's agency and the authenticity of her struggle.advertisementThe biggest drawback of the story remains its portrayal of the Indian Army defying military and national security protocols. This fantasy, justified by the simplistic notion that "everyone has the right to dream", is a testament to the tonal clumsiness. The film's creative liberty as an excuse for emotional arc and human sensitivities ends up undervaluing the sanctity of our defence institutions.Jackie Shroff's Brigadier Joshi aka Tiger helps Tanvi to fulfill her dream. Equating the Indian Army as benevolent enablers of personal dreams, 'Tanvi: The Great' undermines the institution's discipline and the gravity of its mission.As one of the light-hearted, satirical moments meant for humour, the portrayal of a Gen-Z caricature is yet another lazy attempt at depicting youth. The stereotypical portrayal of a social media influencer, greeting elders with 'What's up' and 'yo man' peaks the ultimate cringe level. A half-baked character sketch about the obsession with selfies and Instagram followers hampers the otherwise serious tone of a sensitive story.advertisement 'Tanvi: The Great' deserves credit for centering a neurodivergent character. But instead of exploring the systemic barriers faced by autistic individuals, the film uses Tanvi's condition to justify its fantastical plot points. This approach reduces autism to a mere narrative device. The story prioritises sentimentality over substance and fails to offer an inspiring portrayal.Kher as a troubled grandfather pained by his granddaughter's struggles, once again proves his acting prowess. Throughout the film, he remains completely invested in Colonel Raina's character. His commanding screen presence gives a glimpse of his versatility. This yet again highlights the wonders 'Tanvi: The Great' would have done with well-woven characters and nuanced storytelling.Pallavi Joshi as a compassionate single mother is convincing in every frame. The talented ensemble of Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, Karan Tacker and Arvind Swamy don't have enough scope in a one-dimensional story.The film could have crafted a narrative of genuine resilience. Instead, it turns a grounded story into a Disney-esque fantasy. The tired cliches, like the Ge- Z caricature, could have been avoided to create a cast of authentic, relatable characters.advertisement'Tanvi: The Great' begins with a spark of promise, fuelled by strong performances and a heartfelt premise. But its insistence on exaggerated heroics, implausible plot devices, and stereotypical portrayals derails its potential. The result is a film that tries too hard to make its protagonist 'special', forgetting that her humanity - her flaws, struggles, and quiet triumphs - would have been enough.Stories based on sensitive subjects demand care, authenticity, and restraint. This film, sadly, delivers none of these.- Ends2 out of 5 stars for 'Tanvi: The Great'
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Anupam Kher praises 'Saiyaara' despite that it clashed with his film 'Tanvi The Great', recalls there were riots in Mumbai the day 'Saaransh' released, netizens react: WATCH VIDEO
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Anupam Kher praises 'Saiyaara' despite that it clashed with his film 'Tanvi The Great', recalls there were riots in Mumbai the day 'Saaransh' released, netizens react: WATCH VIDEO

'Saiyaara' has hit the ball out of the park when it comes to the love which the film is getting at the box office. The film released with Anupam Kher 's 'Tanvi The Great'. Despite this clash and how 'Saiyaara' has completely taken over the box office, Kher showered praise on the film. However, he also appreciated his own film for getting all the love and thanked the audience. He shared a video with the caption, "A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO SAIYAARA AND TO TANVI THE GREAT: ❤️😍 मेरा रिश्ता यशराज फिल्म्स से बहुत बहुत पुराना, गहरा और परिवार जैसा है! इसलिए मैं #AdiChopra @mohitsuri @ahaanpandayy @aneetpadda_ को बहुत बहुत बधाई और प्यार देता हूँ इस अपार सफलता के लिए! साथ मैं ख़ुद को और मेरी #TanviTheGreat की पूरी टीम को और खासकर @shubhangidutt को भी ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं देता हूँ लोगों के दिलों को जीतने के लिए।शुभांगी ने अपनी पहली ही फ़िल्म में तन्वी का रोल इतने शानदार तरीक़े से निभाकर ये साबित कर दिया की वो इस इंडस्ट्री में लंबी दौड़ लगाने आई है।अच्छी फ़िल्म अपनी अपनी जगह ढूँढ ही लेतीं ही है! कुछ प्यार और पैसे दोनों से। और कुछ कुछ बहुत बहुत प्यार से। एक बार फिर सबको मेरा प्यार और आशीर्वाद! जय हो! ❤️❤️😍😍" In this video, he said, "Mohit and me dono Mahesh Bhatt sahab ke protege hai aur hum dono ki important filmein lagi. Joh pyaar aapne meri film 'Tanvi The Great' ko diya hai woh main paise se nahi tol sakta. Of course, when a film does a business like Saiyaara, it helps the industry. It gives people courage to make these films. But courage is also to make 'Tanvi The great'. Humko itna pyaar mil raha hai from people." Kher added further, "I would like to congratulate Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda but I would also like to congratulate Shubhangi for reaching out to so many people through her work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo So, I want to thank you to all, for giving so much love to both the films. When 'Saaransh' released, Mumbai had riots and nobody watched the film in theatres. But main 40 saal se Saaransh se jaana jaata hoon. Usi tarah dono filmein apni apni kamyabi se jaani jayegi. So, well done Mohit, Well done Aditya but also well done Anupam." Netizens lauded Anupam Kher for having this sort of a healthy spirit and appreciating 'Saiyaara'. A user said, "What a sweet and big-hearted intention to appreciate the other movie that went on to get greater love and appreciation. Such noble thoughts never go in vain. The universe sees everything… at the correct time you will reap the rewards too….manifold!"

Anupam Kher hails Saiyaara's success, thanks fans for 'only love' to Tanvi The Great: ‘Ek ko pyaar aur paisa dono'
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Anupam Kher hails Saiyaara's success, thanks fans for 'only love' to Tanvi The Great: ‘Ek ko pyaar aur paisa dono'

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