‘Talvar’ premieres at Toronto International Film Festival

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Toronto: Meghna Gulzar's upcoming Talvar (named Guilty in international markets) premiered at the ongoing 40th Toronto International Film Festival. Shree Paradkar, Editor of Toronto Star was present at the screening. However, this was not any ordinary experience for her. Paradkar is Aarushi Talwar's Aunt and she watched her niece's murder story play out in front of her eyes.

The 'Noida double murders' case became a sensation in the country in 2008 which involved the dual murders of Aarushi Talwar, 13 and the household help Hemraj Banjade, 45. Aarushi's parents were convicted thereafter and are currently serving a life sentence in jail for the murder of their own daughter.

September 14th welcomed a packed screening of the movie at the film festival. Recalling her experience, Paradkar realized that she was more like her sister Nupur than she thought. She admitted to bracing herself to see a portrayal of Aarushi. However, it was seeing her character alive moments before the murder that was nearly her undoing. She expressed her relief at the fact that the characters and facts shown were not embellished for the sake if dramatization.

The film presents three versions of events as the investigators go through the murder weapons, motives, etc. The only scene that was able to overwhelm her was the one in which a dental clinic assistant slashes Aarushi's character's throat. She confesses her complaint with the film regarding only the incompetence shown on the investigators' part and not their "malice or criminal wrongdoings".

Starring Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma and Neeraj Kabi, Talvar releases in India on October 2.