The trailer of the much awaited movie ‘The Tashkent Files’ by Vivek Agnihotri is finally out. The movie which seeks to answer the question, “Who killed Lal Bahadur Shastri?” will be released on the 12th of April, 2019.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWylHdfIdo]
The film revolves around former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sudden, mysterious death in Tashkent, day after he signed the historical Tashkent Agreement. As the male voiceover in the trailer says the second Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy goes to Tashkent, signs a war treaty, and then dies. The circumstances were suspicious but not even an inquiry commission was set up.
The movie appears to link Shastri’s death to the mysterious disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Mithun Da says, “What good news was Shastri ji about to bring? That Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is alive!”
Critically acclaimed actor, Pankaj Tripathi of Mirzapur fame, also appears to have a prominent role in the movie. The movie boasts of a formidable cast with Vinay Pathak, Mandira Bedi, Pallavi Joshi and Naseeruddin Shah all set to play critical roles.
The Tashkent Files touts the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri as the ‘biggest coverup’ of Independent India. The movie is also deeply embedded with political themes in the current era as Pankaj Tripathi says enigmatically, “A Prime Minister is poisoned, the Parliament is attacked, blasts occur at Mumbai but Ssshhh! Don’t say anything. Secularism!” At another point, Vinay Pathak says, “Capturing Lutyens Delhi means capturing the entire country.” Towards the end of the trailer, a character can be heard saying, “This is the land of Truth and Ahimsa, this is the land of Gandhi and Nehru.” To which, an actor in the movie replies, “Why not Shastri ji’s?”
Read also: PM, Home Minister should take a call on declassification of former PM Shastri’s death documents: CIC
The trailer creates a dark atmosphere of suspense and mystery surrounding Shastri’s death and is likely to pique people’s curiosity. The cast of the movie, studded with brilliant actors, is a further enticement for movie-goers.
Agnihotri is likely to taste commercial success with his current venture, an area where he hasn’t scored very well with his past ventures. The Tashkent Files also appears to be directed much better than Agnihotri’s earlier movies. Lal Bahadur’s tragic death in mysterious circumstances provides a great story for a thriller and if the trailer is anything to go by, it appears Agnihotri and the actors have done justice to the project.
