Anupam Kher Studio and NFDC’s Tanvi The Great is the story of an autistic girl who, by sheer dint of hard work and determination, achieves what appears to be almost an impossibility for her.
Tanvi Raina (Shubhangi Dutt) is an autistic girl whose father was a Captain in the Indian Army. Even while she was a child, her father had died minutes before he was to hoist the Indian flag at Siachen. After growing up, Tanvi takes it upon herself to hoist the Indian tricolour at Siachen to fulfil her late father’s unrealised dream. Of course, only armymen are permitted to do so and for this, Tanvi trains under Major Srinivas (Arvind Swami) so that she can join the Army. But under Army rules, people suffering from autism are not permitted to join the Army. Does Tanvi realise her dream of fulfilling her father’s dream?
Anupam Kher and Abhishek Dixit have written a story which has noble intentions but the story line is thin. The screenplay, penned by Abhishek Dixit, Ankur Suman and Anupam Kher, is quite repetitive and most of the times, it does not tug at the heart strings in the way it should’ve. The last portion (from the time when Tanvi is being interviewed by senior army officers) is the best part of the drama and that could move the weak-hearted to tears. While the proceedings could appeal to a very thin section of the audience, it definitely does not have universal appeal. There are some scenes which look out of place. For instance, Tanvi’s grandfather, Colonel Pratap Raina (Anupam Kher), sometimes talking insensitively to autistic Tanvi doesn’t seem proper. Perhaps, the weakest part of the screenplay is that it doesn’t move the viewers emotionally in spite of being the story of an autistic girl. Abhishek Dixit, Ankur Suman and Anupam Kher’s dialogues are alright.
Shubhangi Dutt acts with aplomb in her debut role. She plays the autistic Tanvi with conviction. Anupam Kher is so-so as Colonel Pratap Raina. Pallavi Joshi gets limited scope as Vidya Raina, but she is natural. Boman Irani is alright as Raza Saab. Jackie Shroff makes a mark as Brigadier Joshi. Arvind Swami lends ordinary support as Major Srinivas. Karan Tacker makes his presence felt in a brief role as Captain Samar Raina. M. Nasser leaves a mark as Brigadier K.N. Rao. Gautam Ahuja acts confidently as Mukund alias Max. Iain Glen (as Michael Simmons), Ashish Kaushik (as Dogra), Tanvi Shinde (as young Vidya Raina), Kimaya Singh (as young Tanvi), Devender Madan (as Brigadier Joshi’s mother), Ritwik Tomar (as cadet Aman), Nipun Bansal (as Rajat Dangwal)and the others provide fair support.
Anupam Kher’s direction is average. He has neither been able to make a tear-jerker nor an entertaining fare. M.M. Keervani’s music is melodious but the absence of hit songs is sorely felt. Kausar Munir’s lyrics are too simplistic. Kruti Mahesh’s choreography is so-so. M.M. Keervani’s background music is fairly good. Keiko Nakahara’s cinematography is nice. Action and stunt scenes (choreographed by Sunil Rodrigues) are functional. Urvi Ashar Kakkar’s production designing, and Rizwan Thakur’s art direction are alright. Tushar Parekh’s editing ought to have been sharper.
On the whole, Tanvi The Great is a dull fare which will find the going at the ticket windows tough. It will appeal to a very thin section of the audience but that would just not be enough.
Released on 18-7-’25 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.