Title: Tumko Meri Kasam

Cast: Anupam Kher, Adah Sharma, Ishwak Singh, Esha Deol

Director: Vikram Bhatt

Where to watch: In theatres near you

Rating: HHH

Vikram Bhatt’s latest offering Tumko Meri Kasam has a central theme that can probably be summarised as the protagonist’s promise to his dear wife could have been broken by a murder involved. Anupam Kher who plays a 60 something Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of the IVF Chain, Indira, is the accused here. The man who has created an empire in the medicine domain, sees himself in the dock with Sushant Singh assuming the role of the prosecutor while standing in defense is Esha Deol’s character.

But what is effectively staged as a courtroom drama is significantly shown as indeed projected as a heart-achingly honest love story. Adah Sharma plays Dr. Murdia’s wife whose love, dedication and commitment towards making her husband’s dream realised is immersed in integrity. In fact, it’s Ishwak and Adah’s chemistry that shines with its sincerity. Of course, you have Anupam Kher who plays the protagonist with an exceptional ease, and the versatile Sushant Singh whose presence is as towering as the craft on display, but it’s Adah’s ability to emote and Ishwak’s ease of the performance that sticks.

Vikram Bhatt who has given us some really interesting films in the past, moves miles away from his trademark horror genre. In fact, he makes a heartfelt film that will leave you teary-eyed. The film has its fair share of limitations and irregularities, but at the heart of Vikram’s writing lies the essence of the man whose ideology, ambition and the ability to bounce back need to be cherished.

The back-and-forth nature of the story shows how a simple middle class man from Udaipur nurtures the dream of opening and making the Indira IVF Chain (Rs 20,000 crore empire with just Rs one thousand left in his pocket) even while the society, the parents and the pals keep ridiculing him as a sex doctor. Standing right alongside him with a steadfast resolve is his wife who ensures that her man must not lose the sight of his goal in serving the society at large. What runs parallel is the track involving the doctor being held as an accused of a murder in the current time. Will he prove his innocence ultimately? Will his dream be shattered by the conspirators and the cunning forces operating around him? You will have to watch the film to get the answers.

As for the performances, Anupam Kher proves once again why he continues to remain the dependable performer that he is. Adah Sharma should do more work, more often for the effectiveness of her expressions need to be exploited in the ever expansive world of cinema and the OTT space. Ishwak is simply impressive with his ease and his honesty as a mature performer. Sushant Singh is his usual commanding self while Esha Deol shows earnestness in her silver screen comeback.