Tabu

In today’s weekend blog, I am writing about an accomplished Indian actress whose name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, who is popularly known by her screen name TABU. Regarded as one of the finest actresses who works primarily in Hindi films, she has also worked in various other language films. She has often played troubled women, from literary to fictional, in both mainstream and other cinema.

She made her debut as a teenager in Dev Anand’s Hum Naujawan (1985). She made her debut as a leading actress in Telugu Film in 1991 and Hindi Film Vijaypath (1994). People realized that she could work in a serious role with Gulzar’s Maachis (1996) for which she won firs first National Award for Best Actress, and her second National Award was for Chandni Bar. She received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (critics) for Virasat, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva, Cheeni Kum, and Bhhol Bhuliya 2, along with the Best Supporting Actress Award for Haider and Best Debut Female for Vijaypath. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 2011.

In an industry where new faces come and go almost every week, one actress who has stayed relevant for decades is Tabu. She is a master of excellence when it comes to acting and remains unbeatable to date when she is 52+ years old. During 2022 she proved to be the saving grace of Bollywod, as both of her releases Bhhol Bhuliya 2 and Drishyam 2 managed to rake in big cash flow as opposed to other big banner films that had to bite the dust in 2022. In 2023, she stunned the audience with her film Khufiya.

Here are a few of her films that are currently available on OTT platforms, and if you have not seen them, please do see them.

1 Bhool Bhuliya 2

In this horror comedy, Tabu played the role of witch Manjulika who wreaks havoc in the Thakur household only to make herself heard. The film saw her in double role and most fans were left astonished with her screen presence and acting depth. It won’t be wrong to say that no one could have stood a chance to match up t the precedent that Vidya Balan had set with the Bhool Bhuliya.

Available on Netflix.

2 Drishyam and Drishyam 2

In the films, she portrays the role of an active IG of Police Meera Deshmukh in Part 1 ( and Retired IG of Police in Part 2) who is hell-bent on finding the killer of her son. Meera is a character that is complex to T. While she has been wronged and kept in the dark, her deceased son was not a saint t say the least. As far as her character goes it’s difficult to pin her under the good or evil category. She has shades of gray which were explored to maximum in the second part.

Available on Prime Video

3 Khufiya

This web film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj stars Tabu, Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi and Asish Vidyarthi. It is astory about a RAW operative Krishna Mehra, wh is assigned to track down the spy who has been selling India’s defence secrets.

Available on Netflix

4 Cheeni Kum

This movie turned out be a game changer as it was an unconventional love story between an older man and a comparatively younger woman. Tabu’s Neena Verma falls for arrogant chef Buddhadev (Amitabh Bachchan), who is even elder than her father. What follows next is a quirky romance.

Available on ZEE 5.

5 Maqbool

In Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespeare-inspired world, Tabu essayed the role of Nimmi (Lady Macbeth). While her initial impression is that f sweet innocent girl, it turns out she is strong and manipulative woman who respects her husband but has fallen for Maqbool, her husband’s most faithful man. She sets the stage for Maqbool to take over the reins of Abbaji (her husband).

Available on Disney+ Hotstar

6 Haider

In yet another Shakespeare adaption in collaboration with Vishal Bhardwaj, she played the complex character of Ghazala Meer (Gertrude in Helmet), who has an eccentric relationship with her son. The two share a love and hate relationship. Haider (Shahid Kapoor) predicament is that he does not know what to do with his mother-whether to love her, hate her, believe haer or kill her.

Available on Netflix

7 Chandni Bar

One of her most critically acclaimed roles, Tabu played Mumtaz, a naïve girl from rural India who comes to Mumbai after her family is killed in communal riots. Her character is subjected to sexual assault and violence which ultimately pushes her into underbelly of seedy bars.

Available on Prime Video

8 The Namesake

In this Hollywood film, Tabu starred opposite phenomenal Irrfan Khan. Playing a Bengali couple residing in the USA with their children, Mamesake revolves around their constant yearning for home while adapting to a new land and culture. Their struggle to adjust to hustle and bustle of America forms a powerful narrative.

Available on Disney+Hotstar

Her other notable films where she gave wonderful performances are Maachis, Virasat, Chach 420, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva, Life of Pi, Talvar, Fitoor, Golmaal Again, Missing, and Andhdhun.

Waiting for your views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

15^th December 2023

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