Taal (transl. Rhythm) is a 1999 Indian Hindi musical romantic drama film co written, edited, produced and directed by Subhash Ghai. Taal was premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, the “official selection” at the 2005 Ebertfest: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, and the 45th International Film Festival of India in the Celebrating Dance in Indian cinema section.
Synopsis
When the wealthy and affluent family of Mr. Jagmohan Mehta (Amrish Puri) and his son Manav (Akshaye Khanna) arrive in Chamba, India for a long vacation, they meet the beautiful daughter, Mansi (Aishwarya Rai) of a poor spiritual singer named Tara Babu (Alok Nath).
Jagmohan Mehta, as the owner of the Mehta & Mehta Group of Companies, is looking to invest in Chamba with his adroit son Manav. Over time, Jagmohan and Tara Babu become acquainted and friendly with each other.
Manav and Mansi also get to know each other, eventually falling in love.
When Manav informs his father of his relationship and intention to marry Mansi, Jagmohan is reluctant. He does not think Mansi will fit in due to her poor socio-economic background. The Mehta and Babu families continue to remain friendly and cordial.
When she hears about this, Mansi is distressed with Manav’s father’s reaction to the marriage proposal idea, but her lover assures he will convince his father to change his mind, and Mansi gives him a shawl with the embroidery of their names combined as “Manavsi”.
When Mansi’s father learns of Manav and Mansi’s affair he is at first angry, but soon agrees to travel to Mumbai to visit his cousin Prabha, who is a news reporter, and to meet Manav’s family.
Unfortunately, Tara Babu is insulted by Jagmohan’s sister-in-law, brother, and the employees and endure hostile treatment. She and her father then leave the Mehta household deeply hurt, and Mansi makes it clear to Manav to leave her alone from now on — no more relationship.
Mansi soon meets Vikrant Kapoor (Anil Kapoor), a successful and famous music producer/director, who happens to be a fan of Tara Babu’s work. With the encouragement of her aunt Prabha, she signs a three-year contract with Vikrant, and Mansi performs dance numbers and remixes of Tara Babu’s songs as well as some of Vikrant’s productions. She wins awards and becomes a sensation in India. In the meantime, Vikrant starts to fall in love with Mansi.
Matters are further complicated when Manav finds out that his family was in the wrong when they ill treated Mansi and her father and promises them that they will end up having a family photo with Mansi in it as well. Manav arrives to apologise to Mansi for what he and his family did, and she rejects him out of grief for how he treated her father. He tells her how she will come back to him. Manav’s father also doesn’t allow him to marry Mansi and promises his father that he will be the one who brings Mansi back to him.
Vikrant learns of what happened between Manav and Mansi, but he chooses to ignore it. He has a few encounters with Manav but takes them lightly.
Vikrant proposes to Mansi soon afterward, and her father, uncle, and aunt all encourage her to accept it, with the hope that it will help her forget Manav. She accepts the proposal even though she is not in love with Vikrant. After winning an International MTV Award in Canada, she returns to India to prepare for her marriage to Vikrant.
In the meantime, Jagmohan and Tara Babu patch things up after Jagmohan realises his mistake and apologises sincerely for his misbehaviour.
On the wedding day itself, Manav confronts Mansi one last time – hoping that she will honour her love for him and not marry Vikrant.
Vikrant soon realises, after seeing Mansi’s reaction on seeing Manav, that she loves Manav. He assures her that the three of them can still be friends, and urges her to honour her love to Manav. Jagmohan and Tara Babu also encourage her with the same and give their blessings, to which Manav and Mansi finally embrace.
Manav’s family takes a family picture at the Mehta household after the wedding of Mansi and Manav, as he had promised it would happen.
Cast
Anil Kapoor as Vikrant Kapoor
Akshaye Khanna as Manav Mehta
Aishwarya Rai as Mansi Shankar
Amrish Puri as Jagmohan Mehta
Alok Nath as Tara Babu
Jividha Ashta as Ila Shankar
Tanya Mukherji as Shanno Shankar
Mita Vashisht as Prabha Shankar
Saurabh Shukla as Banerjee
Supriya Karnik as Shakuntala
Prithvi Zutshi as Shakuntala’s husband, Jagmohan Mehta’s brother, Manav’s uncle
Puneet Vasishtha as Shaukat
Akash Karnataki as Siddhu
Manoj Pahwa as Santram
Rajesh Khera as Mohan Mehta
Bobby Darling as Dress Designer
Shahid Kapoor as a background dancer in song “Kahin Aag Lage”
Isha Sharvani as a background dancer in song “Kahin Aag Lage”
Anita Hassanandani in the song “Ishq Bina”
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