T-Series Films, JA Entertainment and TVB Films’ Tara Vs Bilal (UA) is the story of two persons who enter into a fake matrimonial alliance but end up falling in love with one another. Tara (Sonia Rathee) comes to London for her honeymoon but her husband deserts her after making away with her jewellery and money. Bilal (Harshvardhan Rane), whose hotel Tara and her husband had checked into, throws Tara out as soon as he gets to know that she is broke. As she has no money, Tara takes up a job in a club. One day, she meets Bilal in the club. By the by, the two get friendly. Bilal requests her to support him in his ‘marriage game’ as his family is forcing him to settle down in life but he doesn’t want to get hitched. Tara agrees. So, he takes Tara home to his family and tells the family members that they would soon be getting married. He tells Tara to misbehave with the family members so that they themselves would ask him to call off the marriage. But that doesn’t happen. Tara and Bilal get married. Soon after the marriage which was never meant to be he packs her off to India, and informs his family about the fake marriage. What happens thereafter?
Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh’s story and screenplay are half-baked and, therefore, fail to appeal to the audience. There are innumerable guys/girls whose families pressurise them to get married but how many people would do what Tara and Bilal plan? In other words, Bilal’s plan to pretend that they are ready for marriage is so ridiculous that it just doesn’t make sense. What’s more, when he realises that he cannot wriggle out of the wedding plan, he actually gets married. The viewers are unable to understand why he cannot tell his family members upfront that he does not want to marry Tara. As it is, he does reveal to his family soon after his wedding that he had sent away his ‘bride’ back to India. If he could confess a day after the wedding, what prevented him from telling them before the marriage? Tara takes up a job in London because she has no money. Why she doesn’t think of returning to India by borrowing money is not explained. Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh’s dialogues are ordinary.
Harshvardhan Rane looks handsome and acts well in the role of Bilal. Sonia Rathee is so-so as Tara. Mona Ambegaonkar, Niki Walia, Shagufta Ali, Deepika Amin and the others are adequate.
Samar Iqbal’s direction is kiddish. Manan Bhardwaj’s music and lyrics are okay. Naz Choudhury’s choreography is fair. Background music (Japjisingh Valecha and Gaurav Godkhindi) does not add much to the drama. Amarjeet Singh’s cinematography is quite alright. Dipika Kalra’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Tara Vs Bilal is a disaster of a film. It is a non-starter and will go almost completely unnoticed.
Released on 28-10-’22 at Cinepolis Bhandup (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was very weak everywhere.

By
Komal Nahta