Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Beulah Bram A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

sid-coolking Ajay Devgn subtle and Rahul Boses stunning villain portrayal was the highlight of the movie...Tabu was average and Amrish Puri was also amazing but there was one flaw which was the addition of songs which spoils the flow and a fact cannot be denied that it was the era of 90s where no film can work without songs... This films didn't require any song as it focussed on underworld in the form of real estate mafia...Direction was perfect and dialogues were also nice...For me it's a highly recommended film just because of the performances and some good direction...No where close to COMPANY, VAASTAV and leave SATYA behind which I consider the best gangster film as well as of bollywood too but has its moments. Nobody would be disappointed.

Mathew M Thakshak tells how Ishaan (Ajay Devgan) an underworld guy comes out of the underworld to join common people through the inspiration of his love Suman (Tabu). The story subject is no new. It has been beaten to death by several directors in Indian cinema.What makes Thakshak watchable is Govind Nihalani's treatment of the subject and, good acting by Ajay Devgan, Rahul Bose and Tabu. Instead of having too many gun shots and killings, Govind Nihalani through one family killing brings five view points together; the view of common people (Tabu); the view of the guy who understands the underworld he is in and who is trying to understand the common people through his love (Ishaan); the arrogance of power (Sunny, Rahul Bose); the view of the government elected-by common people; and, the view of law protecting the common people. Note that the later two are also part of the power play. Govind Nihalani churns a nice tale around these view points and gives an entertaining movie.However, Thakshak falls short of the standard set by Govind Nihalani himself. From the very first scene of the movie, he shows that Ishaan sees the world through the eyes of his love Suman and she is his salvation. Also, from the first killing itself Nihalani shows the arrogance of power (listen to the dialogues of Sunny and the retired teacher) . If only Nihalani had kept Thakshak tightly around these premise with strong dialogues and screen play (thark/vithark) instead of putting onus on acting skills (of Ajay Devgan, Rahul Bose and Tabu) and songs, Thakshak would have been another master piece. Especially, the presence of songs make the movie slow and lengthy and at times loses the attention of the audience (the songs only give Tabu more screen presence). The acting of the three main characters is first rate but if there was strong interaction between these characters in-terms of strong screen play and dialogue (in most of the scenes between Tabu and Ajay Devgan, Ajay Devgan keeps quite with a sad face; this is true with other scenes of Ajay Devgan too), Ishaan and Suman would have also left lasting impression like Sunny. I think Nihalani realized it and avoided these mistakes while making is next commercial movie Dev, which is a real master piece.Nevertheless, Thakshak is much better and entertaining than the standard bollywood movies.

vaijayanthi Can a good woman make a 'bad boy' into an honest man? That's the theme of ThakShak - it's not that Ajay is deeply bad, it's just that he has grown up in a mafia (Hindu) family that is competing with the Moslem mafia for big real estate deals in Bombay - and that sometimes leads to ugly power struggles, beatings & guns.Ajay 'by chance' meets Tabu, an intensely idealistic poet & a dancer. Tabu's character can barely deal with the violence she sees around her and so Ajay quite naturally keeps his real life a secret from her until ... ... Their relationship is very sweet very believable. He seems to be in awe of her intelligence, her talent, and her purity.Perhaps it is Ajay's mother who has kept his soul pure all these years as she anguishes over the tormenting (to her) life her husband Amrish Puri has led. Puri is excellent here and his deep voice reminds me that I miss him - in spite of what he did in Koyla!Ajay's acting here is wonderful, he's deeply conflicted, tender and tough --- and he looks great ... ... and he looks real ... good. Uh huh! His struggle to find himself and choose between Tabu's ideal world and the violence he has grown up with is well portrayed. Also the intrigues between the politicians and the mafia guys are interesting. I really like this film. It took me a long time to get a DVD with subtitles and as a desperate Ajay fan I (foolishly) have copies without subtitles that freeze up at various points ... (idiot!) ... that I have watched a few times anyway for the music and for Ajay.I feel ThakShak has been under-rated and neglected. For one thing AR Rahman's music is superb! Ajay's romantic number by the pool at night is a treasure for all Ajay fans ... and Tabu's dance numbers are very good. The nightclub singer girl is OK, but her numbers are a little glaring perhaps a nice contrast to Tabu's gentle world. Rahul Bose is not one of my favorites, but he gives a good performance in this film. He loves guns!The night club numbers were too crass for my taste - even though I suppose they might have suggested the whole mafia vibe and as you say Rahul's psycho thing. The scene where Ajay is fighting the terrorist in the back room cut with one of her songs works in that both activities are somewhat ugly and violent.I find the slow pace of Thak Shak very appealing. I like to put it on now and then to watch the relationship deepen between Ajay and Tabu. I love the moment when - after Ajay has rescued Tabu's relative in the road and actually 'formally' met Tabu in the hospital - Tabu is sitting on the grass in some park and Ajay walks up to her and gets the most adorable vulnerable smile on his face that she (and me!) cannot resist.Also I love the scene where he spots her sitting in the bus - he looks so perfect as the totally unconscious (hormonally driven) young male looking around at nothing and then fixating on the girl in the window. So sweet, so human ... ...I feel that the characterizations and their development were handled with sensitivity and depth. The young mafia thug takes a real interest in his girl friend's poetry and her poems are profound. These people hold my interest. Thak Shak is an action film, but with deeper insight than usual and offers Ajay an opportunity to show off his evolving acting skills. He comes up with some very interesting 'conflicted' facial expressions.I also really love Tabu's wet sari number, "talking to raindrops" - the film definitely has some great Rahman songs. This is not a great film, but still very good in many respects and I recommend it.I highly recommend this film - especially to Ajay fans, but also to all BW fans. ThakShak (1999) is compelling, well produced, with great Rahman, and a good story. This role is probably the one that led to Company (2002) for Ajay.

mbanwait This movie is quite under rated. Yes it has a low budget, but it has some great character actors and an intriguing story line. But credit has to be given to new comer Rahul Bose whose turn as the hyper violent and unpredictable Sunny is terrifying and one of the best portrayals of a psychotic character in Hindi cinema since Shah Rukh Khans Darr.Yes the pace is at times slow but the scenes with Rahul Bose and Ajay Devgan will have you on the edge of your seat. I hope to see Rahul Bose in more mainstream hindi cinema in the future as he has great acting talent and could even bridge the gap and enter into hollywood films.