TEES MAAR KHAN (2010)

Summary:

Tees Maar Khan is a 2010 Hindi action-comedy film directed by Farah Khan, starring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, and Akshaye Khanna in lead roles. The film revolves around Tabrez Mirza Khan, an infamous con artist and thief known as Tees Maar Khan (TMK), who prides himself on his cunning and ability to outsmart the police. When two notorious international criminals, the Johri brothers, task him with stealing a train carrying priceless antiques, TMK devises an elaborate and audacious plan.

His scheme involves convincing an entire village that they are participating in the shooting of a historical film, thereby enlisting their unwitting help in orchestrating the massive heist. With the aid of his girlfriend Anya and a delusional superstar actor Atish Kapoor, TMK navigates a web of deceit, comedic misadventures, and unexpected challenges to pull off what he believes will be his biggest score yet. The film is a lighthearted take on the heist genre, blending action, romance, and slapstick humor.

Keywords: Tees Maar Khan, 2010, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Akshaye Khanna, Farah Khan, Heist, Comedy, Action, Bollywood.

Plot:

The story opens by introducing Tabrez Mirza Khan, alias Tees Maar Khan (Akshay Kumar), a charming and notorious con artist who has been a thorn in the side of the police since childhood. He's a master of disguise and deception, always managing to evade capture. He is apprehended during a bank robbery with his three dim-witted accomplices, Dollar, Burger, and Soda, but he quickly escapes from custody by feigning a heart attack and swapping places with a lookalike. His girlfriend, Anya (Katrina Kaif), a struggling actress, supports his criminal endeavors, often unwittingly, while dreaming of making it big in Bollywood.

Meanwhile, two ruthless and wealthy international antique smugglers, the Johri brothers (Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman), are introduced. They are planning a massive heist: to steal a train carrying invaluable Indian antiques, scheduled to be transported from one city to another. They need a mastermind to execute this seemingly impossible task and, after witnessing TMK's audacious escape on television, decide he is the man for the job. They track him down and offer him a colossal sum to steal the train. TMK, always up for a challenge and a hefty payday, accepts, despite the inherent risks.

TMK learns that the train will pass through a remote, underdeveloped village called Dhulia. He realizes that a direct assault is impossible due to heavy security. He devises an incredibly elaborate and bizarre plan: he will convince the entire village that he is a famous film director from Hollywood, tasked with shooting a grand historical epic about a legendary dacoit (bandit) named Shera. The "film" will serve as a cover for his heist, using the villagers as unwitting pawns in his criminal enterprise.

To lend credibility to his fake film project, TMK enlists the help of superstar actor Atish Kapoor (Akshaye Khanna), an arrogant, self-obsessed, and slightly delusional actor who dreams of winning an Oscar. TMK tricks Atish into believing that this "Shera" film is a groundbreaking international project that will finally earn him the coveted Academy Award. Atish, blinded by ambition, agrees to participate, unaware of the true nature of the "production." Anya is cast as the film's heroine, playing the role of a feisty village girl who falls for Shera.

Upon arriving in Dhulia, TMK, Atish, Anya, and TMK's three sidekicks set up a makeshift film set. TMK, adopting the persona of a flamboyant director, begins to "train" the villagers for their roles. He convinces them that the train robbery sequence is the most crucial part of the film and that they must perfectly execute their parts, which involve diverting the train, unloading its contents, and creating a diversion. The gullible villagers, excited by the prospect of being in a "Hollywood film" and earning money, throw themselves into their roles with enthusiasm. TMK cleverly manipulates their local customs and superstitions to his advantage, making them believe that participating in the film will bring prosperity to their village.

The "shooting" progresses with hilarious chaos. Atish Kapoor, in his quest for authenticity, often overacts and demands extreme methods, which further aids TMK's real agenda. Anya, initially oblivious, slowly begins to suspect TMK's true intentions as she witnesses the increasingly elaborate and suspiciously realistic "stunts." During this time, a local police inspector, Jai Singh (Murli Sharma), is hot on TMK's trail, but TMK manages to constantly outsmart him through clever ruses and diversions, often using the "film shoot" as an excuse for the unusual activities.

As the day of the heist approaches, TMK finalizes the intricate details. He plans to derail the train at a specific point, transfer the antiques into trucks, and then make a clean getaway. The villagers are given specific tasks, from digging trenches to setting up fake explosions, all under the guise of filming. Anya confronts TMK, who finally confesses his true intentions, promising her that this will be his last job and they will live a normal life thereafter. Despite her moral reservations, her love for him and the promise of a future sway her to continue playing her part.

On the fateful night, as the train carrying the antiques approaches Dhulia, TMK orchestrates the "climax scene." The villagers, believing they are performing for the camera, execute the plan flawlessly. The train is stopped, the security guards are subdued (again, under the pretense of acting), and the valuable antiques are transferred. However, just as TMK is about to make off with the loot, a major twist is revealed. The antiques on the train are not genuine; they are replicas! The real antiques were already swapped out much earlier by the Johri brothers themselves, who intended to double-cross TMK and frame him for the theft of fake goods.

TMK, being a master con artist, had anticipated a double-cross. He reveals that he had already figured out the Johri brothers' plan and had swapped the real antiques back onto the train before the fake ones were loaded. In a final showdown, the Johri brothers arrive to claim their loot, only to find themselves outsmarted by TMK. The police, led by Inspector Jai Singh, also arrive, having finally pieced together TMK's scheme, though they are still a step behind. TMK manages to escape with the real antiques, leaving the Johri brothers to be arrested with the fake ones.

In the aftermath, TMK, now a changed man, decides to use the stolen antiques for a noble cause. He donates them to various museums and institutions, ensuring they are preserved for the nation. He also helps the villagers of Dhulia, using some of the money to develop their village, fulfilling the promises he made to them, albeit under false pretenses. Atish Kapoor, still under the delusion that he starred in an Oscar-winning film, continues his eccentric ways. TMK eventually reunites with Anya, and they decide to start a new, honest life together, having learned valuable lessons about integrity and the consequences of their actions.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Akshay Kumar as Tabrez Mirza Khan / Tees Maar Khan
• Katrina Kaif as Anya Khan
• Akshaye Khanna as Atish Kapoor
• Raghu Ram as Johri Brother
• Rajiv Laxman as Johri Brother
• Murli Sharma as Inspector Jai Singh

Crew:

• Director: Farah Khan
• Producers: Twinkle Khanna, Shirish Kunder, Ronnie Screwvala
• Story: Shirish Kunder
• Screenplay: Shirish Kunder, Farah Khan
• Dialogue: Anvita Dutt Guptan
• Music Director (Songs): Vishal-Shekhar
• Music Director (Background Score): Shirish Kunder
• Cinematography: Manush Nandan
• Editor: Shirish Kunder

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: December 24, 2010
• Language: Hindi
• Genre: Action, Comedy, Heist
• Running Time: 136 minutes
• Accolades: While commercially unsuccessful and critically panned, it was nominated for several Golden Kela Awards (a satirical awards ceremony for the worst in Bollywood) including Worst Film and Worst Actor for Akshay Kumar. Its song "Sheila Ki Jawani" was a major hit.