The Taj Story review: This Paresh Rawal-led courtroom drama argues loudly but proves little

Laden with dialoguebaazi, the film leans hard into nationalist rhetoric, extolling sanskriti while portraying the Mughals as ruthless plunderers. In one scene, Rawal claims that the absence of “PR” for Indian craftsmen allowed Leftist historians to distort the past and glorify the Mughals. He brands such scholars as “agenda-dharis” (pushers of agendas) and even calls the teaching of this version of history “intellectual terrorism” meant to “corrupt” young minds.

Zakir Hussain, as the opposing lawyer, presents evidence and calls a historian, educationist and archaeologist to the stand at different points in the film. But Das manages to poke holes in every argument, quoting ancient texts and repeating several already debunked theories. At one point, Hussain wryly tells him, “You be a tourist guide and don’t try to be a comedian.”

Ironically, despite Rawal’s sharp one-liners, the courtroom drama never feels authentic or bound by procedure. Rawal, who does most the heavy-lifting when it comes to creating drama, is ably aided by an ensemble cast, including Hussain, Namit Das and Brijendra Kala and Shishir Sharma.

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At 165 minutes, The Taj Story trudges on without offering any real answers to the questions it raises. Instead, it merely stirs the pot, blending fact and fiction to serve an agenda far removed from historical inquiry.

The Taj Story movie director: Tushar Amrish Goel
The Taj Story movie cast: Paresh Rawal, Zakir Hussain, Brijendra Kala, Amruta Khanvilkar, Namit Das and Sneha Wagh
The Taj Story movie rating: One and a half stars