Pastt Tense, which premiered at the 14th Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai in October 2026, tells the story of an adopted son who sets out to find his roots. What he discovers along the way shocks him. The story, inspired by a real incident, is unlike anything we have seen before. Hence, one can’t help but get hooked on the proceedings. The characters are well-fleshed-out and their revelations are startling. Viewers will be shocked to learn that seemingly innocent people living among us may have a dark, horrifying past. On the flipside, though the unhurried narrative works, it becomes too slow at times. Certain developments also detract from the realism. Some dialogues are weak and could have been more sharply worded. Lastly, the finale is underwhelming. Thankfully, the plusses outweigh the minuses thanks to the compelling subject and execution by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan. The performances are of a tall order. Aditya Rawal has the maximum screen time and delivers a fantastic, nuanced performance. Paresh Rawal, as always, is dependable. It’s also a pleasure to see him and Aditya share screen space, especially in a film of this nature. Tannishtha Chatterjee underplays her part beautifully. Adil Hussain and Sharib Hashmi, as always, leave a huge mark. All in all, Pastt Tense is worth watching for its unique subject, tense and tender moments, and powerful performances.
My rating – *** ½ out of 5!