Tehzeeb 2003

Anwar (Rishi Kapoor) and Rukhsana Jamal had been married for years, building a life colored by music, ambition, and a bond that seemed unbreakable. After the birth of their two daughters, Tehzeeb and Nazneen, Anwar sinks into a profound melancholy and makes the choice that changes everything—he commits suicide. In the wake of his death, Rukhsana Jamal emerges not only as a successful and widely admired singer, but as a mother who must carry the weight of a family fractured by tragedy.

When the dust begins to settle, Tehzeeb’s memory of her father thickens with suspicion. (Urmila Matondkar) Tehzeeb believes her mother may be connected to the tragedy, an idea that gnaws at the family’s fragile balance. Yet the court’s verdict clears Rukhsana of any legal blame, and Tehzeeb’s grudge persists, coloring her relationship with Nazneen (Dia Mirza) and shaping the way she sees her mother.

Years pass, and Tehzeeb steps into adulthood, marrying Salim Mirza (Arjun Rampal) despite her mother’s objections. Nazneen remains at the center of Tehzeeb’s world, described as mentally challenged, and Tehzeeb takes on the responsibility of caring for her sister with quiet devotion. A semblance of stability settles in: Tehzeeb flourishes with a loving husband and a caregiver’s duty toward Nazneen, while Rukhsana occasionally presences herself as a connecting thread between mother and daughters.

That fragile harmony is upended when Rukhsana returns for a five-year family visit, eager to renew ties with Tehzeeb and Nazneen. The reunion fans the sparks of old tensions, but it also offers moments of warmth as mother and daughters begin to rediscover each other. Still, questions linger: can forgiveness coexist with memories of past hurts? The trio navigates a gauntlet of disagreements and reconciliations, while Salim steps in to help bridge the gaps, and Nazneen’s presence casts a gentler light on the evolving dynamics.

Gradually, the family experiences both tenderness and turmoil. Nazneen’s distress triggers a profound reckoning about the past, and Tehzeeb learns the painful truth: Anwar’s death was a solitary tragedy, and Rukhsana was not to blame. This revelation shifts loyalties and redefines who bears responsibility for the family’s wounds. When Rukhsana asks Tehzeeb to let Nazneen join her, Tehzeeb is torn between protection and the truth of her sister’s needs, but Salim’s influence helps steer the decision toward compromise.

On the day Rukhsana is to depart, the mood is a delicate mix of apology, love, and unfinished business. Tehzeeb approaches with remorse and reassurance, but Rukhsana remains unresponsive. A moment of carelessness turns tragic as Tehzeeb gently shakes her mother, and Rukhsana collapses. Panic washes over the room as Tehzeeb calls Salim, and the family learns that years of neglecting her health culminate in a fatal heart attack.

The final act of the film concentrates on memory and music. In a public moment of homage, Tehzeeb sings one of her mother’s songs to a crowd, a living tribute that binds together the family’s sorrow and their shared love. Salim and Nazneen watch with a mixture of pride and sorrow, bearing witness to a legacy of resilience that survives beyond loss. The movie closes on a note of quiet reverence, suggesting that art and memory can sustain a family even when the living are left to navigate the consequences of yesterday’s choices.