Defying all things for love -- this is where the story of “Tum: My Pledge of Love” revolved.But more than just a typical romantic love story, “Tum” is a movie which has a lot more to offer.
Not only was the film shot almost entirely in India, it also delved deeper into the different practices of Islam, Catholicism, and Hinduism.
The movie showed how two people of different religions can break the norms and traditions for the sake of true love.
Linda (Mariel Rodriguez) is the Filipino Catholic volunteer who was appointed by the head of Alipur in India to manage and take over the only school in town.
Eventually, Linda meets the boastful Ravaan (Robin Padilla), the half-Filipino and half-Indian heir of the head of Alipur.
Unknown to both of them, in his last will, Ravaan’s father required them to tie the knot first before Ravaan “officially” inherits the vast assets of the patriarch and before Linda can have control over the school.
Faced with the dilemma, Ravaan and Linda agree to marry but on the condition that Ravaan will never ask Linda to convert to Islam, among others.
And as most people say: the more you hate, the more you love. After they tied the knot, their hearts started beating for each other.
While the ending is a little predictable, the movie was generally well-crafted, the storytelling fluid, and it was a visual treat.
A number of Indian scenic spots, including the historic Taj Majal, are featured, seemingly suggesting how beautiful India is and how Indians are as accommodating as Filipinos. There's definitely a Filipino-Bollywood feel.
The scene colors would even change when the emotion of the character changes.
Robin Padilla lived up to his "action star" tag in the action scenes, while veteran actor Eddie Garcia and actress Bing Loyzaga, who played the roles of "Linda's" parents, gave moving performances.
An ensemble drama of the Indian actors and the complimentary presence of Ejay Falcon and Padilla's real-life daughter, Queenie, helped seal the movie's theme.
“Tum” is the first movie together of real-life couple Padilla and Rodriguez.
Written and directed by Padilla himself, the movie is rated General Patronage by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
Source: Shiela Reyes, www.abs-cbnnews.com
