Ye tune kya kiya? . Review on Ishqiya

This year is important for events. We have already seen 2010 Delhi Auto-Expo and events like Hockey World-Cup, Commonwealth Games are in queue. But events can't substitute movies. And I am glad that my first movie in 2010 gets thumbs up.

Rating - 3/5

Story -

Ishqiya is a story co-written by Vishal Bharadwaj(Kaminey). He is known for adding twists in his plot. And he doesn't disappoint this time too. SO, we have two thieves- Khalujaan(Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban(Arshad Warsi) who share a generation gap between them. They are on a run as a consequence of duping Mushtaq( Khalu's jijaji) of Rs 20L. They find no place to go and finally reach their dacoit friend Vermaji's house in Gorakhpur(eastern UP fame). Vermaji to chal basse hai and have left his wife, Krishna(Vidya Balan) alone.

The two thieves now stay at her place and develop a liking for her. While the more aged chor is a silent dreamy lover of her persona, the younger one gets sensual and lusty. A good proportion of the movie is dedicated to this difference of liking somebody. Basically we see two variant of lovers - a silent slow aged man who is gathering courage to advance his moves and the second one a pervert(couldn't find a simpler word). Meanwhile Mushtaq, turns up again and set them another deadline. Post interval is where Vishal's style dominates the story. In order to get those 20 lakhs, they plot a kidnap. Bang! Wonder! How! Abbey ye tha vo! the last laugh! There are twists, flashbacks and conning going on in every second scene.

This unfortunately turns out to be the biggest drawback of Ishqiya. Too many twists just too fast. Deception and the feeling of getting deceive needs to maintain a minimum time gap which unfortunately is not properly managed. Hope debutant director Abhishek Chaubey notes this.

Few months back, a movie came by the name of Kaminey(3.75/5 stars from SP). It was directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, was full of twists and had quality in it. I doubt same for Ishqiya. Ishqiya leaves you with a comfortable feel but doesn't leaves impact. It is a feel good movie but not a satisfying one. A good movie but not a very very good one.

Casting-

Naseeruddin Shah is brillant. Infact this can be said as his best performance in recent past. He feels himself old enough to be courteous to the lady, knows his limitations(physical), talks of ‘ humare zamane ki baatein' and would take subtle steps like dying his mehendi colored beard in order to look young. Bottomline, he moulds himself into an elderly man who can pursue love of younger age by emoting' dil to bacha hai ji'.

Arshad Warsi - Break loose out of short-circuit. Warsi here is a macho man who reads lusty novels, speaks with ‘ surma-Bhopali ’ accent and is a'pervert'. He is overtly aggressive in his moves and can express them with no hesitation. His butcher looks are borrowed from Chambal's men and wears the darkest shade of kajal.

Though I want to conclude that the ‘circuit’ stereotype is still a better role for him.

Vidya Belan – Bold and very bold for two reasons – firstly, for the longest liplock by any famous mainstream heroine in Hindi movies. Second bold is given for silently delivering hardcore abuses. The second bold gets prefixed with ‘very’ as there are no abuses from our two main male leads. Bravo belan!

One confusing negative I felt was the unnecessary abusing. Why so-dirty talking? Why would words like BC come only through non-lead actors mouth. And will somebody in this fast-evolving scientific world explain me the meaning of morphing the simplest of [complex-compounds] - CaSO4 to Chu Sulphate. Should I expect a dharna from chemistry teachers on this? Even the IITian Sandy had no answers for this? May be I have to ask some Gorakhpur chap?

P.S.: Ca(2+) and SO4(2-) were some of the favourite ions during my IITJEE preps. Dedicate this review in memory of them. Keep reacting

“Babban: teri umaar kya hai be

Nandu: paanch kam bees”