Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

I wanted to watch this in the theatre but skipped it due to not-so-great reviews. Now, I don't think that was a wrong decision.

It's a love story where Krishna and Vasudha drift apart as Krishna gets involved in a double homicide, only to reunite after 23 years of prison time.

Mature love stories are generally rare in Indian cinema, which adds a sense of novelty to this film. Unfortunately, the love story itself hasn't been explored properly, leaving you feeling unfulfilled. Additionally, the story is told in a non-linear fashion, alternating between flashbacks and the present, which causes emotional disconnect at several points. Just as you start getting engrossed, the timeline shifts, pulling you out of the moment.

Ajay Devgn does good in such serious role where he has to majorly hold one emotion throughout which he did decently. Tabu, as always, shines with a first-class performance. Shantanu Maheshwari, playing a younger Ajay, transitions seamlessly and performs well. Sai Manjrekar, portraying a young Tabu, surprisingly holds her ground. Jimmy Shergill has limited screen time but makes his presence felt with his performance.

The songs are average, with some forgettable tracks that may not stay with you long. The makers did a good job with the VFX, recreating Bombay of that era, but strangely neglected to dub for Shantanu and Sai. How do Ajay's and Tabu's voices change as they age? It's not like their younger versions were children. The VFX of half constructed Bandra work sea link was nice touch.

When a movie comes from Neeraj Pandey, you naturally have high expectations but here you are left unsatisfied. It's a decent movie but lacks depth and emotional weight, despite a strong ensemble cast. Watch it for the love of the cast, and not much else.

#pranureviews #AuronMeinKahaDumTha #AuronMeinKahaDumThaReview.

If you love old school romance movies like 99 & all, you will like this.

Minus some slow motions and needless shots with mediocre actions scenes as compared to Neeraj Pandey's previous work.

Basic story line with Love at its core. Feels like 90's movie in 2024. Brilliant background score and some beautiful melodies.

I am sucker of this kind of movies. So I loved this.

This movie could have been wrapped under 2 hours screen time, a little long but you won't regret it as the last turn was unexpected.

And I wasn't expecting much as it didn't perform well in theatres but I was surprised because it's a really good watch.

Hope you enjoy it as well.

The lead actor has brought his character to life, and his chemistry and emotional connection with the co-star are the film's main highlights. The supporting cast has also delivered commendable performances, especially the actor playing young Krishna, who beautifully portrays the character's innocence and complexity.

The writer's story is rich in depth and sensitivity. The director has taken a fresh approach to the romantic thriller genre, and the cinematography maintains a perfect balance during the intense moments. The music and background score are excellent, enhancing the film's quieter moments. Overall, "Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha" is an engaging film that combines strong performances with an intriguing story.

"Auron Mein Kaha Dum Tha" may not break new ground in terms of its storyline, but it excels in direction, BGM, and authentic performances. The director's ability to create a visually engaging and emotionally resonant film is commendable. The BGM enhances the narrative, providing an auditory experience that deepens the emotional connection with the characters.

The performances are the heart of the film, with each actor bringing their character to life in a way that feels genuine and relatable. This combination of skilled direction, evocative music, and powerful acting makes "Auron Mein Kaha Dum Tha" a worthwhile watch. It serves as a reminder that even familiar stories can be told in ways that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on viewers. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the film's execution transforms it into a memorable cinematic experience that lingers in the mind and heart.

Neeraj Pandey is the creative mastermind and director of some of the finest nail biting crime thrillers of recent times like A Wednesday, Special 26 and Spy thrillers like Baby, Special Ops so the automatic expectation from a movie directed by him is a edge of the seat thriller that will keep us guessing till the final scene. His movies are fast paced, larger than life and focused on the "thrill" like a modern age Hitchcock. Just like it would be very difficult to imagine Hitchcock dish out a slow burn character study, dealing with complex emotions and relations, expecting a movie like "Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha" from Neeraj Pandey is equally difficult and unexpected. With this movie Neeraj Pandey shows that he can do so much more than thrillers, unfortunately he lost most of his audience at the box office that expected to watch another Neeraj Pandey styled thriller.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha which was mislabeled as a Romantic thriller maybe a box office debacle but it is a masterful examination of a real bond of adoration and a true connection of the heart and soul between two humans. Pandey does a good job of gradually peeling the onion to show the internal strength of Ajay's character with a great use of flashbacks and new character integration as the story moves forward. Ajay and Tabu deliver brilliant performances in their respective roles and are the heart and soul of the movie. Shantanu and Saiee are good and believable as the younger version of the movie's protagonists even though they dont look anything their senior counterparts who completely overshadow them with their talent.

The movie falls below expectations of a quick paced Neeraj Pandey thriller, firstly by setting the wrong expectations of a thriller for the audience, secondly by its slow burn approach and finally by the almost expected twist at the end which renders the climactic jolt of emotions at the end of the movie a bit impotent. Ajay Devgn and Tabu excel in their roles as two people who share an unbreakable bond as Neeraj Pandey explores complex themes of love, friendship, relationships that many wont have the courage to try making the title of the movie not only fitting for the movie's characters but also for its creator.

Howeever the slow pace of the movie with a run time of 2 hours focused on a study of characters and their relationships is a bit counterintuitive to the introduction of its protagonist as a deadly and violent individual feared in prison. This augments the incorrect expectations already set up by Neeraj Pandey helming another so called thriller. The result is disappointing to fans of action flicks and thrillers and somewhat of a deterrent for fans of serious romantic and emotional dramas. Perhaps this is the reason the movie has not been able to find its audience.

This is not the movie for fans of a loud Devgn in Singham, Golmaal, Shaitaan etc but is a movie for fans of an introspective and reserved Devgn of HDDCS, Raincoat and Zakhm. I liked the movie but my wife dozed off pretty early on in the movie. It would have benefited from shorter run time, a lower budget (Why did it need Rs 150+ crore), better and more honest marketing as a romantic drama. The movie along with Ajay and Tabu's performances definitely deserve an audience. This movie is not about an outward display of power AKA dum but an introspection of the dum inside us. A slow and emotionally rewarding drama. 7.5/10.