Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Neeraj Pandey's Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is a departure from the typical romantic fare and a slow-burn exploration of love, loss, and longing. The narrative unfurls in a prison, introducing us to a formidable Krishna (Ajay Devgn) before it shifts gears to unveil a tender love story. The flashback takes us to a younger Krishna's (Shantanu Maheshwari) romance with Vasudha (Saiee Manjrekar) and how an incident sends him to prison for 25 years. Upon an earlier release owing to good behaviour, Krishna reunites with a now-married Vasudha (Tabu). The ensuing story between the past and present is the film's core.

Pandey's script is a lesson in subtlety, allowing the characters and their emotions to take centre stage. The narrative is anchored by Ajay Devgn's nuanced portrayal of Krishna and his transformation from a formidable convict to a vulnerable lover. Interestingly, Shantanu Maheshwari has a completely contrasting character arc (from a simple and noble guy to a savvy prison survivor) but is as effortless as his senior co-star. Tabu delivers a performance of quiet intensity, capturing the complexities of a woman haunted by the past and coming to terms with her present. The duo's chemistry is palpable, adding depth to the film's emotional core. While Saiee Manjrekar delivers an equally good performance, Jimmy Shergill has a short but impactful role as Vasudha's husband, Abhijeet.

In addition to the powerful performances, MM Kreem's evocative background score is a standout element, contributing significantly to the film's poignant vein.

On the flip side, the movie is inconsistent in its tonality, with elements reminding you of 90s Bollywood fares, complete with festival songs, an athletic Krishna taking on beefy goons, action sequences in the rain, and so on. Kathikuloth Praveen's editing is jerky at various places in the first half. The major twist and the crime's revelation are predictable and have nothing new to offer. Although deliberately languid, the plot feels stagnant by the interval, picking up pace in the second half. Post-interval, the movie also elicits a few chuckles thanks to Krishna's best friend, Jignesh (Jay Upadhyay).

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is an attempt at a mature love story that falters in execution, with its slow pace and predictable plot hindering its impact. Watch this one if you appreciate deliberate pacing and emotionally charged narratives.

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.

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.

I'm surprised Ajay Devgn and Tabu chose to act in such a flop of a film. The script had potential for a short 30-45 minute movie but was dragged out poorly for the big screen. The movie had no real story, making it a total time waste. It's disappointing to see such talented actors in a project that didn't do justice to their skills. After this disaster, Ajay Devgn and Tabu have likely lost their worth and may face the end of their careers. Overall, it's a flop, flop, and more flop.

The movie felt rushed, as if filmed in just two days. It lacked a climax, twist, or suspense, and the love story was both clueless and outdated. Overall, it offered nothing new or engaging.