Ishqiya

"Ishqiya" is not for the entire spectrum of audience. For those who have relished "Maqbool", "Omkara", "Dev D", "Kaminey" and were left begging for more, welcome aboard. Your prayers have been answered.

Make no mistake - each frame exuberates passion. Its precise, planned, researched, and executed. Each dialogue and each emotion depicts creative juices. "Youth has the luxury to see thing in black and white, as we mature everything is grey". Indian Cinema has had long stint of black & white characters, its overwhelming to see the maturity and grey characters being fleshed out effectively. Every character even if appears for a small stint has a purpose in the movie and the loose ends get tied up towards the finale.

☼ Naseeruddin Shah:: I am at loss of words for somebody who is an epitome of acting personified. As Big B rightly acknowledged "When Naseeruddin Shah speaks, you simply bow your head and listen". Every scene of Naseer is nothing short of sheen of gold, pure gold.

☼ Vidya Balan:: Now these are the kind of movies, Vidya Balan should be choosing. She manages to carve her identity inspite of being pitted opposite Naseeruddin Shah. In the nutshell, she manages to culminate the intensity of both Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. When Naseer & Arshad sort things out (read that "wash dirty linen in public") it reminded me "Women and money are the greatest dividers". Nonetheless, her character is one of the best in recent years.

☼ Arshad Warsi:: Even though his character gets a low footing compared to Naseer and Vidya, Arshad recycles his Circuit character from Munnabhai and leave a mark as Babban. If Naseeruddin Shah's character personified a seeker of love, Arshad Warsi is balanced with lust overdrive.

☼ Salman Shahid:: I had my brain racking trying to recall the familiar deep baritone voice of this actor. He stood out in "Kabul Express" and its good to see him again.

The sweet voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan lingers on the head for a while in his rendition of "Dil Toh Baccha Hain Jee". Thanks to mystical words of Gulzar and wonderful composition by Vishal.

Finally the director qualifies his entry into the league of the Dream Mechants with aplomb. Abhishek Chaubey, take a bow.

After "Ishqiya", you will be waiting with bated breath for something similar to come up and satiate your cravings. Undoubtedly this qualifies one of the best movie of 2010, at least in my wish-list.

PS: I'd do anything for love (Meatloaf). It's a love story, yes!

From the film making house of Vishal Bhardwaj comes a fresh and most promising talent of Abhishek Chaubey who combines the best from his senior with his own slick raw style to give us 'Ishqiya'. The tremendously talented Naseeruddin Shah plays Khalujaan, joining forces with the comic and astute Babban (Arshad Warsi) to play the notorious duo of Mama-Bhanja who are on the run from Mushtaq (Salman Shahid). Their desperate search for associate goons brings them to Verma's widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan) with whom they are entrapped in a game of lust, lure, deceit, treachery and suspense. 'Ishqiya' is thoroughly enjoyable with the right amount of humour, suspense, sex appeal and some wonderful music.

Khalujaan and Babban have embarked on a dangerous journey into Gorakhpur (U.P.) where the entertainment and thrill comes from the people. While the deadline to repay Mushtaq's debt looms over them, the attraction of Krishna and the yearning for freedom ensures their digression. A risky kidnapping of a millionaire was their desperate attempt of getting the quick money that would buy their freedom but little did they know what fate awaits them.

The plot is not outlandish at all. In fact, the writing is the strength of this film. Vishal Bhardwaj's story and screenplay ensure total capacity utilization of such immense talents in the film. Vidya Balan is outstanding and her recent films prove her capabilities without any requirement for contemporary glamour. She looks beautiful in every scene and her character's traits are easily depicted through her expression. Arshad Warsi has finally bagged a role where he can explore his versatility and strength. He has wasted the years after the Munnabhai series doing some unworthy films. Naseeruddin Shah's aura of excellence can go unnoticed because you only see Khalujaan in the film. It only hits you at a later point that it was all an act.

Vishal Bhardwaj's music and Gulzar's lyrics work magically yet again. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's superb rendition of Dil toh bachcha has the perfect blend of soothing music and rich lyrics that make it the song that will linger in your head for a long time. Ibn-e-batuta is also a very catchy song with Sukhwinder Singh and Mika adding their distinct punch to it. Abhishek has perfectly placed the songs in situations where the lyrics take the story forward. His direction keeps the pace at a very comfortable level with enough humour packed in to make it a joy ride.

The new gen of directors will now adorn their hats with one more feather for 'Ishqiya', a wholesome entertainer.

8.33 on a scale of 1-10.

Movie Review: Ishqiya (Hindi) 107

If the promos were to be believed, this could have been one of the best made movies of the year. Who could predict that a movie that starred the immensely talented Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi along with the 'Vishal Bharadwaj' tag could only turn into a movie which you would call nothing more than 'Okay, decent'. Nevertheless, as music adds much needed spice, it's still worth your money!

The film opens with Krishna (Balan) in bed with husband Vidyadhar Verma in playful pillow-talk. As Krishna addresses Verma as 'Jahaanpanah' on screen, the audience was quick to append it with 'tussi great ho'; remember "3 Idiots" anyone? Cut to next scene, a blast. Cut again to Khalujaan (Shah) and Babban (Warsi) fleeing with stolen money seeking refuge at the now widow Krishna's village home near Gorakhpur.

The story builds on as Krishna unleashes her femme fatale charms to tame the duo to toe her line. Vidya Balan playing her part to perfection uses her 'desi' sensuality to the fullest while also displaying shades of bravado firing the shotgun when needed. As with Vishal Bhadwaj's movies, Ishqiya too has a rustic setting, foul mouthed characters and a hinterland heart. This flick deals with Kidnapping near the Nepalese border.

By interval time, the narrative just warms up enough to suggest that the trio now plan to kidnap a rich businessman for ransom. Khalu and Babban jump into agreement, given that their booty stands stolen and has to be repaid while on the other, they're taken over by lust and love for Krishna who manipulates their passions, so much so that Khalu junks his old lover's photo & Babban ditches his pal to make love to her.

The film-makers may have planned their hard-sell on the plank that Krishna's role is in shades of grey. Femme fatales have done well for themselves all through history, be it Cleopatra, or in Bollywood, "Karz" or "Aitraaz". But expectations fall flat towards the end as Krishna turns into nothing more than the clichéd vengeful Indian wife. Well, being apologetic was the last thing that one could expect out of a Vishal Bhardwaj film.

Making things worse is the hurried rush of scenes towards the end; as if a student just realized that he only ten minutes left with half the paper still to go. Climax is contrived and destroys the original 'femme fatale in grey' thread. But, its brilliant songs such as Rahat Fateh Ali khan rendition 'Dil to Bachcha Hai' and Singhs Sukhwinder & Mika's 'Ibn- E-Batuta' work like a balm. Try it out and you won't regret watching it.

In Omkara, Vishal Bhardwaj sets such a high standard for him self that Kamine even though good enough by typical bollywood standard disappointed many. But here comes Ishqiya, almost matches Omkara blow by blow. Directed by a débutant Abhishek Chaubey, Ishqiya is a story shown with a wonderful euphoria. And did I mention you that it has set appealing good standard for comedy too?

Crisp script with proper blend of suspense and humor and on top of that ultimate cast selection makes sure nothing goes wrong. Every actor is given role what he is best suited for and in what he regards as best in bollywood. No need to say about class performance of Naseeruddin shah, and can any one match Arshad Warsi in on the spot comedy? Vidhya Balan suits so much in the role that you forget that you are seeing an actress from glamor world of bollywood.

If you admire Omkara's genre, it is worth to watch Ishqiya. 8/10.

Arshad looks incredulously at the boy in front of him. "Tu Kaise Jaanta Hai Itna Saara Hathyaron Ke Bare Main?". The boy, deadpan, with no suggestion of humour, responds "Yahan Pe Chuttad Dhone Se Pehle, Tamancha Chalana Sikhate Hain". Welcome to a madcap roller coaster ride through a world that most Indian Netizens are not very familiar with, the India that we've kind of forgotten exists, the badlands of UP and its small villages, their on-going caste wars, con-men and utter lawlessness. Using the colourful, invective laced language that characterises the region, it proceeds to poke fun at the madness that passes for everyday life in most such places. And it simultaneously makes us laugh and think, to feel for characters so nicely etched that we cheer even when they're breaking the law.

Arshad & Naseer, Mama and Bhanja, both con-men, are on the run from Naseer's Jijaji, for what exactly we're not sure but it involves some money and some ice. Due to a mix of circumstances which include an unwanted pregnancy and a jail term, they land up at the home of one of their ex-cell-mates, who it turns out has expired, leaving behind his widow, Vidya Balan. Unsure and hesitantly at first, Naseer & later Arshad develop feelings for our spunky but quiet lady. However, the Jija returns. And then the game heats up…

The situations and characters that we encounter are beautifully drawn. The sense of humour or wry perspective that we're offered, remains intact through the film. The dialogue is witty and makes you chuckle non-stop. And the songs, the background music is of exceptional quality. Right from the number of classics liberally laced in different situations (Dhanno Ki Aankhon Main, Pyaar Ka Surma at a brothel, Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen as a ringtone for the Jija) or the semi-classical song that Vidya sings in the beginning or the two flagship songs the zany, peppy 'Ibn Batuta' or the lyrical, romantic 'Dil to Bacha Hai', after a long time in a Hindi film, it was worth the price of a ticket just to see the songs.

Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan light up the screen with their effervescent performances, while Naseeruddin Shah, true to his character remains the stable one. With his surma ringed eyes, ready wit, goofy grin, angry stare and lovable roguishness, Arshad delivers a performance we'd forgotten he was capable of. Vidya doesn't put a foot wrong, playing on the emotions of both the men like a taanpura, sad, melancholic at times and smiling, alluring, teasing at others. For both of them, this film will feature prominently on their CV for some time to come. And Vishal / Abhishek continue their knack of picking an ensemble cast that looks like they belong to the villages…each of the characters we meet look comfortably at home in their rural setting.

more on this film, incl several dialogue references at ApurvBollywood at blogspot, here it shows up as spelling errors. You must watch this film !