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Ishqiya - Notepad
Ishqiya
quick review:
"Something's missing." Yeah, Ishqiya is one of those films that leaves with you that feeling. Once you believe in the story, its well told. But even after the plot has unfolded there's a huge gap in understanding the characters.
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Plot Summary
Khalu-jaan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi) are small-time thugs who find themselves in a not-so small soup. They go to Varma's house for help and meet Mrs. Krishna Varma (Vidya Balan). Will she come to their aide?
What Worked
- The opening sequence. Sizzling and earthy. Vidya Balan is going to set lots of hearts beating and more.
What did not
Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here
- What was the point of the old lady? Reminded me of the old woman from Rann
- Khalu-jaan fantasizing about Krishna, didn't work at all because it was very generic. Took away from the beautiful song.
- The entire kidnapped guy's side-plot
- Why couldn't bright Mr. Varma not smell the leaking gas.
Isn't the voice on the phone (Mushtaq's wife) Vidya Balan's voice? If yes, why?
Nitty-Gritty
This section lists things that I think are not important to the overall impact of the movie. In most cases, it could be explained away by something like, "we noticed the glitch after the scene was shot and there were schedule/budget issues and thus we could not re-shoot it". I like giving the makers the benefit of doubt, but I am amused nevertheless. Hopefully, they will tickle you too.
- Vidya Balan's bleached facial hair is visible. Not the right color of bleach. It looks very shabby.
Ishqiya - Movie Details
- Official Sites: Website
- Banner: Shemaroo Entertainment, Vishal Bharadwaj Pictures
- Producer: Raman Maroo, Vishal Bharadwaj
- Director: Abhishek Chaubey
- Lead Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi
![[Has twitter account]](/site_media/images/icons/twitter_small.png)
- Supporting Cast: Salman Shahid, Adil Hussain, Rajesh Sharma, Anupama Kumar, Gauri Mala, Alok Kumar, Anisha Bano, Jai Singh
- Screenplay: Vishal Bharadwaj, Sabrina Dhawan, Abhishek Chaubey
- Dialogues: Vishal Bharadwaj
- Cinematography: Mohana Krishna
- Editor: Namrata Rao
- Background Score: Hitesh Sonik
- Action Choreography: Jai Singh
- Music Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
- Lyrics: Gulzar
- Running time: 120 minutes
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Crime, Romance
Ishqiya - Trailer
Ishqiya - All reviews summary
External Reviews
38 reviewers have given Ishqiya an average rating of 4.3/5.0. 30 yays, 3 nays, 5 so-so. See all external reviews »
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Comments (14)
I loved it. As far as I'm concerned, Vishal Bhardwaj has just gained the position of best producer. With Kaminey last year and this now, I feel he has managed to combine sensible intelligent story telling of "parallel" cinema with commercial appeal. Aamir Khan productions do the same but with more stress on mass appeal and Excel also make good mainstream movies but no one excites as Bhardwaj can. He is a Gulzar for this decade
The Producer really shadows the Director in this one, ey? Can't find him in the Cast and Crew section.
@Varun that's an interesting way of looking at it. And i'm happy for parallel cinema, but even that has to connect at some level.
@Gopi he he...oops. Thanks for pointing it out. Will add immediately
Hey Meetu! Guess I agree about the "unexplained" parts, but that is the new style of filmmaking, as against the old school way wherein every action, dialogue had to be justified. I liked the plot and treatment. It has a very earthy feel about it. Acting by almost everyone is fantastic. Vishal and Gulzar combo for music is heavenly as usual! I guess the dialogues were nice... but I wish the dubbing was better. Would have helped to better understand dialogues that were foreign in the first place because of lingo and culture. Overall, I really liked it... But don't worry Meetu... as a critic, I guess you are supposed to be unappeasable!
Wow! I read your reviews every weekend, and most of the time we agree! This morning I read this review and was quite disappointed b/ I was really looking forward to this movie. Just came back from seeing Ishqiya and I 100% agree with your review. Acting, dialogs, technical aspects of the movie were great...but the story was nothing exciting. I was hoping for a mature love story with some realistic action, but I got a kidnapping plot which was completely uninteresting. I never rooted for the characters in their mission, and that's where the movie failed. Really disappointed. Even more pissed that the Ibn-e-Batuta song was only in beginning credits and the dance sequence wasn't there :(
@Nachiket! Good to see you here!
Naah...I'm just another part of the audience dude. :)
I understand stories leaving things unexplained...but there is usually a clue for people to argue/discuss about. There's nothing of that sort here.
@Sanat, I know exactly what you mean! Songs - I was ok with them not showing up on screen, lest the spoil the "hearing" experience/
Each action and motivation is explained subtly as the film progresses. One just needs to be a little intelligent.
@Bollyfan Please elaborate...
it is an attempt to set an EXACT James Hadley Chase plot in an indian setting. Nothing more can be expected from it. Same plot points: kidnapping gone wrong, loot, faking one's death, betrayal, small time thiefs on the rum meet widow, typical James Hadley Chase with added nepali angle for indian setting.
i wonder if my comment will be moderated out here also..
Hi , Can you tell me which song were Nasser & Vidya humming.....just before they Kidnapped KK....
Meetu, I loved this movie. I think you did not understand the movie.
Here is my view of the movie/char of the main person- Krishnaji-->
A very beautiful, intelligent and efficient woman married a man and thought he was her life. She put him before herself. They had wonderful chemistry. He was doing some gair kanuni stuff(selling Army’s arms and intelligence to China?) and police was after him. She wanted him to leave the stuff so they can live together without fear.
...
...
...
[comment moderated because it gives too much or rather all of the plot away]
Such a beautiful story and so well told. Hats off!!!
Proof of each and every thing in this comment is shown in the movie! Please watch the movie again and please do let me know what you think.
I listen to all the podcasts from theindicast and I am a fan. I would be happy to hear back from you! :)
@PD interesting point of view
@amar Damn it! cant remember...
@kuchibs i appreciate your point of view. but had to delete most of your comment because we don't give such details about the story here. :)
LOL! I'm going to see the movie tomorrow so of course, I had to stop and check what WOGMA had to say about it. But the 'NittyGritty' section made me double over in laughter. You really have an excruciating eye for detail, don't you? :-)
@ideasmith anything to make you smile, hun. Anything to crack you up.
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