Hamari Adhuri Kahani

wogma rating: Switch channels if it's on cable (?)

quick review:

har naam pe nahi rukte, dhadkano ke bhi usuul hote hai

(Not every name manages to skip a beat, heartbeats have rules of their own.)

Too much mushy trouble and you get one beautiful line. Now that you've read it, you can skip the film. It takes the romance out of pain in love. Could there be a worse crime?

Read more
Director: Mohit Suri
Running time: 130 minutes
Genres: Romance
More Movie Info

Hamari Adhuri Kahani - Preview

It's been a while since we've had an intense love story. And as unusual a combination Emraan Hashmi, Raj Kumar and Vidya Balan might be, their performances from the trailer look like it is going to be one powerful experience.

While we can be assured that we won't be let down by the acting department, Mohit Suri does have an adequate hand at making tragic romances. Also, the story line implies that Hamari Adhuri Kahaniisn't going to be as much about newfound love as it is about mature love. You don't see too much of that around either.

Hamari Adhuri Kahanihas a lot going for it even before it starts. Let's hope those two hours will prove the hopes right.

Music Reviews:
Bollyspice – "3.5/5"
glamsham - "3/5"
Milliblog - "Thematic soundtrack that aptly puts you in a wistful mood."
Music Aloud – "7.5/10"

- meeta, a part of the audience

So much for expecting intense love because there is so much pain in the trailer. For films that make you look forward to them after the trailer, the least you can say is – all the good bits were in the trailer, leaving nothing new in the film. Hamar Adhuri Kahani gives you no such pleasure by making the intensity snicker-worthy and way too mushy for its own good.

I'm no cynic. Hardly. But, I ain't being swept off the floor by over-dramatized, loud background music and filmy dialogue either. Even if it is being pretended to be said with the utmost sincerity and puppy eyes. The romantic in me needs to the story behind the sadness. I can't just be told “She's sad. He's sadder and oh he's saddest.” Mind you, these lines aren't being said by a voiceover, but by the characters themselves.

Even if you don't hear it out loud it is like one character says to another after having heard of the latter's pain, “I see your tragedy and I raise you to my horrific past.” And guess what? You as an audience, never really get into the thick of the sadness.

It takes the romance out of pain in love. Could there be a worse crime?

Don't I need to see why Vasudha's (Vidya Balan) value system is so strongly ignited when what I know of her actually is that she doesn't believe in it? Don't I need to know why Aarav (Emraan Hashmi) thinks he is devoid of love and affection when what I see is a mother who loves him immensely? Well, even if I haven't been told the opposite, don't I need to be shown why Hari (Rajkummar Rao) is the hateful misogynist he is and yet claims to make the woman of his life so important that he manipulates his whole life around her? Not to mention, why are all of them martyrs? And where did all the feminism come from suddenly? The film was most certainly not about that.

None of the failures above can be blamed on the actors. They all play sad to the best of their abilities. Their only fault might be that they create zero chemistry – of hatred or of love. But, I'd think the actors saw the film as a lost cause scene after scene and just couldn't muster the juice out.

Be done with it – looks like their attitude towards the film - a sentiment echoed in the audience. I could sense, that the houseful 200-seater was waiting in anticipation for something to like about the film. I know I was. As one ridiculously mushy line followed the other, I picked on one that was said randomly by a side character and I will say that is my takeaway from the film.

har naam pe nahi rukte, dhadkano ke bhi usuul hote hai

(Not every name manages to skip a beat, heartbeats have rules of their own.)

- meeta, a part of the audience

30 reviewers(?) - 0 yays 8 so-so 22 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

So-So, by Prateeksha Khot, Bolly Spice : ...Quite a few women face domestic violence and abuse in our country and what could have been a believable movie reflecting our times, turns out to be an average fair because of the script. A one-time watch for romance lovers... full review

So-So, by Parampara Patil Hashmi, Desi Martini : ...Some actors make a flawed film look good, such is the case of Hamari Adhuri Kahani... full review

So-So, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...Love triangles are not terribly original. And bad dialogue never helped any film. HAK is guilty on both counts. The only reason one would get through the two hours of this film is on the efforts of the actors or by praising the idea of themes dealing with love and the fallible nature of people. Not too much on offer for a big ticket movie.... full review

So-So, by Zehra Abbas, fullhyd.com : ...Hamari Adhuri Kahani remains as colourless as the all-white room in which Vasudha's son finishes reading her story at the end of the film. It's a tragedy.... full review

So-So, by Shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...With a protagonist so out of sync with the time and age she lives in, dialogues (Shagufta Rafiq), which seemed to belong to some other bygone era and somehow strayed into 2015, forced intensity and a story defying logic, this film is a disappointment. ... full review

So-So, by Troy ribeiro, NDTV : ...Watch this one if you are moved by sad love stories. The good performances are an added bonus.... full review

So-So, by ANUJ KUMAR, The Hindu : ...Vidya and Emraan ensure that the all pervading gloom does not sound hollow. He is known to excel in reaching out for the unattainable and forbidden but this time Emraan also brings grace to the table as the hotelier looking for a permanent address and Vidya complements him with those deep eyes that betray desire and diffidence at the same time. It is a difficult choice for an actor who broke free from the sacrificing types to return and realise that it takes all types of people to make this world and their kahani, howsoever incomplete, is no less important.... full review

So-So, by Meena Iyer, Times of India : ...At a time when we are celebrating a thinking Piku, a rebellious Tanu and her spirited twin Datto; why do we need women characters who whimper? HAK's moments come from its lead cast who pitch in their best for the most part. The music is a soothing balm. Suri should know that even cinema Goliaths cannot rise above the written word. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Anna MM Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...Spectacularly sexist and spectacularly boring – that’s a lethal combination. It hurts to see Vidya in such a film... full review

Thumbs down, by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...Director Mohit Suri fails to make the grade with ‘Hamari Adhuri Kahani’. The film has a few moments that may leave you with a lump in the throat, but the oversentimentality takes the sting out of the emotions. What you get in the end is a vacuous, empty tale with too much rona-dhona.... full review

Thumbs down, Bollywood Hungama : ...On the whole, HAMARI ADHURI KAHANI is definitely very 'adhuri' on entertainment value and can be skipped.... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar Joshi, Bollywood Life : ...Hamari Adhuri Kahani is disappointing because the promo really pumped me up for some serious dramatics, instead what we get is a wafer thin plot and lead actors hamming it up beyond belief. This Kahaani fails to impress!... full review

Thumbs down, by Deepa Gahlot, cinemaah : ...Today, any film in which a woman calls herself a man’s ‘milqiyat’ deserves to be laughed off the screen.... full review

Thumbs down, by Divay Agarwal, Desi Martini : ...Hamari Senti Kahani is the perfect movie for creepy stalkers and lover-boys. If you aren’t one of those, skip it!... full review

Thumbs down, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ...- A melodramatic film that will leave you unmoved (known as asleep in your seat)... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar Joshi, DNA : ...Go watch Vidya Balan's earlier Kahaani instead!... full review

Thumbs down, by Rahul Desai, FirstPost : ...Suri, who has progressively lost control over his craft with each successive film, is only a step away from fashioning moving pictures out of illustrated music albums. As gratingly mediocre as Ek Villain was, this is easily Suri’s worst film. The Bhatts need to regroup and rethink their obsession with haunted protagonists. And let an actor of Rao’s calibre be.... full review

Thumbs down, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...The story had it’s fair share of possibilities but the slap-dash formulaic treatment just doesn’t allow for any breathing space. And the convoluted sub-plots just make it seem like overreaching without anything substantial to hold on to. Go for it only if you want to be seen throwing your money away!... full review

Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...Clearly, this is a bad choice of selection yet again by Vidya. After KAHAANI, why an Aadhuri Kahaani?... full review

Thumbs down, by Rohit Vats, Hindustan Times : ...Hamari Adhuri Kahani is mostly dependent on its lead actors and they’ve done a satisfactory job. It’s one of those films which reveals its latent potential and then fails to capitalise on it. Hamari Adhuri Kahani is watchable, but it is not likely to ignite a passionate fire in your heart. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Suhani Singh, india today : ...With a foreboding title like Hamari Adhuri Kahani, the real tragedy of this romance is that the tears never come. Instead audiences find themselves whinging at the events on screen. By the time Vasudha's woman-power monologue with a ridiculous plea arrives, this tiring kahani has us wanting to revisit Balan in the other, far better Kahaani (2012).... full review

Thumbs down, Indicine : ...Hamari Adhuri Kahani’ has a good fundamental story which holds promise but the overtly emotional treatment and the baffling bipolar decisions made by the characters, only ends up frustrating the viewer. At one point it promises to be progressive and then meanders into regressive territory once again.... full review

Thumbs down, by Surabhi Redkar, koimoi : ...Hamari Adhuri Kahani is un-settlingly boring and far from anything that can be termed as timeless romance.... full review

Thumbs down, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...To be fair, the story did have merit, for it is not often that films explore the plight of abused women in a sensitive manner and the makers could have done wonders with the story had they not been sidelined by their need to try too hard to bring a lump to everyone's throats.... full review

Thumbs down, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...Well the only dum this movie has is some fantastic songs and decent performances by its lead actors. Besides these minor good points, the movie lacks good screenplay and entertaining direction. Even if the movie would have released in the 90's era when Mahesh Bhatt was a big director, its chances of being successful would have been heart breaking. 'Hamari Adhuri Khani' has been a never ending saga with lots of glitches, over dramatic scenes, highly stretched and boringly predictable screenplay. In short, a big disappointment for all who love good dramatic love stories and were expecting a good emotional drama from the Bhatt camp.... full review

Thumbs down, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...Hashmi’s character keeps going off to literally smell the flowers, Rao’s character is a possessive neanderthal, and Vidya’s character is plain dumb -- for one thing, she needs to know that yelling “Hari! Hari!” as she runs behind a police jeep will only make the cops drive faster. Now let’s talk about what’s good in Hamari Adhuri Kahani. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Mohit Suri is a fine director, but has often displayed a misogynistic core in some of his films. That continues here, as the story takes one shockingly regressive turn after the other. It's difficult to process that Mahesh Bhatt has penned this story.... full review

Thumbs down, by Jyothi Venkatesh, Star Blockbuster : ...It is a love story that is painfully slow, illogical and has no conclusions whatsoever. I’d advise you to skip it mercilessly.... full review

Thumbs down, by Saumil Gandhi, Upper Stall : ...Mohit Suri and the writers of Hamari Adhuri Kahani were hoping for an epic love story. Unfortunately, they let themselves be defeated by something that’s not present in the film – a good script.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anindita Dev, Zee News : ...Anyway, till the time you read the review, it reminds me I have to take the headache relief medicine as I don't think I can bear the incessant pain any longer. More than a heartache, as it was expected to be, I was left with a heartburn from the overflowing over-the-top dialogues and old school scenes.... full review

64 tweeters(?) - 44 yays 2 so-so 18 nays

zuberkhedawala: Hamari adhuri kahani is a slap on paid critics... luv story of the decade...

zezoalbalushi: Hamari adhuri kahani❤️

zamalshaikh: Hamari Adhuri Kahani! Heart-touching story! Salute to @MaheshNBhatt ! Must watch movie!

yadavyadav327: Me like movies Hamari Adhuri kahani ... . Fantastic story

VishalJalde: Just watched one of the great film of Mohit Suri 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani' The film rocks

urdips: Thank you HAMARI ADHURI KAHANI ❤

tnmht5036: Hamari Adhuri Kahani The best romantic love story to have ever been written! @KaranDarra

SRKsAvenger: Zeher Kalyug Aawarapan Murder 2 Ashiqui 2 Ek Villian Hamari Adhuri Kahani MOHIT SURI is A genius

somesh_saurabh: A great movie with a Strong message and a "well-justified" acting by all#hamari_adhuri_kahani (y)

sniraj998: Hamari adhuri kahani I love this movie.. Thanks imaraan

simardeep141995: hamari adhuri kahani romantic emotinal movie sad happy ending that will make u cry  mindblowing movie

sheeraz_khalid7: -Hamari adhuri kahani It was amazing. Kamal ki love story.

ShabanaRahman7: Hamari Adhuri Kahani is a Amazing & Surreal movie on True Love&Respect!Every moment is touching!!Truly a Dream to Act!! #HamariAdhuriKahani

SatyamGadala: Hamari adhuri kahani nice movie I like the picture

SanthM: I still can't get over Rajkumar Rao's acting in Hamari Adhuri Kahani. He deserves a best actor award!! #HamariAdhuriKahani

Rukkuxx: The amazing @emraanhashmi in hamari adhuri kahani ... Just loved it

Rockymali1: Hamari Adhuri Kahani....is a butyfull love story...

revanthbandari: Emraan Hashmi's Films were always real Romantic's.Hamari Adhuri Kahani is Beyond words.Beautifully written and Acted really well

ranjithhashmi: Just saw the movie Hamari Adhuri Kahani !!! Wat a movie yaar :O After Aashiqui 2 Director Mohit Suri gave an... https://www.facebook.com/RanjithHashmii/posts/936801913039115

ramyavedicherla: Hamari Adhuri Kahani -classical unrealistic romance at its best. <3 Loved it @mohit11481 especially with the background score! <3

PrakashGaba: Hamari Adhuri Kahani...like it...

ParthsQueen: The movie Hamari Adhuri Kahani is total bliss

PARTH1361HJ: awesome movie hamari adhuri kahani imran hasmi rockssssss

nishurocks26: Watched Hamari Adhuri Kahani... Very emotional heart touching story... I liked it

Nikita_sona: The man I Neva though I will eva fall 4 bt he took my heart n movie away. Hamari Adhuri kahani. Awesome movie of 2015 http://twitter.com/Nikita_sona/status/610014919438630912/photo/1

Nasarbashmail: Hamari adhuri kahani super hit movie

msapna150: Superb movie Hamari Adhuri Kahani We Love Aarav Ruparel

Maddykinng143: Must watch Hamari adhuri kahani

jethva_pratik: awsome movie #hamari_adhuri_kahani @emraanhashmi @thedipeshbarot

EmraansfanVicky: It touched many hearts Hamari Adhuri Kahani

EHCOBRAMAN: We Love Hamari Adhuri Kahani

DiyadasSd: Really#Hamari Adhuri kahani is sooo sensitive film :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) people must watch it if u hv ever fallen in lv >3

danishmd2003: Amazing movie# Hamari Adhuri Kahani....

b_punk_b_urslf: Hamari Adhuri Kahani loved it..

ashutoshno1: Rula diya ¥r hamari adhuri kahani ne :'( <3 <3 ¿ — feeling emotional

AnazAshrafEmmi: Awesome Hamari.adhuri.kahani...1st day 1st show....itz.amazing movie Emmi....@emraanhashmi .ur outstanding actor

alinashaikh1995: Just watched Hamari Adhuri Kahani Awesome Movie In Love With U Mr.Aarav Ruparel @emraanhashmi Luv u Emraan :)

ajayraj27287756: bhaut achi movie thi hamari adhuri kahani

adnanshahid2603: hamari adhuri kahani is awsm movie watch it now

ad3b28195a814e1: Emraan u rocked....hamari adhuri kahani....ausome movie...must watch...

aashish83809380: Hamari adhuri kahani romantic ad heart touching movie plz guys c this movie...!!

AadarshVerma14: Just wanted hamari adhuri kahani #awesome movie Heart touching story

7d59a182150e4f9: Awesme movie...hamari adhuri kahani....nthng to say...plz do watch.. Mohabbat v zaroori thi..bichadhna v zaroori tha :-)

420kaexpert: hamari adhuri kahani awesome movie..#HAK

MehrTarar: Imran and the other dude have acted better than Vidya in Hamari Adhuri Kahani. Yep.Not a very good film but the love story breaks your heart

ayeshA_Nausheen: Hamari Adhuri Kahani is technically pretty weak, the dialogues especially, but emotionally very very strong :') Aarav does make you believe

VikasAgarwalll: Watched "Hamari Adhuri Kahani" yesterday. Absolute 3rd class movie.

skjbolly: #HamariAdhuriKahani Review: An epic disaster! Critic's Rating:

Shweta_xx: Hamari Adhuri Kahani....was plain disappointing

RishabhINDIAN32: Hamari Adhuri Kahani Disappointed :( Now next week ABCD 2 :D. First day first show :D this will rock surely :D

ramitmkaul: Hamari Adhuri Kahani .... i wish i could have spent my time better

RajiaUrooj: Feeling Sad for Star Cast #HamariAdhuriKahani Super Cast but on a shallow script...just like NB's #IKNMP

parasrishi: Hamari Adhuri Kahani is such a rondu movie. Headache before even the movie could get over!

narendra1913: Afsos...ho...rha.. I spent money on HAMARI ADHURI KAHANI...coz RAJKUMAR,EMRAAN AND VIDHYA are the best actors...... https://www.facebook.com/narendra1913/posts/907667982633672

mpiyush0000: Sorry but Hamari Adhuri Kahani is a super flop

media_national: Hamari adhuri kahani bahut hi ghatiya movie waste of time waste of money

lankyiyer: If I were the distributor for Hamari Adhuri Kahani, I would have directed the multiplexes to play the movie only till intermission.

KiranAbbassi: "Hamari adhuri kahani" its actually very adhuri for entertainment. #PoorRating

ItsTeeRax: Movie Review : wasted talents of Rajkumar Rao and Vidya Balan in Hamari Adhuri Kahani.. Predictable story & Bad Dialogues are weakest links

idrrajdeep: Heavy duty dialogue-bazi & eternally sombre characters wear you off throughout.Hamari Adhuri Kahani is a laborious task.

hctlittn: Hamari Adhuri Kahani review: Even with Vidya Balan, Emraan and Rajkummar can't save this ...

followsultan: Hamari adhuri kahani...one of d worst day of my life... 13 th of jan

abalajeek: My final verdict - Hamari Adhuri Kahani is an insult to a film viewer's intelligence. Watch it at your own risk. #HamariAdhuriKahani

aasshhhuu: Hamari adhuri kahani. Literally adhoori! :(

5 readers - 4 yays 1 so-so 0 nays

Not Interested in Watching, by Anuj

Not Interested in Watching, by Anup

Not Interested in Watching, by Atul : Haven't seen it yet!

Not Interested in Watching, by Fan

Yay! Thumbs Up, by 127hrs : Very emotionally intense

Yay! Thumbs Up, by raja babu

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Sushant : Nice Songs

Yay! Thumbs Up, by thakur

So-So, by MYICONICHOME : 70% offer on Bedsheets in myiconichome.Additional 5% offer in your first purchase.

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: A husband beating his wife.
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: One scene that implies a couple just had sex. Some talk about this scene.
  • Concept: Undying love.
  • General Look and Feel: Nothing extra-ordinary.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:
Story:
Lead Actors:
Character Artists:
Dialogues:
Screenplay:
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Hamari Adhuri Kahani - Cast, crew, links

Producer:
Director:
Supporting Cast:
Cinematography:
Background Score:
Running time:
130 minutes
Reviewer:
Language:
Country:
Genres:

Comments (18)

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Fan

I found the trailer to be quite boring. Looks like a film on adultery camouflaged under the guise of mature love. Not my cuppa. Anyways i find most of the Emraan Hashmi films to be similar; seen one then seen all.

Anup

Meetu@ , u havnt mentioned that it has been written by Mahesh Bhatt , and i find this combo(emraan , mohit and mahesh) pretty interesting. Murder 2 was nice although ripped off but nice..
And of coarse , Emraan Hasmi is born to play this type of characters only , a person who can love a lot. This could be his comeback.... People are talking about it.. Many are waiting for this.. Lets see whats in the bucket .

@Fan @Anup Looks like people who are looking forward to it are doing so with all their heart and those who don't care, don't care at all. No in-betweeners?

Anuj

Mohit Suri's track record and Emraan's track record with the Bhatt camp certainly gives this one a chance in the B/C centers. And as Aashiqui 2 proved, if the content is admired, sky is the limit!

I found all the video songs not very interesting. They just repeat the same romantic bits that you see in the trailer. And the pace of the movie seems like its going to be slow and feels the same throughout. But I really love the music of Hamari Adhuri Kahani. Probably some of the best songs of the year - especially Papon's Humnava and Arijit Singh's Hamari Adhuri Kahani title song.

thakur

Epecting a lot from dis movie.....emrssn looks in best orm...no other actor can fo these types of roles(madly love) better than emraan...songs r great

Fan

First reviews pouring out.

0.5 out of 5 by Indian Express. That too becasue they could not give 0 (software forces them to put a non zero value).

Just as I had thought, seen one seen all.

Fan

Ouch Meetu, 0 for story, and 0 for screenplay. The backbone of any film.

I feel sad for Vidya Balan whom I rate as one of the finest actresses in Hindi films alongside Tabbu. Her film selection post Kahani has been atrocious - Shaadi ke side effects, Ganchakkar, Bobby Jasoos, and now this.

@Fan I agree *long, sad face*

Anup

Nothing to say . Not a single positive review..!
Seems like the worst movie in Mohit Suri's filmography , that too when written by Mahesh Bhatt..
Thanks for some early reviews i have decided to skip it..

Anuj

Reminds me of RGV's tweet after Bombay Velvet. Every film-maker laughs at an AAG till he makes his own AAG and burns in it. This one is Mohit Suri's Aag I guess!

Selador

I thought your lowest rating was reserved for low iq toilet humor filled crappy movies. Does this really deserve to be bundled in the same rating category? I don't think so.

I usually agree with your reviews, but I'm glad I went ahead and watched this despite your poor rating. Agreed some of the dialogues were cheesy, and could've been replaced with more realistic dialog, but on the whole, the movie was very emotionally intense. It did a good job of explaining the motivations of all the characters, and made me care about the 2 main characters. The 'pain in love' emotion was conveyed so effectively. I thought the ending was poetic. This definitely deserves atleast 4 stars in my book, and I would rate it on par with Ashiqui 2. Yes, they could have done away with some of the more cheesy dialogues, but those are just minor blemishes in an otherwise very well made film.

Anup

And here i hear the first positive thing from anybody about HAK from - Selador

ehinome okojie

Run away from Hamari adhuri Kahani and keep on with Kahani, i don't mind Kahani 20.

@Selador Each genre has a lowest rating type of a film, right? :D

Just got acquainted to your work Meetu. Really like the way you have deconstructed the movie dispassionately with copious humor sprinkled across. Cheers

I love the music of the movie. In my Opinion Arijit Singh is the Best singer. He is the only singer who makes every single song Super hit.

I Love all the songs of the movie.

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