ISHQIYA
A whistle blowing black comedy shot like a desi western that gallops on marvelous performance and dialogues
by Vishal Verma

A Shemaroo Entertainment presentation with Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures Pvt Ltd.

Producers: Vishal Bhardwaj and Raman Maroo
Co-Producer: Rekha Bhardwaj, Ketan Maroo and Mansi Maroo
Director: Abhishek Chaubhey
Screenplay:  Vishal Bhardwaj, Sabrina Dhawan and Abhishek Chaubhey
Genre: Black Comedy
Target audience: General

Starring

Naseruddin Shah...... Khalujan
Arshad Warsi...... Babban
Vidya Balan...... Krishna Verma
Adil Hussain………Verma

Technical Analysis

After stirring the English Shakesphere wine with the desi liquor called ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Omkara’, saluting Tarantino with an Indian hat in ‘Kaminey’, Vishal Bhardawaj now gives the ‘tekha’ (read bar) to his assistant Abhishek Chaubhey who brings the katta (desi revolver) and the kattari (village bombshell) together for an enjoyable ride on the path and principle of ‘everything is fair in love and war’ giving bollywood cinema its rare movement of a black comedy shot in a western ishtyle that gollops on marvelous performance and super dialogues.

Yes it comes with a warning, ‘not for the bachchas as the kid tells the bhopali baban (Arshad Warsi- throws the circuit shoes and matches step by step with his colleagues) in his eastern U.P. accent, “ chutad dhone se pehle, tamancha chalana sikhate hai’ the translation in English means before learning to wash your ass we learn how to hold a gun.

As Divya Balan (another clap worthy performance) seductively licks the bruised thump of the dil phekh Arshad warsi and sings ‘Tumhe dekhti hooon to lagta hai aise’ to the not very dil phekh Khalujan (Naseruddin Shah- simply superb) you know its for some real double goda (read intoxicating treatment). With more and more insignificant flicks making rooms, this follow-up of ‘Omkara’ is a more enjoyable and readable graffiti on the walls of Bollywood.

Keeping the heart of a western alive helmer Abhishek with Vishal’s dialogue keep pumping it with the desi eastern U.P. beat bringing life and together they add a different chapter to bollywood cinema. The settings in Gorakhpur on the border of Nepal is captured to the desired effect by Mohana Krishna. The editing is crisp. The background by Kaamod Kharade, P M Satheesh and Shajith Koyeri adds to the mood. Vishal bhardwaj gives another winner with ‘Dil To Bachcha hai ji’.

Apart from the marvelous performance by the awesome threesome Naseer, Arshad and Vidya, Adil Hussain as Verma – Vidya Balan’s husband in the flick is earnestly natural and catches the eye especially during the confrontation with Vidya in the climax. Surely an actor to look out for.
The kid is also delightful.

On the flip side, the movie ends on a hurried note and the intent of Vidya Balan is left for the viewer to figure it out.

The movie gets 3 out of 5

One for the desi feel

One for the technicalities

One for the performance

The movie looses on being a bit predictive and having a hurried end.

The Story

Two thieves, Khalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi), are on the run from their boss, Mushtaq. They seek refuge at a friend's house, but instead meet his widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan). The time spent together draws the duo to her, Khalu with his tinted vision of old-fashioned love and Babban with his lustful eye. But the past catches up with all three!

Promotion

The promotion where tricky enough and honestly it created interest amongst its target audience. The indoor and out door publicity is expected to do the click treick and media awreness by Parull Gosaain has been effective.

Business Analysis

This western ishtyle black comedy is a smartly done effort by first timer Abhishek Chaubhey which will find its audience by the word of mouth.

Other Credits

Cassettes and CD's on T-Series. Singers: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sukhwinder Singh, Mika Singh, Rekha Bhardwaj and Clinton Cerejo. Lyricist: Gulzar and Ajinkya Iyer. Music Director: Vishal Bhardwaj. Cinematography: Mohana Krishna. Action: Jai Singh. Editor: Namrata Rao. Dialogue: Vishal Bhardwaj. Costume: Payal Saluja. Media Relations: Parull Gossain. Promos: Ravi Padda and Binni Padda. Publicity Designs: Marching Ants. Reviewed at Famous Studios at Mumbai on Jan 28, 2010.


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