Ishqiya (2010)

Touches You

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The performances by the whole cast has to be given an ovation for they were so enigmatic with their roles & portrayal; and I am so in love with Abhishek Chaubey's direction.Speaking of noir, the film chiefly talks about betrayal, romance, lust, banditry and crime as a whole. Vidya Balan is the cynosure of the story and revolves around her quest to find what actually happened to her beloved spouse. Naseeruddin Shah & Arshad Warsi's characters follow suit as they try to equal their uncle in terms of money. Things go worse when the characters meet. First comes betrayal, then comes mastermind plan, subterfuge, love, love songs, dreams and all.The screenplay is tad non-linear and it accentuates the experience. What I loved most is the blank screens that go in line with scenes of anticipation & suspense. The editor did a very good job by dimming the screen and coming back with another frame. The music is mind-blowing; the score of beats, tunes and reverberating rhythm still rings in my head. All aspects are finely matched together to bring out a crime thriller with tint of black comedy. Good cinematography!BOTTOM LINE: A very well-executed cinema by a newcomer. 2010's one of the best movies. Highly Recommended!Profanity/Vulgarity: Mediocre | Sex/Foreplay: No | Mouth-Kiss: Strong | Violence/Gore: Very Strong | Alcohol/Smoking: Strong | Drugs: No | Porn: Very Mild

Ishqiya is one of best film-noir made after long 70's and 80's. Vishal Bharadwaj has proved himself as a best director in this decade.It is really a film -noir made after a long time. It is really an equivalent to Hollywood thrillers. The film has a suspense and as well a sex made to Hollywood movies.The suspense is surely killing.The film is not too long like other thrillers made3 in India.Really a best film -noir of this era. The performances are best. The story is fine and Vidya Balan's performance is ever best in Indian cinema.Simply a film-noir after 70's.A big salute to Ishqiya team.A film-noir that would ling forever in Indian Cinema.

Abhishek Chaubey directed 'Ishqiya' is a well-made film in all respects, but it's a film that caters to a niche audience. Sure it has an interesting storyline, but it's take on it is very different. This one is a rustic, abusive, violent & complicated film at the end of the day.'Ishqiya' has a okay first hr, a terrific second, but a weak end. The climax is not as impactful as one wonders and expects. The twist in the end is also not convincing, it looks made-up, it's bland to be honest. 'Ishqiya' earned amazing critical acclaim, but only average success at the box office, Now I know why!Chaubey's direction is apt, Vishal Bhardwaj's dialog are in complete sink with the film. His music is fantastic, 'Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji' is a lovely track. In the acting department, Naseeruddin Shah is simply superb, he's a matchless performer! Arshad can't stand his feet near Naseer. Vidya Balan is terrific, playing here part with dynamic ease. The actor who plays Vidya's husband is strictly okay. 'Ishqiya' is a must watch for those who are tired of watching simply entertainers, as this one is meant for that section of audience.

"In our village, kids learn how to operate a firearm much before they could how to wipe their butts", a matter-of-the-fact verbal bullet from a 15-year old boy, with thrice the maturity for his age. Ishqiya's essence is captured in its telling it like it is portrayal of some lawless badland in Eastern Uttar Pradesh where you really have to project outward toughness to avert an untimely death. This ruthlessness is reinforced by several shady characters, mentions of caste warfare, a local warlord who wrote the script of his own accidental death to get rid of a clingy wife, a steel businessman who also smuggles firearms in the covers, and two small-time city crooks who enter this paradise of aberrant, untrustworthy people and blend in quite easily with their slightly urbanized brand of deceitfulness. There's also plenty of symbolism here with depiction of gas cylinders and the absence of any real protagonist in the entire story. Each individual character has shades of grey and has been given adequate space to develop in sync with the plot. To say that the film's screenplay is brilliant would be an understatement, in fact it's after so many days I recall having seen a screenplay that actually outdoes the script. Ifthiqar and Babban Hussain are two petty thieves who're hiding for cover after running foul with Mushtaq-a big gangster. With some quick thinking, the two manage to contrive an escape and enter this village where they seek refuge with the widow of an old friend, called Krishna. Sparks fly and both men (an uncle and his nephew) take turns to seduce the woman. The younger one, Babban wins this affair much to the anger of the older suitor who hasn't lost his touch with gentle romance. Krishna, however, turns out to be the one who can play both of them for her own interest. Together, they plot a kidnapping sequence which goes awry and leads the plot to a climax. There's plenty of raw sexual chemistry in the film - Vidya Balan as the widow Krishna does quite well in this department. I was a bit surprised to find an element of sado-masochism in quite a few scenes, this has rarely been explored by Indian cinema in the past. The love-making scene between Krishna and her husband was on the theme of slave concubine (bandi) with her Emperor (Jahanpanah). In another scene, you have an adulterer male character in the blindfolds, tied to the bedpost with a cat-eyed dominatrix whipping him gently.Overall, Ishqiya is a must-watch thanks to its huge amount of unpredictability. Even though you don't really feel sympathy for any of the characters because of their antagonizing ways, you'd love the eventual outcome.