#DedhIshqiya : With a screen play developed around one of the best known feminist Urdu writer Ismat Chughtai’s most controversial short story “Lihaaf”, with an atmosphere of shero – shayari , with its tongue in cheek dialogue , with a neo-noir theme laced with homo-eroticism, its sepia toned cinematography , with Babban and Khalujaan on a wild adventurous spree and with Begum Para’s “nazakat aur ada” you will expect the audience to explore seven stages of love with Abhishek Chaubey’s Dedh Ishqiya.
They do in fact pass through phases of attraction (dilkashi) , attachment (Uns) and love (Mohabbat). However the over indulgence of the director, some sloppy editing and lack of quality music (in spite of a deeply musical under current and Gulzab Saab as lyricist) ensures you don’t get to experience akidat (trust) and ibadat (worship) that could have resulted in Junoon(madness).
In spite of its flaws and inability to maintain uniformity and pace in screen play Dedh Ishqiya is enticing. It takes you back to a poetic world where interplay of words enriches your senses. The movie opens brilliantly and goes back to show how Babban and Khalujaan got separated. There is a scene where both their hands are tied as Begum Para and Munira are getting close and the shadow on the wall portrays their intimacy. Khalujaan looks at Babban and asks Lihaaf maang le. That is the essence of the movie.
Naseeruddin Shah is one of the finest actors Hindi Cinema has produced and he is flawless as Khalujaan. Arshadi Warsi as Babban is a pocket dynamite, you almost look in awe how effortlessly he gets into the skin of his role. Madhuri in her come back reiterates, irrespective of how gifted you are, it takes time to come back to form after a long hiatus. She fails to add the oomph and dignity required for Begum Para’s character. The music is a big let down.
The high point of Dedh Ishquiya lies is its dialogue (one of the best in a long time), in its deadpan humor, its poetry,Abhiskek’s imaginative direction (till he shot that terrible final scene), its ambience, aesthetics and the chemistry between Babban and Khalujaan. Oh yes I forgot to mention about Munira , no better you go and discover it yourself. And by the way, if Urdu is not your cup of tea, don’t you worry, Vishal Bhardwaj ensured this time around it is released with subtitles !
I will go out with three out of five. No it is not better than the original, but manages to hold its place in spite of that one last platform scene which the director probably shot out of sheer madness.
They do in fact pass through phases of attraction (dilkashi) , attachment (Uns) and love (Mohabbat). However the over indulgence of the director, some sloppy editing and lack of quality music (in spite of a deeply musical under current and Gulzab Saab as lyricist) ensures you don’t get to experience akidat (trust) and ibadat (worship) that could have resulted in Junoon(madness).
In spite of its flaws and inability to maintain uniformity and pace in screen play Dedh Ishqiya is enticing. It takes you back to a poetic world where interplay of words enriches your senses. The movie opens brilliantly and goes back to show how Babban and Khalujaan got separated. There is a scene where both their hands are tied as Begum Para and Munira are getting close and the shadow on the wall portrays their intimacy. Khalujaan looks at Babban and asks Lihaaf maang le. That is the essence of the movie.
Naseeruddin Shah is one of the finest actors Hindi Cinema has produced and he is flawless as Khalujaan. Arshadi Warsi as Babban is a pocket dynamite, you almost look in awe how effortlessly he gets into the skin of his role. Madhuri in her come back reiterates, irrespective of how gifted you are, it takes time to come back to form after a long hiatus. She fails to add the oomph and dignity required for Begum Para’s character. The music is a big let down.
The high point of Dedh Ishquiya lies is its dialogue (one of the best in a long time), in its deadpan humor, its poetry,Abhiskek’s imaginative direction (till he shot that terrible final scene), its ambience, aesthetics and the chemistry between Babban and Khalujaan. Oh yes I forgot to mention about Munira , no better you go and discover it yourself. And by the way, if Urdu is not your cup of tea, don’t you worry, Vishal Bhardwaj ensured this time around it is released with subtitles !
I will go out with three out of five. No it is not better than the original, but manages to hold its place in spite of that one last platform scene which the director probably shot out of sheer madness.
