Ishqiya Review

 What's it all about?

Gasses out the routine and laughs on its achievement for being a rare cinematic chapter in Bollywood of being a dark comedy shot in a western ishtyle, Vishal Bhardwaj does it again and how.

After stirring the English Shakesphere wine with the desi liquor called `Maqbool' and `Omkara' and saluting Tarantino with an Indian hat in `Kaminey', Vishal Bhardawaj now gives the `tekha' (read responsibility) 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 Vidya 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 time for some real `double ghoda' (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.

The story... of course

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!

What to look out for?

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 are 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.

What not?

The movie looses on being a bit predictive and having a hurried end where the intent of Vidya Balan is left for the viewer to figure it out.

Recommended: Tried whiskey, rum, cognac, now its time for some desi jhatka just go get drunk and fall in love with Ishqyia.

Rating: ***

[Rating  * Yuck. ** Oh No. *** Hmmm. Well Done. **** Well done. Superb. ***** Priceless]