Gustaakh Ishq

The cast deftly portrays the film’s nostalgia for unhurried times. Vijay Varma turns on the charm as Babban. Naseeruddin Shah is excellent as the wise and wily Aziz, who has opted out of the rat race and prefers his cat Chand Bibi to fame.

On the down side, the twists in the plot may seem unconvincing. But remember, the story is set in the 1990s, where there were no mobile phones and intimate scenes in the movies were rare. Songs composed by Vishal Bharadwaj and written by Gulzar are passable, with the exception of Ul Jalool Ishq. But it seems like the entire focus of the director was on the script and the poetry, not the music. Gustaakh Ishq feels like a cinematic revival of everything we once loved about Urdu story-telling. So if you are into literature, poetry and Urdu, and in the mood for a 'clean' love story, Gustaakh Ishq is a must watch.

Vibhu Puri and Prasshant Jha's story is sweet. Vibhu Puri and Prasshant Jha's screenplay (script consultant: Mitesh Shah) is unhurried and engaging but has some rough edges. Vibhu Puri and Prasshant Jha's dialogues and Ashok Mizaj, Umair Najmi and Vibhu Puri's poetry are one of the USPs and also music to the ears. Thankfully, the language is easy to understand. Nevertheless, subtitles should be provided in every theatre for those not familiar with chaste Urdu. Vibhu Puri's direction is simple and does justice to the storyline. The protagonist is flawed and yet, he's not toxic. In fact, there's no violence or intensity and this factor, along with the use of Urdu and focus on Muslim characters, makes GUSTAAKH ISHQ a one-of-a-kind movie. The romance builds up well, but what stands out is the bond shared by the 'shagird' with his mentor.

The first half, story wise, is self-indulgent. It takes its time establishing the world and its people. The dialogue flows freely, sometimes too freely, stringing ornate words together for a good first fifteen minutes. It could alienate viewers who are not fully attuned to the language. Written by Prashant Jha and Vibhu, Gustaakh Ishq takes its time to connect, much like the love it portrays.