Ishqiya (2010)

While on the run from goons, a man and his nephew fall for a kidnapper's seductive widow.

Director:

Abhishek Chaubey

Writers:

Vishal Bhardwaj (screenplay), Sabrina Dhawan (screenplay)

Stars:

Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi

18 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Vidya Balan	...	Krishna
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Khalujaan
Arshad Warsi	...	Babban Hussain
Salman Shahid	...	Mushtaq
Adil Hussain	...	Vidyadhar Verma
Rajesh Sharma	...	Kamalkant Kakkad
Anupama Kumar	...	Manju
Gauri Mala	...	Mamta
Alok Kumar	...	Nandu (as Aalok Kumar)
Anisha Bano	...	Tai
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shivansu Sachan	...	Assistant director (as Shivansu)
Rakesh Sharma	...	Pizza boy
Jai Singh

Storyline

Ishqiya is a story about love arising in characters, portrayed uniquely according to their own personal traits. The situations in the plot lead the characters to experience the emotion creeping into their lives in the most unexpected manner.

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Plot Keywords:

child uses a gun | child | love | unrequited love | directorial debut | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Inspired by Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 50 mins) After getting blown up, Verma was shown to be badly burned from head to toe. However, the clothes that he was wearing were not even slightly singed by the blast.

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Connections

Features Intaquam (1969)

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Soundtracks

Dil Toh Bacha Hai Jee
Performed by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Lyrics by Gulzar
Music by Vishal Bhardwaj
Music on T-Series

User Reviews

A wry, witty, rustic love story at its best...

Arshad looks incredulously at the boy in front of him. "Tu Kaise Jaanta Hai Itna Saara Hathyaron Ke Bare Main?". The boy, deadpan, with no suggestion of humour, responds "Yahan Pe Chuttad Dhone Se Pehle, Tamancha Chalana Sikhate Hain". Welcome to a madcap roller coaster ride through a world that most Indian Netizens are not very familiar with, the India that we've kind of forgotten exists, the badlands of UP and its small villages, their on-going caste wars, con-men and utter lawlessness. Using the colourful, invective laced language that characterises the region, it proceeds to poke fun at the madness that passes for everyday life in most such places. And it simultaneously makes us laugh and think, to feel for characters so nicely etched that we cheer even when they're breaking the law.

Arshad & Naseer, Mama and Bhanja, both con-men, are on the run from Naseer's Jijaji, for what exactly we're not sure but it involves some money and some ice. Due to a mix of circumstances which include an unwanted pregnancy and a jail term, they land up at the home of one of their ex-cell-mates, who it turns out has expired, leaving behind his widow, Vidya Balan. Unsure and hesitantly at first, Naseer & later Arshad develop feelings for our spunky but quiet lady. However, the Jija returns. And then the game heats up…

The situations and characters that we encounter are beautifully drawn. The sense of humour or wry perspective that we're offered, remains intact through the film. The dialogue is witty and makes you chuckle non-stop. And the songs, the background music is of exceptional quality. Right from the number of classics liberally laced in different situations (Dhanno Ki Aankhon Main, Pyaar Ka Surma at a brothel, Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen as a ringtone for the Jija) or the semi-classical song that Vidya sings in the beginning or the two flagship songs the zany, peppy 'Ibn Batuta' or the lyrical, romantic 'Dil to Bacha Hai', after a long time in a Hindi film, it was worth the price of a ticket just to see the songs.

Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan light up the screen with their effervescent performances, while Naseeruddin Shah, true to his character remains the stable one. With his surma ringed eyes, ready wit, goofy grin, angry stare and lovable roguishness, Arshad delivers a performance we'd forgotten he was capable of. Vidya doesn't put a foot wrong, playing on the emotions of both the men like a taanpura, sad, melancholic at times and smiling, alluring, teasing at others. For both of them, this film will feature prominently on their CV for some time to come. And Vishal / Abhishek continue their knack of picking an ensemble cast that looks like they belong to the villages…each of the characters we meet look comfortably at home in their rural setting.

more on this film, incl several dialogue references at ApurvBollywood at blogspot, here it shows up as spelling errors. You must watch this film !

Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Release Date:

29 January 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Glücksritter

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,122,090

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shemaroo Entertainment, Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color