Dedh Ishqiya (2014) User Reviews

Urdu poetry,ghazals aur begums..... Kya Waqt tha

[jmoneyjohal · 8/10 · 10 January 2014]

An interesting tale the story begins with Begum Para (madhuri) who hosts a festival of music and poetry in her palace. In that comes Khalujaan (naseer) as a Prince but his real motive is to woo the widowed Begum and settle in the palace. But his accomplice Babban (arshad) wants to return to their stealing profession. However, he also is struck by love looking at Muniya (huma), the confidante of Begum Para. What happens from there forms the rest of the story.

The director has come up with a romantic storyline and while the presentation was rich, the narrative was quite absorbing. The dialogues were well written. The script was above average and the screenplay made it lot better. The background score was melodious and three songs were worth watching. Cinematography was the main strength to this film. Editing was crisp. Costumes were well designed to suit the royalty while the art department was majestic. In performances, Naseeruddin Shah was exceptional and equally competent was Madhuri Dixit, she has not lost her beauty yet. Arshad Warsi was versatile as ever and Huma did well as the rough but raw and sexy girl. Vijay Raaz was impressive, Ravi Gosain was neat, Shraddha sizzled in her item song. Others did their bit as required and added value.

The film happens to be the sequel to the super hit movie Ishqiya and this time the concept and plot gets more complicated and intense. The first half goes on an entertaining mode with elements of romance and other light emotions but the second half gets serious with the various twists and turns. Overall, the film strikes due to some impact creating performances, tempting sexuality and the rich technical values.

A perfect entertainer

[supercool-avi · 8/10 · 10 January 2014]

Look at the star-cast.. the ever beautiful Madhuri and ever green Nasiruddin Shah and you'll be drawn to the cinema halls itself. Add supporting comedy of Arshad Warsi and the new Bollywood beauty Huma Qureshi and you've got the perfect star cast for an entertaining film. Movie is full of comedy, romance and quick-witted dialogs. There's some abusive language which is expected in a Vishal Bharadwaj film to give that so-called realistic touch. Script is good, and each actor has given his/her best. Film has good music with Madhuri's dance... :) Overall it's a perfect entertainer with all the drama, music, comedy, action and romance! A good start of the year for Bollywood. Do watch ishq ke saat makaam! :D

Thankfully, the year began on a promising note for the Hindi Film Industry. Thanks to Dedh Ishqiya for that.

[braddugg · 6/10 · 17 August 2014]

Thankfully, the year began on a promising note for the Hindi Film Industry. Thanks to Dedh Ishqiya for that.

This is a film that you will like to watch with your boyfriend or girlfriend (whichever is applicable) or spouse. Coz, there are some moments which will linger in head, long after you have seen this film. They may spice up some moments in your romance.

This film has subtitles. Thanks to the language used which is more Urdu than Hindi. I believe that since "Umrao Jaan" this is the first good attempt.

The film works for the acting. Naseeruddin Shah is effortless. Arshad Warsi is the hyperactive Babban whose wit is hilarious and the spontaneity stupendous. Also they are ably supported by Huma Qureshi and Vijay Raaz and host of others. But above all others I give in to Madhuri Dixit as Begum Para.

I love Madhuri Dixit and her dance. Thankfully, she dances and just those 5 minutes of her moves are divine. She has a divine grace in dancing and is surely one of the best dancers for screen. Thanks Madhuri for dancing superbly after a hiatus.

The camera work is superb and even the editing is good. At least there is no nonsense. Dialogues by Vishal Bharadwaj and his team are exemplary. In fact the best I have heard in a Bollywood film in long time.

Direction till the climax was wonderful and it fell flat in the climax scene. Apart from that, I have no big qualms from this.

I am going with 3/5 for a good movie. It may not work for everyone but love and desire have always worked for me.

It will be a cult classic in near future

[rangdetumpy · 11 January 2014]

Like Khulujaan I am also a patient of love, in love with Good cinema & was thirsting to see a good Hindi cinema for the last four months. Finally my thirst got quenched by Dedh Ishqiya.

What was expected from this sequel (or predecessor as one of my friend rightly pointed) – the likable camaraderie between Khalujan & Babban; impeccable comic timing of Nasseruddin Shah & (under-rated as always) Arshad Warsi; dark quirky humor; shayerana Ada; katilana femme-fa tale; crime amidst rustic old-world romance; manipulative characters... You will get to see all of these, probably dedh goona zyada (1 n ½ times more)...

&

This stylishly written twisted comic thriller scores with its absorbing narrative & well edged characters that keep you hooked to the proceedings & there's rich cinematography to compliment it. With the plot revolving around poets wooing the begum you can blindly expect some captivating sher shayaris & the film scores here as well. Luckily for the ignoramus lot (like me) SUBTITLES were thrown in to grasp the "lufth" of the Urdu mehfil.

The dialog by Vishal Bhardwaj are wacky & intelligent as the Characters wittily play with words; nowadays that's something as rare as searching for logic in a 200cr film. Kudos to Bhardwaj & Abhishek Chaubey for the screenplay; & obviously Gulzar Saab for the lyrics.. The background music is one of the most effective ones in any recent Hindi films.. Prasad' editing & Pande's cinematography worked magically just like Khulujan-baaban (or Para-Muniya) combo that uplifted the mood of the film.

And yes this time you have two Begums with the power to bring out a shayer in every Men with no hormonal infirmity... Madhuri Dixit - Nene & Huma Qureshi, ufffffff!!!!!! (And Madhuri mesmerizes in two dance sequences)... Both of them did justice to finely written strong female characters that's also an aberration to usual stuff served to us off-late. The lesbian angle depicted through shadows was a masterstroke... Mr Chaubey, looking forward to see more films from you...

Naseeruddin & Warsi are rock solid as usual. Manoj Pahwa & Salman Shahid gave commendable support in their respective cameos.

And then there's Vijay Raaz , one of the finest & under-utilized actors of Indian cinema who seemingly lighten up in every scene as Wannabe Nawab Jaan Mohd.. If he would have been in the west then Coen brothers would have surely lapped him...& academy would have been waiting for him..

And talking about Coen brothers, the film does seem to be heavily inspired from their films specially the one where Jaan's henchmen & Khalujan-Babban points guns at each other for the whole night in the middle of a road till dawn breaks in. The two parties parted off only when they heard an assembly prayer coming from a primary school near-by. And the brilliant action sequence in the climax, where we get to hear a haunting classical song playing in the background & things happening in a slow motion. The sequence was a tribute to Coens as well as Tarantino at the same time..

To sum it up I would quote a line from one of the leading Indian critic's review - "Like heady wine, it delivers a welcome kick."..

To all those who complains of dearth of Good Hindi films give Dedh Ishqiya a shot, u might not regret it....This is called "Intelligent Entertainment"...

P. S : The 6th stage of Love is Junoon which is similar to "chutiyapa" as it's followed by Maut..well suicide as some wise guy said...

Masterpiece in step of improving Bollywood but ....

[yasharma96 · 6/10 · 13 January 2014]

The film leads could not have done better on their part accompanied with the fabulous plot and screenplay but the direction in some crucial scenes and the dialogues in them could not be absorbed on one watch.The film captures the life of every lead in a manner in which you don't expect from Bollywood.The film is what we should say an innovation to Bollywood on story telling skills and acting but what captures your heart is surely lacked in this piece of entertainment because of bad direction and poor script on the view of dialogues in the sense to impress the audience.Don't watch it if you expect it to catch your heart in the way Hollywood has. Watch it if you like comedy combined with some serious drama and pure literature in terms of dialogue be combined in the art of story telling .

A visual treat - Best Bollywood sequel ever

[anshul-singh · 10/10 · 10 January 2014]

Vishal Bharadwaj's Dedh Ishqiya offers legendary Maduri Dixit the perfect platform for a comeback. Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah as Babban and Khaalu are entertaining as they were in Ishqiya. Their chemistry is cracking, sizzling, an absolute delight to watch. Madhuri Dixit-Nene is ethereal and absolutely ageless as Begum Para. When you watch her on screen dancing and singing, it's almost like you are savoring a glass of good wine that lingers delightfully on your palate.

Huma Qureshi holds her own amidst a set of great actors. Director, Abhishek Chaubey creates a grander plot this time as the story, plot, look, feel, characters and music are interwoven intricately.

Possibly the best Bollywood sequel ever made.

What's all this hooplah about..??!!

[vivek1303 · 6/10 · 19 January 2014]

I saw this movie 2 days back and I am still shocked why is this movie becoming the talk of the town. the critics loved it, and so did the audience (as per the IMDb rating). But I am perplexed. I have always relied on IMDb for an indicator of a good bollywood movie but this one seems to be an exception, as per me.

The movie starts very pregnant with a rustic feel with that 'batman' punch, and from there on I was looking forward to meet that character again (some solid vocals there!), only to be disappointed. The movie never picks up, actually. It starts with an interesting contest, a modern day weird swayamvar based on poetic skills (mixed with shooting..??). From there on it becomes a slow train that keeps on giving black smoke. Vijay Raz is good but his character is ambiguous. Madhuri is terrific though. Shah looks pale, Huma is decent, but the show-stealer is Warsi.

Anyhow, the story is too laboriously over-stretched. The movie expands over 152 minutes when the plot becomes a bit too obvious just after interval. The twist was too weak to be called so as it was visible from miles away. The explanations and the motives behind the so-called twist , as explained in the denouement, are too weak and poorly crafted.

To top all this crass, the climax is so harrowingly weak and Tarantino style that it takes away all the "real-feel" of the movie (which anyhow one never experiences).

Even a 6 rating is a tad bit generous on my part.

A joy ride with a lot of twists and outstanding acting

[dashingdude_2310 · 10/10 · 11 January 2014]

I have always been a great fan of how Vishal Bharadwaj can make dark comedy with such ease and beauty. After watching Kaminey, Omkara and Ishqiya, I went to the theater with great expectations and I was not at all disappointed, rather amazed and more than satisfied... The dialogues and the delivery are fantastic and not just that, The movie takes on some very subtle issues like ego, love, misconceptions, personality ethic and a lot more and that too with sense of humor that is subtle yet so powerful that every line that the actors say have some deep meaning in them... Naseer sahab has always been one of my favorites and praising his acting would mean critiquing a monalisa, however the pick of the actors for me were Arshad Warsi with his bhopali humor, Madhuri Dixit beautiful yet so powerful and of course Vijay Raj ,the villain, who although has a big ego fails to earn the respects he yearns for so much.... All in all it is a 9* experience according to me, with the drawback that there are no famous songs, as in ishqiya, which i so much expected from Vishal bharadwaj... Its intelligent cinema, with a mix of humor and darkness... It tries to rip of the character behind the faces that we tend to wear... I think this is one installment of bollywood this year that would be hard to beat... You should take a walk into the dark humorous world of dedh ishqiya..

Decent entertainment

[ketgup83 · 7/10 · 15 January 2014]

When Ishqiya came in 2010, who would have thought characters like Babban and Khallujaan will be instantly loved. Come 2014, Dedh Ishqiya follows these 2 delightful person but is limited to just being an entertainment.

After betraying Babban in one of the jewelry store robbery, Khallujaan goes to Mahmudabad to get hitched to the widower Begum Para aided by Muniya in a swamvyar. Soon, Babban finds him in Mahmudabad but both of them must fight off the local gangster Jaan Mohammad to get the money and girls

After delivering outstanding film like ISHQIYA, I was expecting more from the sequel but was slightly disappointed with enthralling twist and saucy comedy that made ISHQIYA super-liked. Nevertheless, Dedh Ishqiya comes with fresh story and outstanding performances by the entire star cast. Kudos to Abhishek Chaubey for keeping audiences on their toes with what-will-happen-next drama. Screenplay is grasping. Art direction is good along with beautiful cinematography of historical palace in Mahmudabad. in acting department, Vijay Raaz and Arshad Warsi steals the show. Both of them are equally competent along with fresh face of Huma Qureshi. Veterans like Nasseruddin Shah and Madhuri Dixit are dependable.

Overall, I liked Dedh Ishqiya but I could not fall in love unlike the first part. Good 3/5

Better than the first!

[dpatel13 · 9/10 · 11 January 2014]

I was skeptical about this one due to couple of reasons. The first ishqiya had a confusing plot (while interesting) and Vishal Bhardwaj is known for darker movies based on his previous work (kaminey, omkara). But dedh ishqiya is neither dark nor confusing. The plot is a lot more linear keeping the audience interested and gripped. The movie was surprisingly hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions.

The chemistry between the actors, Naseerudin Shah and Arshad is fantastic. Not enough could be said about Madhuri who makes a sizzling come-back. Huma is good as well.

All in all, Dedh Ishqiya is a complete film filled with a great script, taunt execution and tantalizing performances. The only drawback is the Urdu dialogues which I found to be acceptable due to the Nawaby setting but may not sit well with some viewers. If you are in the mood for comedy, thriller or even romance, don't miss Dedh Ishqiya!! 9/10

@in2deepjagani

Good, but not great

[rijuthegreat · 7/10 · 15 January 2014]

Dedh Ishqiya - the movie with not one but two femme fatale. Without giving the plot away, suffice to say that if you don't compare it with the first part and allow the movie to stand on its own, it stands quite well, populated as it is by strong characters and wonderful lines including some really wonderful poetry. The subtitles help a lot, BTW, though I am pretty sure that 'snafu' is not what chutiyapa means. The movie is fun throughout and though parts of it are extremely predictable and cartoonish (Vijay Raaz and Manoj Pahwa taking their cartoonish roles to the stratosphere), the treatment ensures that there is never a dull moment and there's always an undercurrent of tension laced with humour. No matter how difficult the situation is, we know that nothing truly bad will happen to our lovable thieves or their paramours even when they are outnumbered and out-gunned in a Mexican standoff. It was good to see Madhuri in a leading role after a long time - her casting was bang on, and even Huma in the role of the fiery Muniya who believes that love and sex are two completely different and unrelated things (really? I thought it was only guys who thought that! ), while at the same time knocking boots with both Arshad and Madhuri (in a scene that was a tribute to Ismat Chugtai's Lihaaf), also pretty much chewed up the scenery whenever she was on screen. (On a separate note, while there is no doubting her beauty and acting chops, she does have a rather hefty presence, our girl Huma, and if this was Hollywood I would have bet that some canny filmmaker would have made a female Grudge Match starring her and Sonakshi). There's not much to say about Arshad and Naseeruddin - they own their respective characters now, and Naseer has set such high standards for himself that you don't really find his exceptional performances exceptional anymore. It's just what we are used to. All in all two and a half hours of good entertainment provided you don't go in with great expectations, do like Urdu poetry and don't compare this movie to the first part.

A Cult - Must Watch for Every Genuine Movie Lover

[aijaz-hussain · 10/10 · 11 January 2014]

Dedh Ishqiya is cleverly written and brilliantly executed; it is the perfect comeback vehicle and tribute to the only true screen goddess Madhuri Dixit.

Apart from Madhuri's heartfelt performance, Dedh Ishqiya will always be remembered and referenced for its brilliant direction and storytelling. The movie is smarter, funnier, richer, and way more gorgeous than its prequel Ishqiya. The writing is brilliant, screenplay immaculate, and direction flawless. Dialogues were quirky and all the lead as well as the supporting actors performed really well. Kudos to the director.

Now speaking about the main attraction and the lead character of this movie Madhuri Dixit who essays the role of Begum Para, one has to admit that she was, is, and will remain THE BEST actress as long as Indian cinema exists. Her luminous smile enchants, her dance captivates, and her mischievous glance casts spell magic on audience.

They say the soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone..I never got it until I watched Madhuri Dixit in Dedh Ishqiya. And it is apt to say "Always pray to have eyes that see the best, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God".

Don't miss the rare opportunity to watch this gem of a movie and the timeless Madhuri Dixit.

Dedh Isqiya Review

[ahwaan_padhee · 7/10 · 13 January 2014]

After the critical success of Ishqiya(2010),Director Abhishek Chaubey and his team is back with the sequel, Dedh Ishqiya where the two irrepressible thieves, Khalujaan(Naseeruddin Shah)and Babban(Arshad Warsi) fall for Begum Para( Madhuri) and her female aide,Muniya(Huma Qureshi) respectively. While the prequel was much volatile and zany , Dedh Ishqiya inhabits in the dilapidated Nawabi culture with the settings based in a small town called Mehmudabad. The characters speak Urdu and are quite interesting and deceptive in their own ways.There is this Begum who is depressive, yet she organizes her swayamvar to marry the best Nawab in town.Her crazy suitor, Jaan(Vijay Raaz) is a gangster, who pretends to be a poet by stealing all poetry from his captive, Nawab Italwa(Manoj Pahwa).Each one has scheme of his own and lots to hide..

The plot unfolds at a lethargic pace and movie could have been easily trimmed off by 30 minutes with prudent editing. Nevertheless, Chaubey's engaging screenplay(along with Vishal Bharadwaj, Gulzar)spruced up with elements of mystery and secrecy keeps us hooked.What's interesting to note here is that, the comedy is purely situational, with below-the-belt humor most of the times but bolstered with razor-sharp and witty dialogues.It brims with poetic elegance and rustic charm, with the characteristic depiction of Bharadwaj's aesthetics through dim-lit indoors and mansions. Music(Vishal Bharadwaj) is soothing and harks you back to the old days.

Dedh Ishqiya primarily works because of its star-cast.The supremely talented Naseeruddin Shah stumps you with his shayarana andaz and in genuine histrionics. The prowess with the lovelorn poet spews the Urdu dialogues is really impeccable and it's impossible to find his substitute in the entire Bollywood. Madhuri spells the aura which was missing since her last comeback, as the ravishing actress communicates with us through her radiant eyes. Huma Qureshi lends the mean edge and the rawness to the plot with her earthy portrayal of Begum's aide, Muniya.She is a true firebrand which makes us nostalgic about Krishna(Vidya of Ishqiya).Arshad Warsi sticks to his forte, and thats his unmatchable comic timing which keeps us entertained when the actor is either in banter with his partner-in-crime,Shah or the femme fatale Huma.As the wily MLA-cum-Nawab who is head-over-heels in love with Begum,Vijay Raaz regales with a killer performance!

While Dedh Ishqiya might not entrust you with an edge-of-the seat thrill , it certainly builds an unique intrigue around it to keep you engaged for the running time of around 2 hour and 30 minutes, more so over with its inbred humor and the endearing dynamics of Khalujaan and Babban. Go for it and I am sure , you will long for Dhai Ishqiya :)

A sparkling dud.

[amjadshamsi · 5/10 · 14 January 2014]

Great performances. Great settings. Great screenplay. Everybody looks the part, speaks the language, plays the part. The top 4 actors effortlessly play their part & leave an impression. Even the side artists play their part very well. The dialogs keep you involved & are funny too. The language is pure & well researched. Much effort has been taken to make a good movie & it shows. The only problem is there is nothing to tell. The story is the weakest link in this movie. Across 150 minutes of playtime there is nothing in the story to keep you involved. So you are lolling over 2.5 hrs over clothes, poetry, etc. All in all a missed opportunity.

great sequel surprisingly..

[shuhaabshah-3 · 11 January 2014]

i was not sure about this movie as most Hindi movie sequels .well suck mostly.. and after loving the first move i thought they would repeat the stuff we loved and make it bad. but the star cast made me watch it. and i was surprised because it overwhelmed me and went over my expectations multiple times. its not many times you see a realistic movie like this in bollywood but only sometimes these guys catch you with surprise and give you a masterpiece like this. naseeudin shah is one of my favourite actors and huma is the new sensation who everyone likes these days . including me. both gave a strong performance and arshad was as usually good but not great.

so this is movie which people have to love as it makes you laugh, makes you screem and all that other stuff that good movies are supposed to do. so what are you doing reading this review. go out and WATCH IT NOW.

Good follow up to Ishqiya

[silvan-desouza · 7/10 · 12 January 2014]

Im not a big fan of sequels but Dedh Ishqiya will be one amongst the exceptions. The film brings back the Naseeruddin and Arshad Warsi combo of the original, but instead of Vidya we have Madhuri and Huma. Those who have missed the original may find it difficult to connect with the events but yet it's well handled. The first half is a bit slow but the narrative is well handled, with comedy, poetry, urdu shahyri and the twists and turns thrown in. The twists in the second half do shock you especially towards the end though the impact of the original is missing towards the concluding moments.

Direction by Abhishek Chaubey is excellent Music is good but one misses the chartbuster Dil to Bachcha Hai Ji type but yet the songs are good

Madhuri Dixit-Nene does a good turn about with a different role, she conveys through her eyes and is perfect in her role, those complaining about lack of sexyiness like Vidya, It's because the role isn't meant to be like that. Naseeruddin Shah is exceptional yet again, after a drab year last year with Jackpot type wrong films he is back with a bang, he is simply flawless Arshad Warsi too comes back after duds and is superb as Babban, he is brilliant in comedy as well as dramatic scenes.Huma Qureshi is terrific in her role, she is one of the finest newcomers to hit the Indian screen since last few years. Amongst rest Vijay Raaz is terrific in his role showing us why he is one of the best talents we have. Manoj Pahwa is saddled with a not too proper sketched out role and is okay Salman Shahid returns after the last film and is good in a cameo rest are okay.

Worth the hype..

[anwu_s · 9/10 · 13 January 2014]

An esteemed reviewer for a leading newspaper had commented that the movie spent a long time staring at Madhuri Dixit. Yes, it's true. From the moment she stepped on to the screen, her iridescent beauty threatens to overwhelm the viewer. I felt like she didn't have much to say in this movie. Not enough dialogues for her. But, she is one actress that doesn't need dialogue to stop from emoting and expressing her feelings. As beheld in the song Jagaave Saari Raina, she didn't sing. Just expressed. Naseeruddin Shah's character had expressed it rightly. She became dance. Madhuri's portrayal of Begum Para was nothing short of perfect. The slight hesitation in speaking that comes with royalty (thehraav), the inborn dignity, the chewing of the paan, the show of polite humility yet steely resolve. In many ways, it was reminiscent of her Chandramukhi, but without the tawaif background. She was simply breathtaking.

Playing her sidekick, Muniya, is Huma Qureshi. Her best friend, her confidante, her shadow. She could switch from chaste Urdu to crass Bhojpuri which was fantastic, along with her comic timing. She is not afraid of using sex to get her way. Huma, in a gang of acting stalwarts, made her own mark on the film. If she doesn't get nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Filmfare, I will eat my hat! But, of course, if movies like Dabangg and Chennai Express win Best Film, the future of Bollywood cinema and awards is shaky.

Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi teaming up again for the adorable Khalu-Babban pair is nothing short of classic. We have seen a lot of such before, but not with such realistic portrayals. Their acting is top notch! One cannot find flaws in the performances of the thieving Uncle- Nephew pair. They give and take with all their hearts. Their daredevilry, dialogue delivery, wit and charm are what makes this movie an all rounded entertainer and a classic. Naseeruddin Shah's switching of character between a thief and a Nawab impostor is absolutely fantastic. One minute he would be spouting poetry, and the next minute he would talk about sex. It was crazy! Absolute fun! Arshad's tapori act, one minute begging for mercy and the next minute being the 'bhai' walking on thin ice, was just delectable.

Vijay Raaz plays the villain, Jaan Mohammed. In most Hindi movies, one ends up forgetting the villain. But not this one. At certain points, he overshadowed them all. His rustic evil plans, his comedy, his lust for control and so many things.. Things I can't reveal for fear of ruining the movie... *sigh*

A short synopsis: Khalu-Babban get separated while doing a jewel heist. Thinking that Khalu has conned him, Babban goes in search for him. He finds Khalu posing as a Nawab in an event thrown by the Begum of Mehmoodabad, Begum Para. The Begum's erstwhile husband, apparently, expressed a desire on his deathbed that she should remarry a poet only. The most renowned poets from all over the country have come to win her hand. Khalu is in love with the Begum and Babban falls in love with Muniya. Throwing a spanner into the works is Jaan Mohammed who wants to marry the Begum. At the end of the event, she announces her decision to get married to Jaan Mohammed. But she gets kidnapped. Now, what happens next is for you to find out. There are a couple of twists in the movie. Trust me, they will deliver a Knock Out.

It's not often that I get to see Hindi movies with such powerhouses of talent to steer the ship through. I laughed out loud and shed a couple of sad tears too. It is much better than the previous Ishqiya, but, of course, I am biased here. This movie is not a regular run off the mill movie. Vishal Bhardwaj and Abhishek Chaubey have come up with a brilliant movie, deserve to be remembered.

But the Indian audience, as usual, sucks. They are still too busy watching Dhoom 3, instead of something much more fun and original as Dedh Ishqiya.

Trust me, go watch it. It's money well spent. You won't regret it.

Dedh Ishqiya but half the charm

[trueanurag · 7/10 · 11 January 2014]

Watched Dedh Ishqiya. Here's the review. (Spoilers inside)

When watching a sequel, one expects a connection with the predecessor. What one also expects is novelty despite the obvious connection. Dedh Ishqiya, with Babban (Arshad Warsi) and Khalu (Naseeruddin Shah) complete with their old, flashy selves, is an attempt at reliving the magic of Ishqiya, but failing on many counts. Unlike Ishqiya, which almost all of us keep as a benchmark of cutting edge cinematic thought crossed with local delicacy, Dedh Ishqiya is a mix of over-do and under-do all the way. The attempt to stereotype the lead, Naseer and Arshad, with less than decent ideology was an obvious over-do. The idiosyncrasies of the leads in Ishqiya-1 ( let's call it that to avoid confusion) made them almost 'cute' in the eyes of the audience. The same characters in DI are bordering on vulgar. The cheapness which was likable and laughable in Ishqiya-1 becomes detestable in DI. In a particular scene (completely unnecessary for the plot and hence another over- do), Babban- known for his womanizing instincts- is shown in the act with a prostitute. The roughly ten second scene is so vulgar that it lingers on for several minutes even as the movie continues before ones eyes. Not everything about the film is bad though. The cinematography is good and so is the screenplay but they are both failed by a really lackluster and amateurish plot. The film has a fantastic line up of actors all of whom do justice to their roles under the obvious limitations of the script. Madhuri is as charming as always. Naseeruddin Shah is same, if not better, in doing things on screen for which we adore him. Arshad Warsi looked a little rusted but I am ready to accept it as a flaw of dialog writing. Vijay Raaz as Jaan Mohammed is commendable. Also there are some moments inspiring genuine smiles and even laughter like the one where a gun face off between the bad guys and our leads turns into an all night affair. What hit me the most in DI was the lack of chemistry between Babban and Khalu, something I had become so used to after watching Ishqiya-1 and was desperately hoping to see a repeat of. In the end I feel that Dedh Ishqiya, though watchable for its cast, is definitely a sequel gone undone.

League of Extra-ordinary Not-so-gentlemen !!

[anuraagdestiny · 9/10 · 11 January 2014]

Perfect dialogues...perfect acting...what else does one need in a movie...Vijay Raaz, Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah create magic on screen with their characters !! Khalujan and Babban are the modern Jay Veeru of Sholay. Its a dark comedy through out with a tinge of love in urdu. Its definitely better than the first version. Madhuri has still the charm to carry movie on her shoulders at this age..its a dream comeback for her. She looks great in most of the frames. The dance choreographed by Ustad Birju Maharaj and the lyrics of poems are simply extraordinary.Its Huma Qureshi that matches the league of such wonderful acting cast to perfection. She is here to stay for long long time.The only flaw of the movie was the songs did not match the previous version.

If u liked Ishqiya you will be a fan of this movie.Trust me,you will be surprised.

A Good Sequel! ♦ 67%

[nairtejas · 7/10 · 25 January 2014]

So, sequels are supposed to be jinxed. Abhishek Chaubhey is back with his quirky continuation of the tale that reintroduced neo-noir into Bollywood.

Dedh Ishqiya borrows heavily from the thriller/heist movies we have seen lately, but it deals with itself differently. Maybe the dialogs are quite subtle & strong at the same time. No prizes for guessing how the actors maneuver the plot into dynamism. Well, the plot revolves around a masquerading crook trying to woe a widowed princess so he can become the Nawaab of that town. The beloved duo of Ifthekar & Babban enter the scene with rather bizarre intentions and somehow get entangled. What follows is something better than majority of the 2013 releases.

Huma Qureshi is too sexy for the role, Madhuri Nene is shimmering and steals all the limelight; Shah & Warsi are sweethearts when it comes to character build-up. They truly are the real drivers of the violence- infested story. Lots of poems, sex, betrayals and songs pave the way for a rather appreciable effort.

Not that the songs are amazing, but if you have little doubt whether to watch or not, take Vijay Raaz as an alibi; boy, can he act! He is wonderful. Let the long running time and amateur editing not stall you from 2014's first blockbuster.

At least, they didn't screw it up. But I do feel they could've related the prequel (more) into the plot. That'd make me more jubilant. Adhai Ishqiya is on the way, though!

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended!

Profanity/Vulgarity/Mouth-Kiss: Strong | Sex/Drugs: No | Smoking/Alcohol: Mediocre | Violence/Gore: Very Strong

A Brilliant Sequel!

[namashi_1 · 9/10 · 13 January 2014]

A sequel of the 2010 hit Ishqiya, 'Dedh Ishqiya', written & directed by Abhishek Chaubey, is A Brilliant Film! A top-notch screenplay along-with fantastic direction & stellar performances, make this one a massive winner!

'Dedh Ishqiya' Synopsis: Two wanted con-men fall in love, while on the run. Trouble follows...

'Dedh Ishqiya' is gripping & arresting. The characters are well-written, the poems are perfectly pitched in the narrative & the sequences, most of them, are hugely impressive. The romance works, the humor works & the thrills work. In short, Abhishek Chaubey's Screenplay is top-notch. A special mention for the wonderful dialogue written by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Abhishek Chaubey's Direction, on the other-hand, is fantastic. He captures each moment with flourish. Cinematography is royal, just like the film's mood. Editing is pretty sharp. Art & Costume Design, are appropriate. Music by Bhardwaj is melodious.

Performance-Wise: Naseeruddin Shah & Arshad Warsi reprise their roles from the prequel & they are in complete form. Naseer is endearing, while Arshad is simply flawless. Also, The on-screen chemistry between Naseer & Arshad, is magical. Madhuri does a commendable job. She carries off her part with grace & elegance. Huma Qureshi is splendid. Vijay Raaz is outstanding as the menace. His performance stands out. Manoj Pahwa is excellent.

On the whole, 'Dedh Ishqiya' works big time!

Come back Madhuri ji

[AkshaySonthalia · 6/10 · 16 January 2014]

Amazing flick.. Loved the offbeat beginning and the gunda who Arshad escapes. The movie becomes a little slow all of a sudden immediately after that scene but its still enjoyable and i recommend any fan to just go and watch it. Best dialogue which is repeated 3ice in this movie is : 7 stages of love : Attraction, Infatuation, Romance, Reverence, Worship, Obsession and Death. Interesting !!!

Songs some of them r cult, its brilliant to watch Madhuri Dixit dance once more. The locations chosen are also rural and fixed, sometimes one wishes there was more dynamism there and thats when she gets herself kidnapped.

For all avid movie goers. Go fetch and enjoy !!!

A true-blue romantic masterpiece!

[subhanshun · 9/10 · 11 January 2014]

This is one of those movies which is at par, if not better than the prequel... The story builds on slowly and surprises when you start predicting and think "I-know-what will happen-next." Remarkable performances by the whole cast..It will be a crime to not mention Arshad and Huma's amazing performances, amongst stalwarts like Naseer and Madhuri. Lots of exemplary shayari and black humor keeps you entertained....It takes you on a trip to a different world of royalty, deception, conspiracy, chivalry, and tainted love. The screenplay and direction are crisp (fits the mood well), amazing locales and cinematography . On the whole, this is a must-watch.... But not for those who don't like slow- moving stories and are weak in Urdu (you'll need either subtitles or an Urdu dictionary.

Words 'speak' louder than actions here.

[advaitkamat · 7/10 · 16 January 2014]

In an early scene in Dedh Ishqiya, a wily gangster asks his crony if he has ever heard of Batman. The Batman analogy in question is the reason why he spares his blood relative of getting killed, or worse, getting buried alive. He goes on to state phlegmatically that there is no Batman without the Joker. Yes, siree, we too are of a similar opinion, but his is more rational, see? And his smugness is something you ought to bask in.

And from that winsome opening sequence, the baroque plot that unfolds is something only a writer of Vishal Bharadwaj's stature can pull off. Chaubey's second crack at direction is endlessly surprising, explosively funny and, like those numerous poets who iterate their beautiful lines of Urdu poetry, is handled with careful poise.

It's a canny world that Bharadwaj and Chaubey fashion, where people win people over words and a pleasantry goes a long way. The same kind of wonderfully atmospheric world thwarted my expectations in last year's snafu Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. But not this time, not this time. Oh yeah, a fun fact I was dying to joke about : the C-word is being subtitled as snafu, believe that? And the film does do its bit to kill the lovely repartee by using those snobby subtitles. I couldn't believe the goddamn impudence of the coot who ordered them to be blemish the waggish banter. Anyway, those who have an ear for poetry should better see over them. You'll love to hear the mellifluous words, I can guarantee as much.

We had met our guides around the ominous badlands of North India, the dream team who bicker, steal, quote and quip in 2010's Ishqiya. Uncle Khalu and nephew Babban who had taken periodic cues from Romeo and fallen head over heels in love and lust with a femme fatale in the predecessor, are blessed to have two different women to fall in love with this time. Khalu loses it to an old flame, the reigning queen of Mahmoudabad, Para Begum, while Babban is besotted with her ancillary, Muniya. But there's a catch - the widowed Begum will choose a groom for her through an annual poetry competition, where Urdu maestros, armed with lines and lines of glorious poetry, compete against each other for the throne. Too fusty for you? Yeah, yeah. I thought as much.

For a while back there, I could almost see the struggle put in to keep Dedh Ishqiya from being a period piece. True, these situations, these characters, these words would've melded rather well in a cultured epoch of the twentieth century. I mean, you don't get to see nawabs and begums saluting each other, engaging into an occasional wordplay and inviting shyness by cracking ribald lines now, do you? And I fervently wished Dedh Ishqiya were a period piece, because it would've been so much easier to invest into it. I can't put my soul into a movie I know is not what it seems. I pride and despise myself for that. And with this film, I lean a mite towards the former. Gosh, how I would've loved this movie only if the dates were changed! And the talk about iPhones and other modernistic stuff flagrantly snapped me out of its quixotic world. Jeez!

Baring that one minor niggle, the film is otherwise pitch-perfect. The writing is chiefly Urdu, and the playful chinwags are worth wolf-whistling about. The acerbic humor is cleverly utilized, and the pulp of it is given to the film's most vivacious character, Jaan Mohammed, the antagonist and one of the contenders for the throne. In a riotous sequence, a Mexican standoff lasts all night and is broken only when the sound of a posse of students singing for peace is heard. There are moments like these that win you over, and where you should give in gladly. You won't have a say in it, you know. They will sway you.

The performances are uniformly fantastic. Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah are sublime, Warsi giving the best performance of his young career. Really, here is an actor who needs to choose scripts assiduously, because half of the films he does do not bring out the acting chops a film like this does. Shah, an old-timer, is enigmatic and earnest, and this is the most fun I've seen him having in a long time. Madhuri Dixit-Nene still has that commanding screen presence she was famed for having, and she makes no mistakes. Huma Qureshi, who aptly plays her sidekick, Muniya, also plays the stereotype she always plays. A change of role now, please?

But the real deal is Vijay Raaz, the scraggy marvel who is brilliant as the rather likable antagonist. Raaz has always been the sly scene-stealer in the movies he does, be it Delhi Belly or Monsoon Wedding, and he proves yet again why he's one of the most underrated actors in the industry who is shamelessly belittled. I sure hope this film would mean we would get to see him more often now.

I can't say if Dedh Ishqiya is an improvement or not, comparing it with its predecessor would mean denigrating both films, but it is better crafted and written. But I sorely missed the dark, mature undertone of Ishqiya, which was far more ambitious in its plotting. And yet, Dedh Ishqiya feels as if this is the kind of movie you were aching to see all this while. I sure as hell was.

Gorgeously shot against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh's scenic landscapes, dotingly directed and flawlessly plotted, this is a film clearly in love with its language and characters. And it is this passion that makes you enjoy it more than you thought you would.

Bankruptcy of intellect

[sangeet9 · 1/10 · 19 January 2014]

What a wastage of wonderful star cast!!! Seeing the star cast especially Naseer sahib.

one had expected a masterpiece in the league of Mirza Ghalib!!! It is reprehensible movie with senseless and illogical storyline.

Naseeruddin Shah should have refused such stupid and childish movie.

Arshad Warsi is the only one who fits its character.

At best it is a comedy film where you park your brain at home.

Madhuri Dixit - in a haste of comeback - has chosen utterly disappointing movie. neither the genre nor the Urdu language suits her style.

Wastage of time and some of the language (abusive words from the mouth of Naseer Sahab)is disgraceful.