Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) has been one of the most awaited movies this year.
The film’s teaser, trailer and songs have already been a hit amongst the audience. After a lot of controversies, ADHM has finally hit theatres yesterday.
Let's take a look at how we found it.
⏩ Genre :- Romance/Drama/Musical.
⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 38 mins.
⏩ Cast :- Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Fawad Khan.
⏩ Director :- Karan Johar.
⏩ Plot - Ayan (Ranbir) and Alizeh (Anushka) start off as friends, both coming off breakups, one a serious relationship while the other a casual affair. Eventually, Ayan falls for Alizeh while what Alizeh feels for him is not "Ishq wala" but "Dosti wala" love. Fawad Khan (DJ Ali), Alizeh's ex, begs her to give their relationship another chance resulting in marriage. A heartbroken Ayan finds lust in the arms of a divorced poet Sabah (Aishwarya) who convinces him for a "No Strings Attached" relationship. But Ayan still loves Alizeh and turns into Justin Bieber. Things get seriously complicated in the second half and... (Well, I know what you are thinking - "Isn't this complicated enough?" No. There's more to it.) Ayan gets transformed into the Ranbir from Tamasha while Aishwarya falls for him. Enter, SRK. Then there's some more drama. Few mellow songs. The end. (Deliberately written that to avoid giving away any spoilers. Thank me later.)
⏩ Direction and Screenplay :- Karan Johar surely knows how to tug at your heartstrings. Especially, when the target audience are Indians. The direction is top notch. Karan does an amazing job at ensuring that the pace never dulls, by painting in dialogues that keep you engaged. There are enough references to pop culture favs and films that we have grown watching and loving. (Yes. Most of which are his own.) Basically, the movie deals with the fine line between love and friendship and the fact that the former cannot be enforced.
⏩ Editing and Cinematography :- 2 hrs 38 minutes is slightly more for a romantic film and that could have been avoided with a few cuts in the initial 15 minutes.
Well it's a Karan Johar movie, so it's pretty evident that the cinematography is going to be of top class. Like his every other movie ADHM is beautiful and glossy like a model from the cover of an A class mag. The movie has been shot in exotic locations like London, Paris and Vienna. Also, the majestic grandeur and simplicity of our 'Nawabo ka sheher' Lucknow has been depicted by shooting two song sequences there.
⏩ Music :- The music by Pritam has already taken us into an euphoric high.
The soulful 'Channa Mereya', 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Bulleya' being absolute favourites. Also, 'Breakup Song' and 'Cutiepie' are peppy but good.
A big thumbs up for the background score which is scintillating and clever. Also, there is a very smooth transition from serious to funny scenes which is commendable.
⏩ The Highs :-
▶ The first half is fun and the banter between Ranbir and Anushka is extremely engaging.
▶ The highlight of the movie has to be the smart one-liners and jokes that too using words and language that's not only current but also entertaining. (It made me remember the friendly banters between the trio in Kal Ho Na Ho. Sweet.)
References to other films, dialogue-baazi namely the ones from the 80s makes you glee.
▶ Johar does not season his film with supporting characters – Like no unnecessary best friend or overly protective parent or villain.
Except for few cameos by his best friends.
Yes, We've SRK... And ek "ladki beautiful."
Guess?
▶ Also, there are a lot of philosophies being thrown at you right from the beginning but you may very well connect with them.
A lot through shayris to be specific.
Also, some lines are as good as an honest slap - Why go through it, when one can be friends: "Pyar mein junoon hai. Dosti mein sukoon hai." Corny, but true.
▶ Performances. Performances especially by the lead pair Kapoor-Sharma. They are so good you can't take your eyes off them.
▶ THE SONGS. THE COSTUMES. THE LOCATIONS. Need I say anything more? ❤
▶ The movie is so very relatable for people
who have been through heartbreaks or one sided relationships.
⏩ The Lows :-
▶ In the second half, the scenes gets heavy on the head and that cloud of ‘been there seen that’ looms till the very end. We start getting Déjà Vus from different films like Tamasha, Katti Batti, YJHD to name a few.
Also, the filmy dialogues start irritating you by the end of the film. Not too much, but yes.
▶ The execution of the narrative gets lost in translation. By the end of the movie, you feel there are many unresolved feelings between the lead pair. Also, Aishwarya's character lacks depth. The reason of her divorce being unknown, her whole persona being a mystery till the end.
▶ The lame twist in the end, annoys. Couldn’t there have been a better way to work it out? Can't we for once, make the reel-life scenarios like that of the real ones? Ffs.
Thousands of people live with their 'one sided' love story everyday. "Ek Tarfa Pyar Ki Keemat, Tum Kya Jaano Johar Baabu." *Pffts*
⏩ Performances :-
▶ Ranbir is the stand out performer of this movie. He owns Ayan like he’s felt every emotion of the character. Right from the long monologues to the short subtle reactions to his co-actors make his performance much more endearing. He is the soul of the movie. Plus, it’s an excellent return to form for him after a spate of failures recently.
▶ Anushka Sharma is so vivacious and vibrant, she keeps your eyes glued to her all the time. So much so that post-interval, you begin to miss her natural and unconstrained piece, even though the femme fatale Sabah (Aish) is in the centre.
Stole your thunder, Aish! *smirks*
▶ Aishwarya 'Beautiful' Rai Bachchan looks like she’s strutted out of a beauty pageant with all the exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders. Also at one point, you feel as if you are watching one of the Ads of a brand she endorses.
(I maybe wrong, but the pouts, pucker, hair flips, eye rolls say otherwise. *Ahems* )
Speaking of her character Sabah, an alluring poetess, her moments with Ranbir have INTENSE sensuality and passion. But her role doesn’t go beyond what you see in the trailer. Also, was she high the whole while? Or maybe that's what was asked of her. Hmm. (I know most of you boys won't care about whatever has been written about her above. Even I would go watch her for her Oh-So-Beautiful features. Guilty. *drools*)
⏩PS - There is one confrontation scene between her and Ranbir, wherein she is all red and teary eyed - And mahn, her eyes speak volumes with minimal lines! *applauds*⏪
▶ Fawad 'Hot' Khan, as Anushka's ex boyfriend DJ Ali, is at his best!
⏩Cameos :
▶ Shah Rukh Khan too gets a small role and he cracks the most important dialogue of the film, “Ek tarfa pyaar ki takaat hi kuch aur hoti hai, wo auron ki tarah do logon mein nahi batt-ti. Sirf mera haq hai iss par. Sirf mera.” (I am not being racist but, Is he like... tanned? Or is that the standing-next-to-Aish effect? Go figure.)
▶ Lisa Haydon as Ranbir's fling nails the tiny role she's been given. She is funny as hell. Also, the word "Vatavaran" is soon going to be a catch phrase amongst youngsters.
▶ Imran Abbas ('Mohabbat barsa dena tu' fame) as Anushka's date does a fine job too.
⏩ Watch or Not? - ADHM is basically a love child of Kal Ho Na Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hain. Therefore, if you are a sucker for TYPICAL, good, soppy romantic comedies book your tickets rightaway!
⏩ Verdict :- Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has some really nice moments, but they suffer the curse of an over complex second half. Nevertheless watch it for Ranbir and Anushka, and Karan’s nearly perfect interpretation of platonic love, unrequited love and heartbreaks.
⏩ Ratings :- 3/5.
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