Ishqiya (New Hindi Movie / Bollywood Film / Indian Cinema DVD)
There've been very few Hindi movies in recent times that I'd clamour to see twice. Ishqiya by Vishal Bharadwaj qualifies as such a classic. Well characterized and portrayed with strong performances, the dialogues and the soundtrack also emerge as clear winners. Composed by Vishal Bharadwaj, tracks like Ibn Batuta, Badi Dheere Jali, Dil to Bachcha Hai stand out for their lilting melodies as well as for being weaved in perfectly to match the storyline.
The plot revolves around Kalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi) small time crooks on the run from their master hooligan (Salman Shahid). On their escape route, they take shelter at another conman Vidhyadar Verma's (Adil Hussein) home in Gorakhpur. We gather his fate has met a cruel end and is survived by his widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan). A talented classical singer and a beautiful woman, Krishna's living the quiet life of a homemaker in the vestiges left behind by her late husband who's errant ways she'd tried to mend. Kalujaan soon gets taken in by Krishna's allure, her singing, her softness, and rustic elegance. Babban follows suit. Only Krishna is not who she seems. We discover Krishna through Kalujaan and Babban as the plot plows on energetically.
By far this has been my favorite film by Vishal Bharadwaj. Although Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and all other characters have performed outstandingly, it is Vidya Balan who shines in her refined portrayal. This film's a definite must-see! Characters like Nandu, the general confusion of outlawness, scenes in the background of street dogs, an icecream cart hawker, an old lady on a charpoy, little wayside temples, roadside eateries, ubiquitous cellphones are all telling sights of today's burgeoning small city landscapes in India.
Rating: A 4.5 out of 5 stars!
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