Ishqiya Review (2010)

Cast:

* Naseeruddin Shah as Khalujan/Khalu.
* Arshad Warsi as Babban Hussain.
* Vidya Balan as Krishna Verma.
* Salman Shahid as Mushtaq
* Anupama Kumar as Manju
* Gauri Malla as Mamta (Nepali actress)

Crew:

* Production Design: Nitin Chandrakant Desai
* Costume Design: Payal Saluja
* Associate director - Ajit Ahuja
* Assistant director - Sujata Venkateswaran
* Sound designer - Sajith Koyeri, P.M. Satheesh

Plot:

The movie tells the story of three people who are live in the innards of Uttar Pradesh, the only thing that is common amongst them is their fate's trait to put them in a tricky situation.

Khallujan and Babban Hussain are two conmen who have been given the ultimatum by their boss, after they were found out to have stolen a certain amount of money. Though they give him the snook once, they now have to look for a place to live, or as Babban says, 'Burkhe mein rehna padega'.

So what does this have to do with Krishna Verma, one of the most earthy, worldly wise woman you will ever meet? What does the rascal called fate have in store for them? Watch the movie to experience what happens when some of Bollywood's finest artistes come together to enact one of the most rollicking, shocking and sensual script that has ever been put together.

Review:

Vishal Bharadwaj is not new at killing people on screen, or showing off the India that we keep carefully under wraps, or exploit and explore it shamelessly, whatever the situation may be.

The movie makes no bones about the three titular characters, and almost everyone else you are introduced to having ulterior motives, hidden agendas, and of course, the lust to achieve them.

Each of the characters are a joy to watch, may it be the surprisingly understated boss of the two con men, who finally confesses that he just likes to play a cat and mouse game with the two con men, or the young child man who would do anything to join the army.

What keeps this unfit group of characters together is one of the most crackling, surprising and finally satisfying script that I have seen since decades.

And the script is sprinkled with high point scenes that you just wait to begin and dread their end. Yes, this is Bollywood's finest on show. Be it the scene when the two conmen come rushing to save the woman who has essentially duped them all along, or the scene where the younger conman and the older conman come to fisticuffs right on the road.

This movie is ample proof that Bollywood has finally grown out of its G and U/A rating. Watch this movie for one of the most realistic, beautiful and sensual kissing scenes you will ever get in Indian Cinema. No more of the choreographed kissing scenes for Bharadwaj. This is the asli entertainer.