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Ishqiya
A; Drama
Dir: Abhishek Chaubey
Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi
***
What's it about: It's the time for triumphant threes. First it was the Idiots, now this trio Naseer, Arshad and Vidya enthralls with this tale of love, lust and betrayal.
Khalujaan (Naseer) and Babban (Arshad) are small- time crooks. Having narrowly escaped from the clutches of a terrifying goon of a boss, Mushtaq (Salman Shahid) they manage to find shelter in the house of a lonely widow, Krishna (Vidya).
What follows is unexpected. While the men have to pay off their loan to Mushtaq, they face several hurdles in the form of Krishna's irresistible charm and sex appeal. Both Khalu and Babban fall in love with her, not knowing her past or her actual intentions. The second half springs up enough surprises to keep you entertained.
What's hot: Chaubey makes an impressive debut with his take on the unpredictability of human emotions and the thin line between the good and the bad.
Aping his mentor Vishal Bhardwaj in style and technique, he infuses color, essence and sound to every frame that he lights up with love.
His Gorakhpur might be a remote village heavily spruced with shanties, but his camera captures the small nooks, fields, hills and rusty roads with elegance.
The film is an actor's delight and Vidya, Arshad and Naseer seem to make the most of their characters. Right from the opening frame, Chaubey sets the tone and mood of the film.
Be it the vulgar yet frothy camaraderie between Arshad and Naseer or Vidya's one-liners, each thing is in tandem with the other.
The songs neither digress from the story nor distract you. Instead, they take the story forward. Among the performances, Vidya is outstanding. She tempts, taunts and teases her way into your heart as the sassy village belle. She's not only natural but also graceful in the crudest of moments.
Meanwhile, Arshad and Naseer seem to have fun, both sharing great chemistry throughout. The dialogues are not just witty but also razor-sharp.
What's not: The climax of the film is a huge bummer! As the story progresses and the characters start showing their asli rang, there seems to be an urgency to give the plot an end.
Vidya's change of heart and her actions before the mystery behind her husband's death is revealed, have been handled shoddily. The language is tough to grasp in the beginning but you soon get used to the words. Also, there are a few abuses that might make you squirm.
What to do: Ishqiya has a universal appeal. Anyone who loves to hear stories and drown themselves in the sights and sounds of a place will be delighted. The performances will have you gasping for more. | 
