Ishqiya Movie Review: Ishqiya Blow Hot Blow Cold

Ishqiya is a story set in small town India, East Gorakkpur where small kids are trained to shoot guns, before being taught to wash their ablutions. It is a sensuous story of a widow with a scheming mind and two men who are on the run. Though the premise is good, the treatment is painfully slow. Though Vishal Bharadwaj movie may have relevance and authenticity in place, the slow pace of his films can make you take a much-needed nap in the theater
Story of Ishqiya:
Ishqiya begins with Krisha(Vidya Balan) who tells her husband Verma to surrender to the law and live a peaceful life. Verma actually belongs to the ‘sena’ an underground movement. This sense has dangerous men who train their kids from young age to flirt with weapons and kill people. Now after Krishna tells her husband to give up this life, there is a blast and he is believed to be dead.

Cut to two small-time crook, Babban and Khalujan (Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah respectively) who are on the run from their boss. They look for a place to hide and take refuge at their pal Verma’s home. When they come to know that Verma is no more and Krishna is the only one in the house, hormones run high. Both the men are attracted to the women, each in their own way. Though Khalujaan loves Krishna, she is seduced by Babban and they make love in his absence. For the sake of plot, there are other things like Krishna asking the two men to kidnap the rich guys who lead lavish lifestyles in the village. The kidnap almost goes bad due to Khalujaan’s frustration on seeing Babban having a physical relationship with his crush Krishna. The filmy climax has the dead man alive and the usual gun shots. The director signs of expecting us to choose the ending of our liking: Krishna, Babban and Khalujan may have a threesome or just go their separate ways

Plus points of Ishqiya:
1. The authenticity of Ishqiya has to be commended. Everything is apt from the cuss words to the Lux advertisement on the peeling walls in one of the scenes.
2. Multidimensional character of Vidya Balan: VIdya Balan’s character in Ishqia is one of the best multidimensional characters we have seen. She makes rotis for the people in the house, but at the same time, she has her carnal urges and wants sexual satisfaction. She may cry when hurt, but when pissed off, she will not think twice about killing you. She is rustic, she is scheming, she is raunchy, she is humble.
3. Chemistry between Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi: Both Vidya Balan and Arshad Wari share great on-screen chemistry. The smooch scene ishqiya has to be the most steamiest, passionate kiss ever in Bollywood,
4. Payal Saluja gives a new meaning to sex-appeal making Vidya Balan look absolutely stunning and desirable in her village woman garb, draped in ordinary cotton saris.
5. The length of the film is taut which is quite good

Minus points of Ishqiya
1. Slow pace of the film. The movie has a sluggish pace and at times, you feel jaded

Performance in Ishqiya:
Ishqiya is Vidya Balan's best performance to date. She is very convincing and a pure fantasy material even in cotton saree, thank Payal Saluja for that. Yep, she acts beautifully as well. Arshad Warsi gets a plum role and performs so well that you feel that he can carry a movie on his own shoulders. Naseeruddin Shah needs no comment, he is just brilliant. Performances raise the bar of Ishqiya. Let us also give a word of appreciation to a short cameo for a girl with expessive eyes and naughty smile who flirts with Naseer in the bus. Watch the movie and you will know whom we are talking about.

In conclusion:
Ishqiya is good for people who like Vishal Bharadwaj films and wouldn’t mind a slow-paced film as long as authenticity is maintained.

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