Back in 2010, Vishal Bhardwaj’s protégé Abhishek Chaubey marked his debut with Ishqiya. Back then, Bhardwaj produced and co-wrote the film with Chaubey. The film garnered much appreciation and ended up making a healthy profit at the box office.Three years later, the duo is back with the same equation and partly the same characters – Babban and Khalujan aka Iftekar – in Dedh Ishqiya. So how has the duo grown over the years? Well, they are still the same, just a little older and a little less wiser when it comes to love.
The story of the sequel picks up the thread after many years. Out from jail, Babban (Arshad Warsi) and Khalujan (Naseeruddin Shah) do what they have always done – conning and robbing people. Like part one, they are in the midst of robbing a jeweller for their boss Mushtaq (Salman Shahid). But as fate would have it, they are on the run from the cops, once again. Babban is caught by Mushtaq and his gang whereas Khalujan runs away, leaving Babban behind.
Babban finds out that Khalujan is at the palace of the Nawab of Mahmudabad, a town in Uttar Pradesh, where Iftekar is competing with Urdu poets to win the heart of the widowed begum Para (Madhuri Dixit). To win Begum Para’s heart, MLA Jaan Mohammad (Vijay Raaz) decides to contest Khalujan and many other suitors.
Soon after Babban reaches Mahmudabad, he meets Munniya (Huma Qureshi), Begum Para’s confidant and aide, and falls in love with her. As the story unfolds, there are many hidden agendas and schemes, while Babban and Khalujan go through the seven stages of love (attraction, infatuation, love, reverence, worship, obsession and death).
Chaubey keeps the story crisp with engrossing screenplay and snappy dialogue. But the main drawback of the film is that it is very heavy on Urdu. Thankfully, the English subtitles help you understand the typical Urdu conversations. Story writer Darab Farooqui breathes his concept with the perfect blend of gusto and passion. The screenplay is beautifully detailed and woven together by Chaubey and Bhardwaj. They place each character in a tight spot with reason. The comic undertone in many scenes is noteworthy. The climax is gritty and the railway station scene, where the four protagonists argue, is picturised well.
The first half of the film moves very quickly and includes some major highlights but it is post interval that the curiosity builds. There are many scenes which are funny. For instance, the scene where Babban and Khalujan are pitted against Jaan Mohammad and his men and spend the night standing at gun point. Then there’s the poetry competition, and especially the song where Begum Para dances in a closed room.
Cinematography by Setu is marvellous. He brings out the rustic feel of the screenplay
beautifully. The sets and locations are apt and support the narrative well. Visually, the film is incredible and supports the narration with full marks. Editing by Sreekar Prasad is spot-on. Costumes are apt. The background score and songs are another asset and they blend with the narrative beautifully. Music by Bhardwaj works with the story and is beautifully encrypted along the film.
Performance-wise, Naseeruddin Shah portrays his character with layers of substantial credibility. Shah knows his skill and uses it to the fullest to make his character his very own. Madhuri Dixit Nene fills the character of Begum Para with the right amount of fragility. She is breathtaking and conveys her character’s subtlety with flair.
Arshad Warsi is one of the few actors who can match a veteran like Shah. Warsi impresses with his effortless comic timing and refinement as a performer. He is OUTSTANDING! Huma Qureshi plays her part with one part flamboyance and two parts charm. She is brilliant. Vijay Raaz is superb. Manoj Pahwa does justice to his role. Salman Shahid is good. The rest of the cast supports well.
Verdict: High on content, this film has the potential to not only win hearts but also enjoy a victorious run at the ticket counter.
