Abhishek Chaubey’s directorial ventures show a clear preoccupation with women, love and deceit, all woven together in equal measure. Dedh Ishqiya has much more in store. It has men (dangerous ones, at that), guns, thrills and rib-tickling comedy. Heralded as a sequel to the 2010 flick Ishqiya, the film is more or less ‘Misadventures of Khalu and Babban – Part 2′. To give due credit to the director, the sequel has a more streamlined story, more interesting characters and cheekier dialogues than the prequel.
The new edition of Ishqiya is all about a unique “swayamvar” conducted by Begum Para (Madhuri Dixit Nene), the lady of Mahmudabad, a fictitious town in the heartlands of Uttar Pradesh, India. The event, adjudged by Begum with the support of her aide Muniya (Huma Qureshi), is all about excellence in Urdu poetry. Circumstances bring Khalu (Naseeruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi) to Begum’s palace, and sparks fly of love, power, treachery, greed and of course, gunfire.
The most noticeable element here is the dark humour, with the right mix of edgy dialogue and hilarious situations. As in the case of several Vishal Bhardwaj productions, the dialect used here becomes a character in itself. In the midst of it all, the introduction sequence of Begum Para with the original Hamari Atariya Pe in the background, and the Mehfil-e-Shayari that follows, are among the film’s finest passages. Later, time comes to an absolute standstill when Khalu confronts Begum about their connection from the past, leading to the thumri Jagave Saari Raina, which is easily the best song of the enterprise.
Right from the screenplay design, the emotions that the duo feel for each other are very well defined, as opposed to the brief moments of lust between Muniya and Babban. Nevertheless, one should not bother complaining, as the witty tête-à-têtes between them keep us in splits. Also, the mysterious shades given to Begum and Muniya’s relationship are stunning and beyond any form of praise. The very fact remains an ingredient of intrigue even after the show concludes. I’m sure Ismat Chughtai is smiling from somewhere, for this glowing tribute to Lihaaf.
The soundtrack is perhaps the only department that is one notch lower than Ishqiya, but that doesn’t mean Vishal’s score is anywhere close to mediocre. Poetry by Dr. Bashir Badr deserves a special mention for the fact that his words successfully supersede even Madhuri Dixit when it comes to being avant-garde.
Performances are first-rate, with Vijay Raaz stealing the show with a stupendous performance. Not that we haven’t seen the actor in similar roles before, but his screen presence and the personality that he lends to Jaan Mohammed are commendable. Naseeruddin Shah brims with the kind of energy that is quintessential to him. Somehow, his performance reminds us of the comical “talking-from-the-portrait martyr” avatar from Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na. Arshad Warsi is in his element, with not a single note out of pitch.
ALSO READ: ‘Khufiya’ review – About moms who love hard and spy harder
While Manoj Pahwa does exceedingly well in a neat cameo, Huma Qureshi rises above her somewhat unsatisfying part to deliver a bravura performance. Now, coming to the diva on the dais, Madhuri Dixit Nene illuminates every frame she is in. Let’s not deny that a significant part of the runtime is spent sighing at her alluring beauty and unmatched grace. Cast in a part that is tailor-made for her, Begum Para does not demand heavy-duty histrionics from her end. What it requires is a certain celestial poise, along with a magnetic presence whenever she appears on screen. And is there anyone better than Mrs. Nene to pull it off? Not yet in Hindi cinema.
Visually and verbally colourful, Dedh Ishqiya proves that Naseeruddin Shah could look sexier riding a bike than Aamir Khan in Dhoom: 3. Touted as Madhuri Dixit’s comeback vehicle, the film fortunately does not place her, or anyone else, in the driver’s seat. And not many films see audiences unanimously staying back for the song during the end credits, unless it has Madhuri Dixit sprinkling elegance in the form of a stylishly remixed Hamari Atariya Pe.
Hilarious, arresting and tantalizing are the words for Abhishek Chaubey’s audacious second feature, Dedh Ishqiya.
Rating: ★★★★
Dedh Ishqiya is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
