Sudhir Mishra’s Khoya Khoya Chand is a film that transports its audience to the 1950s. The achievement lies less in its technical craft and more in the quality of its writing. The film traces the journey of Nikhat (Soha Ali Khan) and her entanglement with the film industry during its golden age. Themes of ambition, love, compromise and despair thread through the narrative. In many ways, it feels like the version of Heroine Madhur Bhandarkar might have made had he set it in the 1950s, though with considerably more emotional depth and better performances.
What stands out most in Khoya Khoya Chand is Mishra’s ability to recreate an era without succumbing to excess. He resists the temptation to turn the film into a costume spectacle packed with ornate sets, jewellery and sepia-toned imagery. Instead, he constructs the world through its sound, words and performances. Shantanu Moitra’s sublime score, complemented by Swanand Kirkire’s evocative lyrics, becomes the film’s heartbeat. The dialogue sparkles with period flavour, and the actors deliver them with poise and restraint.
The film, however, is not without flaws. Its pacing wavers, particularly around the midpoint, and the references to real-life industry figures feel a touch too overt. The cinematography lacks polish and the lighting is often inconsistent, though certain sequences, such as the shoot of Zafar’s debut film, display remarkable visual flair. Production design, costumes and makeup deserve full credit for authentically capturing the aesthetics of the Dilip Kumar–Vyjayantimala era without appearing ornamental.
The performances carry the film through its weaker stretches. Soha Ali Khan delivers one of her most assured performances as Nikhat. Although she may not immediately convince as a screen siren, she grows into the role with quiet conviction. Shiney Ahuja fits comfortably into Zafar’s skin, even if he occasionally lapses into theatricality. Vinay Pathak and Rajat Kapoor are excellent, adding nuance to their relatively brief parts, while Sonya Jehan brings poise to the character of Ratan Bala. The supporting ensemble, including Sushmita Mukherjee and Saurabh Shukla, further strengthens the film’s emotional fabric.
The film’s final moments are among Mishra’s most graceful. The climactic sequence unfolds without a trace of manipulation, culminating in Nikhat’s poignant line, “Ghungroo phas gaya tha.” It is an ending that lingers.
Sudhir Mishra’s Khoya Khoya Chand is one seriously overlooked film, and so are the acting chops of its lead players. As they say, “Is industry mein sau khoon maaf!” So, can we please have Shiney Ahuja back in the spotlight? Mishra’s direction carries shades of Chameli, another film that earned its share of love and admiration. Watch Khoya Khoya Chand if you want to see Bollywood’s 1950s glory recreated with style and restraint.
Rating: ★★★★
Khoya Khoya Chand is now streaming on YouTube.
