Dedh Ishqiya

Sequels never do well - especially in cinema. There are very few exceptions to this rule. In recent times we had Munnabhai MBBS made in 2003 and then the sequel Lage Raho Munnabhai made three years later still managed to tickle the funny bone of the audience with Munnabhai and his sidekick Circuit.In 2010 we saw the introduction of two characters in Hindi cinema, “Khalujaan” Iftekhar played by Naseeruddin Shah and his sidekick "Babban" played by Arshad Warsi. That was Ishqiya that firmly made us sit up and notice Abhishek Choubey as a skilled director and screenplay writer. He has worked closely with Vishal Bharadwaj who has produced the sequel – Dedh Ishqiya. The film proves that a sequel can be even better.Ishqiya refers to the feeling of being in love. Persian literature refers to seven stages of love that begins with attraction (dilqashi or hub); infatuation (uns); love (mohabbat) is the third stage; the fourth stage is one of reverence (aquidat); reverence gives way to worship (ibaadat) and evolves to the sixth stage of an obsession (junoon); death (maut) is the seventh and final stage of love.Ishqiya began with the two crooks standing waist deep in what will be their grave. But they manage to escape and then the story begins.  They dream of making that one major heist and then retire in the countryside. They have only one fatal flaw. They wear their heart on their sleeve. They both fall for the same woman, played by Vidya Balan. Dedh Ishqiya begins with a similar scene with Arshad Warsi about to be executed. He escapes and the story is off to a start.Dedh Ishqiya brings back the Khalu (Naseer) and Babban (Arshad) duo but the female leads are played by Madhuri Dixit and Huma Qureshi. Begum Para (Madhuri) is the widow of the Nawab of a princely state Mahmudabad. The Begum is looking to remarry and for the past two years has been hosting a mushaira where shayars recite their work. Enter Khalujaan, who is older, but not much wiser. The Begum and Khalu have crossed paths before. Naseeruddin Shah had played Mirza Ghalib for the brilliant television series made on the poet. He comes up with a character that almost seems to possess the spirit of Ghalib. The lyrics by Gulzar are brilliantly sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.Na bolun main toh, kaleja phoonkeJo bol dun toh zabaan jale haiSulag na jaave, agar sune wohJo baat meri zabaan tale haiIf I don’t bring the words to my lips, my soul smouldersThe words burn my tongue if I utter themWill she get singed if she hears the wordsThat I have tucked away under my tonguehttp://youtu.be/LmwKXLoN5UwThe film has seven fabulous tracks that are a treat. Vishal Bhardwaj has put his mentor Gulzar’s poetry to music. The result is pure magic. Vishal Bharadwaj’s wife Rekha is an accomplished singer in her own right. The song Jagaave Saari Raina sung by Rekha Bharadwaj has been choreographed by Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj. It has the same feel to it as the famous couplet by Momin Khan Momin “Woh jo hum mein tum mein qaraar tha, tumhein yaad ho ke na yaad ho” sung by Begum Akhtar. The song is played fleetingly as if to just tantalize the viewer and remind them that Khalujaan and Begum Para had gone past stage one of love. That is the significance of the title. Dil ka mijaaz ishqiya is another song that is a gem to enjoy.The screenplay moves briskly with witty and sharp dialogue that shows off the talents of Abhishek Choubey and Vishal Bharadwaj. The climax shot at a train station (named Baap) will remind you of the Tarantino like endings that the duo have created in Kaminey and Omkara.Arshad Warsi and Huma Qureshi create a powerful complement to the lead couple. Vijay Raaz as the villain Jaan Mohamad puts up his strongest performance since The Monsoon Wedding. The film is proof that Madhuri is arguably one of the most graceful dancers of the silver screen who makes the technicalities of the craft irrelevant. She dances with her eyes – not her feet.The film has been fully subtitled to make sure you don’t lose out on the story because of the Urdu used liberally throughout the film. The story makes a passing reference to Ismat Chugtai’s short story Lihaaf and the shadows on the wall convey the many shades of love between Begum Para and Muniya.I loved the movie and will go with 4 out of 5 for Dedh Ishqiya. I hope that will encourage this team to make Double Ishqiya sooner than they planned to. I hope I am "Dedh" right on that one.------------Catch up with the story of Ishqiya <click here>;  and Kaminey <click here>Join me on twitter @AbhijitBhaduri