Director : Karan Johar
Music : Pritam
Lyrics : Amitabh Bhattacharya
Starring : Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma
A bonbon to ease the craving for a charming, breezy, funny and filmy Karan Johar rom-com that comes with a surprise fruit-n-nut debate on love and friendship.
AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL (ADHM) is Karan Johar’s remixed version of his first shot to stardom – KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI minus the ‘family’ surroundings wrapped in Kjo’s popular and familiar multiplex pleasing story telling format that pleases with all its formulaic frills, gorgeous peoples, candy floss and good music.
Twining all the good elements of enjoyable rom-com’s which you have seen in Dharma productions giving you a deja vu and coining it with a tribute to Hollywood’s FAULT IN YOUR STARS, ADHM is a perfect Diwali packet wrapped in all the mush giving the much needed ‘khushi’ (joy) especially to Ranbir Kapoor and his fans.
Niranjan Iyengar’s witty lines spoofing Bollywood add weight to this Karan Johar penned story and screenplay that again revisits the rich and tours Europe and London.
Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) – an acceptable and lovable cross between his characters in TAMASHA and ROCKSTAR narrates his experience with love and friendship as the movie opens. Ayan’s hilarious first encounter with Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) – the new age version of JAB WE MET’s Geet (effortlessly played by Kareena Kapoor) who humorously stops her one night stand moment with Ayan due to his lousy kissing talent, makes Ayan get smitten by her charm. Both Ayan and Alizeh have a ball of a time together and one day while they sit close to each other wrapped in a blanket on a chilling night after a humorously spoiled tribute to CHANDINI, they agree to be friends forever.
Ali (Fawad Khan) – Alizeh’s ex makes an entry and Ayan realizes that he is in love with Alizeh. Heartbroken Ayan tries to find solace in Saba’s (Aishwarya Rai) arms. Saba is a shayar (Urdu poetess) who is addressed as a walking talking Ghalib by Ayan.
It’s a Karan Johar film so all rich and affluent comes together (Ironically speaking – such is the regularity that in one scene Anushka asks Ranbir – What kind of rich are you? First class types or private jet types). ADHM also forms a group of heartbroken ‘aashiq’ (lovers) Saba too is out from a relationship with her husband Tahir (Shah Rukh Khan) who is saddened by Saba’s absence in his life. Later – Alizeh joins in the group.
But the redeeming factor for the audience is that no one turns ‘Devdas’ and the movie triggers a debate on friendship and love with smart lines like ‘pyaar junoon hai, dosti mein sukoon hai‘ (love is passionate but friendship gives solace).
The spoof on Bollywood and the actor’s continuous charm and some genuinely endearing moments no matter how filmy they seem make this rom-com watchable.
Karan Johar is in complete command of his forte. The actors are top notch over here. The chemistry between Ranbir and Anushka is crackling and very lively.
Starting with Ranbir Kapoor who is in his comfort zone and gives a charmingly entertaining performance playing to the gallery as and when required. Anushka Sharma is outstandingly brilliant. She is absolutely riveting as Alizeh who has an opinion and is strong. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fascinates with her beauty and delivers a mature act. SRK in a cameo is pleasing. Lisa Haydon leaves her mark. The actress seem to have the knack in standing out in brief cameos – who can forget QUEEN.
Music is a major highlight and Pritam Chakraborty has winners in the title track, Bulleya, Channa Mereya, and the break up song. A true chart buster.
Anil Mehta’s cinematography is a treat to the eye. And production values are top notch. Costumes in Karan Johar productions hardly go wrong.
ADHM is all-good feel-good candy-floss and a nicely packaged new outing from Karan Johar but the big argument is why is Karan Johar still grappled with the temptations of repeating himself instead of forging a fresh path even after delivering the goods in MY NAME IS KHAN six years ago.
source: glamsham