Ahista Ahista Movie Reviews

Hrishikesh Mukherjee may be breathing his last. But his brand of simple-n-effective story telling will continue to live with the likes of Shivam Nair. For Nair takes you completely by surprise in his masterly crafted love story €˜Ahista Ahista€™ that tickles your funny bone with cleverly written lines by writer Imtiaz Ali and a sedate story line that seldom compromises on the objective. The whiff-of-fresh-breeze stars like Abhay Deol and Soha Ali Khan add their Glorious Charm in a film that€™s a complete revelation with its nascent effervescence.

€˜Ahista Ahista€™ is a notable cinematic experience because of the conviction in telling a story within a certain paradigm and sticking to one€™s beliefs. It€™s a film where the hero from a lower middle class background wears the believable-and-likable check shirts and half sweaters that are worn during winters in the heart of North India. The heroine sticks to her salwaar kameez and doesn€™t find an excuse of an exotic song to get into that shimmering mini skirt. A few in the crowd were a bit saddened by the ending, but even there, the protagonist doesn€™t do anything conventional. The sacrificial goat accepts the decisiveness of the situation, not with a smile, but with a shrug of accepting fate. In other words, you can feast on vintage Romance of the sixties where Loving was more about caring-n-being-together.

Ankush (Abhay Deol) is a self-appointed Professional Witness to prolific marriages conducted at the Marriage Registration Centre in Old Delhi. He charges a mere Rs 200/ for €˜setting€™ the life of blissful couples. One fine morning he meets Megha (Soha Ali Khan). She was waiting for Dheeraj (Shayan Munshi), the man for whom she had run away from her home in Nainital. But this was one marriage for which Ankush couldn€™t offer his services as Dheeraj never turned up. Looking at the pretty innocent face of Megha, he decided to help her out of this distressing situation. Good friend Zulfu€™s (Shakeel Khan) Ammi (Daisy Irani) rebuked Megha in front of the entire Gulley (Lane).

A few failed attempts later Ankush helps Megha find a place in a girl€™s hostel in an Old Age Home. Zulfu helps out Ankush as he needed a fat sum of Deposit Money that the Father at the old age home asked for. The concern for the girl-in-need-of-help €˜Ahista Ahista€™ graduates into affection. Ammi wanted her money back and it forces Ankush to take up job as an agent in a Bank. Megha guides her saviour as to how he could get new bank accounts opened by people whose marriages he had been a €˜witness€™ to. A few melodious songs and Dilli-Darshan later, Ankush is a changed person who dresses like an executive. The expression of love after a €˜Perfect Evening€™ was beautiful and very-small-city-like. They even agree to get married. There was a new job up for grabs as well. And then things turn around like a clock that stops ticking. Suddenly.

Abhay Deol€™s Ankush is a nimble charmer that enters your heart without making too much of an effort. He is extremely funny when he teases Zulfu€™s Ammi. Their nok-jhok is exceptional. And that in itself gives you a reason to look forward to watching it the second time around. His chemistry with Soha is exceptional. The rumour of the two being an item definitely helps. The nervous kiss that he plants on her lips speaks volumes about his possible appeal amongst multitudinous female fans. Even the negative shade his character carries has been executed exceptionally well. The scene where he presents the forged death certificate of Megha to Dheeraj and the subsequent guilt has fine undertones of subtlety. I can go on and on about this Deol, but I€™d rather sum it up by stating that Abhay is the star to watch out for. His next film will be eagerly anticipated.

Soha Ali Khan seems to be growing in stature with each passing film. €˜Pyaar Mein Twist€™ and €˜Shaadi No. 1€™ were aberrations in her career. She proved her detractors wrong with a strong rebellious performance in €˜Rang De Basanti€™. And now with €˜Ahista Ahista€™ she Stamps her presence felt. Apart from her beautiful good looks, she also has a stunning screen presence as a charismatic performer. When her eyes are moist, you can actually feel the agony. It€™s not merely glycerine spilling €˜beans€™. Shayan Munshi in a special appearance leaves behind a restrained performance. The scene where it seems he is dead and his eyes are popped open speaks volumes about this actor€™s potential.

Daisy Irani as Zulfu€™s Ammi is a livewire of excitement each time she bursts on screen. I must say, this is one of her best performance. You must be knowing her by face once you see her, but once the film ends, you€™d be interested in finding out her name as well. Shakeel Khan as Zulfu adds a dash of humour to his over-the-top-character living in old Delhi area behind the famous Jama Masjid. There are decent performances by the PCO Shop owner, the band master friend and little Chotu, the chaiwala as well.

Prakash Kutty€™s camera deftly catches the essence of Delhi in its salubrious early winter of November. Himesh Reshamiya€™s music score is one of the biggest plus points of this movie. The Kunal Ganjawala version of €˜Ahista Ahista€™, KK in €˜Tere Ishq Mein€™ and Himesh himself in €˜Allah Kare€™ are class apart. Director Shivam Nair wisely desists from falling prey to economics and doesn€™t use all the songs of the audio album. All the songs take the narrative forward. I€™ve already spoken about Nair€™s fantastic directorial capabilities. Let€™s talk about the only drawback of the film. I don€™t think there was any need for Ankush to have pursued Dheeraj. Somehow it didn€™t seem plausible why he had to flog a dead horse. The story slackens a bit after a taut first half. His equation with Zulfu at the end and his subsequent relationship with Ammi are never delineated upon. But these are minor gliches in a wonderfully put-together film.

As for its Box Office possibilities, then it€™s being said that releasing €˜Ahista Ahista€™ a week later KANK is not a wise move. I don€™t think so. A good film will find its audience. It may not have a bumper opening like a KANK or €˜Krrish€™ but I am absolutely sure that like €˜Munnabhai MBBS€™, €˜Ahista Ahista€™ will find its takers. It will prove to be a profitable venture at the Ticket Window and enhance the stature of everyone associated with this film. I shall watch it again. So, what€™s stopping you from getting that first look!