- Directon
- Acting
- Music
- Story
Love may be many splendid things, but it is also a mind-bogglingly crazy, stupid thing too. “Aashiqui 2″ proves that. Okay, so the film is flat at many points, the screenplay, the dialogues, the editing – it is a let down most of the times. But what keeps us going is the sincerity in the love struck eyes of its characters right from the word go. And the hauntingly melodious love song, Tum Hi Ho.
Aditya Roy Kapoor as the self consumed alcoholic superstar singer Rahul Jaykar and Shraddha Kapoor as Aarohi Keshav Shirke, the soft spoken, gullible simpleton with big dreams bring a certain innocence and vulnerability to the roles they were signed for, just like Rahul Roy and Anuradha Aggarwal in “Aashiqui.” We’ll be honest when we confess that we were skeptical of Aditya’s prowess as a serious actor, as a lead who can carry the film on his shoulders. Although he needs a bit of push and polish, one cannot dismiss the pain and the angst Aditya brings on board. Nor can you doubt a flawlessly pretty Shraddha’s earnest efforts to be the selfless lover always ready to help.
Contrary to the critics’ comparison, the film comes nowhere close to Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan’s phenomenal performance in “Abhimaan.” Yes, it is about two singers and their endearing love for each other. It is also about strengths and weaknesses and salvation, and whether love has the power to conquer it all. Director and co writer Mohit Suri (Shagufta Rafique is the other writer) had the chance to revisit romance, to make us believe in it again, to stoke the fires of passion, but instead he loses the plot with pointless forced melodrama in the second half. He fails to establish Jaykar’s mindless addiction to alcohol, his outbursts or Aarohi’s unconditional love for him. Imtiaz Ali made the same mistake with “Rockstar.” Like we said, love is a many splendid things, but how do you convince a largely love depraved lust driven audience? How do you explain that true lovers and artists thrive on extreme emotions? How do you help them fall in love, all over again?
