Gustaakh Ishq directed by Vibhu Puri stars Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh in lead roles along with Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi. While this also marks the debut of Bollywood’s favourite fashion designer Manish Malhotra as a film producer. The film, is set against the backdrop of 1998–1999, which takes viewers to a world unscathed by smartphones and digital noise.
Gustaakh Ishq Is Drenched In Charm And Love
The film has its roots in the Shayar-like charm, with handwritten letters and silences carrying much more weight than words that are spoken. Essentially, the plot is underpinned by a number of complications that arise in relationships among people; it delves deep into extra-marital conflicts, dissolved friendships, and unfulfilled desires.
The story unravels bit by bit as the emotional bond between Sana and Vijay starts to grow, nurtured through conversations layered with vulnerability. Their love story is nothing grand, but quietly intense until tragedy strikes, triggered through Naseeruddin Shah’s character, who becomes the emotional epicentre of the film. Vijay finds himself torn between his professional downfall and personal turmoil, leading the story to an emotionally tragic climax that lingers long after the credits roll.
Performances That We Loved
Vijay Varma puts in one of his stronger performances-a nuanced exercise in emotional restraint and inner turmoil. He matches up well with the legendary Naseeruddin Shah for screen time, holding his own with quiet brilliance. Naseeruddin, as expected, is the gravitas that anchors the story. Sharib Hashmi’s performance is decent.
Direction, Writing And Narrative Flow
The movie starts on what is ostensibly a fairly clear track but is imbued with twists and turns in the middle that introduce curiosity and drama. The pace is unhurried, as one settles into its world before being gradually pulled into its emotional complicity. Themes of strife, relationships, and longing are economically elaborated upon through shayari and unsaid tension, making the telling at once poetic and pain-fracturedly real.
Visual & Technical Brilliance
- Color tones enrich the narration that reflects emotional highs and lows.
- It goes without saying that the costumes are flawless, ever so remarkably detailed, and very classy, with Manish Malhotra in the producer’s chair.
- Delhi is captured well and almost appears ethereal, perfectly capturing the timeline and mood of the story.
- The lyrics by Gulzar Saab simply blend in with the film’s tone, and along with VB, the poignancy touches a higher level, raising the narration.
The background score supports rather than dominates, working in sync with the storyline progression. While not overtly powerful, it serves its purpose effectively without drawing attention away from the emotional arc.
Final Take
This is a film that speaks volumes with its silence, rather than the cacophony that some films adopt. It’s a deeply introspective tale that weaves together love, loss, poetry, and time, held together by stellar performances-most importantly, by Vijay Varma and Naseeruddin Shah. The production design is elaborately detailed to take viewers back to the late 90s, while the storytelling keeps you engaged with its nuanced portrayal of human fragility. A reflective, dramatic journey that stays with you long after the final frame.