ADHM: When an 'average' becomes 'talk of the town'

By Mujahid Mughal

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil squad must express thanks to the champions of narrow nationalism for making an average movie ‘talk of the town’ and a big success. Undoubtedly, the performances given by Fawad Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma are more than good, but the concept of the movie can hardly be related to the real-life relationships at large. Hence goes the saying “reel life and real life are different”.

Even as a piece of fiction, the story has not been able to do justice with the very theme of it i.e. the two kinds of loves. After watching the movie one comes to know that Karan Johar as a director is far better than Karan Johar as a writer.

The movie showcases the life of Ayan Sayengar (Ranbir Kapoor) who is “the son of a rich man” and who lives a compromised life as dictated by his family. Although his heart lies in singing but he, for the sake of his family, is doing MBA. He has been shown in a casual relationship with Lisa (Hyden) who seems to be more in love with his money than himself, as expressed by Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) with whom he meets at a bar. Alizeh has been shown as a very mature and intelligent girl who knows ‘life’ well and is also well-versed enough to control it.

Alizeh is already staggering with her breakup with Ali (Fawad Khan) after she had been cheated upon. Alizeh to him has been a habit and not love. Subsequently, she explores Ayan to make him appear what he is. She takes away all his fears, timidness and diffidence. Eventually, when Ayan expresses his attraction (love) towards her, she friend-zones him and goes back to Ali and marries him.

Ayan, in the meanwhile develops a [physical] relationship with Saba (Aishwarya Rai) who initially gives him a perspective on one-sided love but afterwards falls for him. She too leaves him when she knows that her love can’t be returned. Alizeh also leaves Ali to lead a secluded life for two years after she gets tired of keeping an eye on him. Ayan finds her again and comes to know that she has cancer. He again expresses the same love, to which she is angered. She leaves him again.

ADHM although has been filmed at beautiful locations, portraying elite lifestyles, with so many colours like all Karan Johar movies have, but it does not have the kind of music which Karan Johar movies are known for. Even the beautiful poetry like “Aaj jane ki zid na karo” has been jeered at by filming it and composing it with the “most unexpected” music and visuals.

The first half of the movie is somewhat “okay” when we talk of the screenplay. However, the second half of the movie goes much slower than required. The last 10-15 minutes could have been made better with some interactions, dialogues or visuals instead of making them dull.

Author is BSR Fellow at the Department of Geography, AMU, Aligarh.