As an essential clarification, I would like to begin with the fact that if a film is remade or its sequel is planned after decades (to en-cash the euphoria around its original title), then there are simply no grounds on which either the films or their music can be compared in any form or manner whatsoever. And the gigantic reason for this valid argument is that those two projects are purely related to two different times, distinctive eras and two diversely brought-up generations which don’t allow us to discuss any kind of comparative study related to the projects unnecessarily. Therefore the review here has nothing to talk about the original AASHIQUI released in 1990 or its extremely popular music in the paragraphs ahead.
However, the other harsh reality here remains that with AASHIQUI 2, the Bhatt camp once again proves the wide spread notion in the industry that they truly know the film business more than anybody else in the present, when it comes to making remakes, sequels and inspired movies with some hit tracks unarguably. Dealing with all similar projects only (remakes & sequels) in the last few years, the Bhatts have passed on their “HIT Formula” of making low budget, inspired movies with a new star-cast & super-hit music to their next generation too. And the new brigade is clearly making the most out of it quite evidently as visible in their latest venture AASHIQUI 2.
The film has a title fetching them an instant recognition due to its brand value, an already successful soundtrack, an interesting fresh lead pair and the whole ‘Cost-Factor’ under control like a perfectly planned business venture which has no probability of giving them losses even if the film is not liked by majority of the audience sitting in the theater. In short this is an ideal example of how successful films are now being made in our Industry like branded Soaps, Perfumes and Shampoos selling in the departmental stores displayed in some attractive packing on the shelves.
Oh! Wait, I really missed the major ingredient of film-making here in the above description, which happens to be “The Storyline or Script” in a film as required. But then, that’s never been a problem with The Bhatts since they’ve always got the English or World Classics by their side, as their truly inspiring friends, providing them everything they require from start to finish related with the storyline of their films. So following their own decades old track record, this time they pick up the 1976 version of A STAR IS BORN, directed by Frank Pierson and featuring Barbara Streisand & Kris Kristofferson in the lead.
Interestingly, the English film has its own history of remaking in both the West and the East beginning from the year 1937. After its initial release in 1937, it got remade twice in 1954 & 1976 (in the west) because of its engaging subject on music & its illustrious career struggles. In India, Hrishikesh Mukherjee made his own cult classic ABHIMAAN in 1973 featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan) in the lead, which was a subtle Indianised version of a similar tale. Though the original AASHIQUI (1990) too, revolved around the same subject of musical careers, ego clashes and misunderstandings between the lead pair. But it’s the current 2013 remake of the Hit, which religiously takes its inspiration from the 1976 version of A STAR IS BORN, revolving around the life of a immensely famous Rock Star fading away from the charts due to his drinking habits & arrogant nature.
No doubt, director Mohit Suri and his writer Shagufta Rafique add their own notable insertions in the script to make it an intense emotional love saga, as always expected from the Bhatts. But in the process they push their film into an avoidable zone which is too melodramatic, extremely slow and not so happening for the young audience in particular, after its first hour. In straight words, the film begins well with all its introductory scenes and manages to hold the attention of its viewers in a decent manner. But just before and after the intermission, it loses all its pace, becomes completely predictable and offers nothing in the name of entertainment (read emotional pleasure), despite of having some good tracks playing in the background.
At times it does make you feel the ‘Mahesh Bhatt Impact’ in few of its lovable scenes (Mahesh lends his voice in the film as the Father), but along with that the film also has few directly lifted sequences from the original as usual. It begins with an exactly similar scene taken from the 1976 remake of A STAR IS BORN, the couple meet each other in a bar in almost the same settings and then the film ends too on an identical note, truly following its inspirational source from the West, unsurprisingly.
The film’s Soundtrack is already a Big Hit, its Cinematography is fine and the Background Score provides what was required from it in a decent manner. But somehow I felt the arrangement (orchestrisation) of its songs too heavy and repeatedly interfering with the otherwise melodious compositions of the tracks & their meaningful lyrics. May be it was done keeping in the mind the Rock base of the film, but could have been toned down a lot as I felt personally. Anyway, AASHIQUI 2 is sure going to be the major vehicle in the career of its singers such as Arijit Singh, Ankit Tiwari & more.
In the acting department, the fresh pair is likable and they have also acted well in their difficult roles respectively. Yet the appreciation would more go towards Aditya Roy Kapur than Shraddha unfortunately. The boy impresses you right away from his first scene itself and then seems to be at a comfortable ease with his confused character throughout the film. Shraddha looks cute and does well particularly in the second hour. She is sure going to win some hearts with her innocent feature, but still I couldn’t feel the emotional attachment with the two characters suffering together on the screen and couldn’t relate to them honestly as I wished too.
Probably one of the reasons for this detachment from the film was its story-base which in the current scenario is simply bizarre and unimaginable. Because today there is no place as such for Pop Singers or their Individual Pop Albums in Indian Music Market anymore. Yes, this was the scene in the 90s when Pop Culture was flourishing in India due to the Cable TV revolution in the country. But in this new millennium, only film music rules the nation and there is almost no scope of any Pop Artist to make such a name & fame in only few weeks as shown in the film.
In a nutshell, it has got performances and some good music too but how many times we are supposed to see the same rotten story again & again like dumb viewers. Its fine that in our part of the world if you have a Hit soundtrack then half of your box office battle is already won. But what about the entertainment factor or the emotional connect in a movie for which the viewers are there sitting in the theater. And in case that is missing in an intense love story such as AASHIQUI 2, it really doesn’t deserve any high ratings as far as this review is concerned.
Rating : 2 / 5 (Including 1 only for its soundtrack)
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