Aashiq Banaya Aapne Review {1/5} & Review Rating
After DIL CHAHTA HAI, the new generation of storytellers decided to focus on urban themes. The yuppie crowd and the oh-so-cool attitude became the new mantra. In an attempt to make a 'kool' film, directors suddenly started concentrating on styling and technique, while, in some cases, the content took a backseat.
That's precisely the problem with AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE. Debutante director Aaditya Datt attempts a love story, packs in ample glamour and trendy music, but forgets that it takes an engrossing, spellbinding, mesmerizing script to keep the viewer glued to the screen for the next two hours.
The problem with AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE is that the love triangle is so lifeless, so listless, so outdated [two guys in love with the same girl] that you feel sad that Aaditya couldn't rise beyond the mediocre, clich�d stuff. The screenplay being lacklustre, the narrative fails to entice you as the drama unfolds.
At best, AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE looks like a collage of scenes, assembled in a film that abounds in mediocrity. The only redeeming factors are Himesh Reshammiya's hip-hop music and Emraan Hashmi's performance.
Karan [Sonu Sood] loves Sneha [Tanushree Dutta], but is too much of an introvert and just doesn't express his feelings to her. Although Karan's feelings are evident to many, he is content in just seeing Sneha smile and never gathers the courage to let her know his true feelings.
Vicky [Emraan Hashmi] is Karan's childhood friend. The opposite of Karan, Vicky is an extrovert and a notorious flirt. All three lives change when Vicky joins Karan and Sneha in college and Sneha is drawn towards Vicky.
Fearing Vicky's intentions, Karan tries to talk him out of his relationship with Sneha, but Vicky assures him that he is in love with Sneha. Karan feels he has lost the only woman he has ever loved, but knows he cannot do anything about it.
The closeness between Vicky and Sneha cross all boundaries and just as everything seemed set between the two, one night shatters them both. Sneha turns to Karan for support. Over time, Karan finally musters the courage to propose to Sneha.
After Sneha and Karan are engaged, Vicky re-enters their lives. But that one night changes their lives forever.
AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE doesn't remind you of any one film in particular. To be honest, there's no story in the first place. The concept of two guys fighting over one girl has been beaten to death in Bollywood. Right from SANGAM to this date, the moviegoer has witnessed similar stories time and again. Any novelty in the enterprise? Nope!
If the first half is devoid of anything interesting, you expect some movement in the story towards the post-interval portions. And the title song -- a provocative and erotic number -- does promise a turn for the better. But it stagnates soon after.
Aaditya Datt's direction is as poor as his script. The biggest drawback of the film is that it relies so heavily on been-there-seen-that situations that you actually search for something innovative throughout those two hours.
From the writing point of view, there are glaring loopholes that surface at regular intervals:
- At the very start of the film, when Sonu and Tanushree enter a party, Sonu gets to know that Emraan has also arrived there. Emraan and Tanushree meet for the first time, but soon after the song, they share a coffee and strike a conversation as if they are long lost friends. Strange!
- In another scene, someone calls to enquire about the drug packet in Emraan's bag, but the drug issue suddenly surfaces much later in the second half. Even that has been done carelessly!
- Ideally the story should've ended when Tanushree walks out on Emraan during the college confrontation, but the story is stretched for another 40 minutes without any rhyme or reason.
Even the climax is such a letdown. Painting Emraan clean and Sonu black seems so odd and just doesn't gel. In the first place, how did Emraan get to know that Sonu had set him up? Moreover, since all three of them [Sonu, Emraan, Tanushree] had been hospitalized and were lying unconscious, how do the cops get to know that Sonu was the real culprit? Questions galore, but no answers are forthcoming. A convincing climax was the need of the hour for sure. Seems like, Aaditya took the audience for granted!
Himesh Reshammiya's music is foot-tapping and racy. The title track is the best of the lot, followed by 'Aapki Kashish' and 'Marjava Mitjava'. The picturization of a few songs, mainly the title track, is fascinating. Cinematography is quite okay. Dialogues are strictly functional.
Emraan Hashmi is the only actor who adds that extra something to his character. The naughty streak in his character is most appealing and is on similar lines as the one portrayed by him in MURDER. Yet, the director hasn't tapped the potential of a high calibre actor like Emraan to the optimum.
Sonu Sood doesn't look like a college student in the first place and even otherwise, is plain ordinary. The fire is completely missing. Tanushree oozes confidence, is an okay actor, but needs to go easy on her makeup [garish] and outfits [shoddy]. The remaining actors are mere gap fillers.
On the whole, AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE is a good opportunity gone waste. At the box-office, the film may attract the youth on its opening day thanks to the aggressive promotion and popular music, but it just doesn't have the stamina to stand on its feet thereafter.
