Movie Review: ‘Daawat-E-Ishq’
Yash Raj Films produced ‘Daawat-E-Ishq’ seemed fresh from the moment it’s first look was unveiled. When the trailer released, it made the audiences eager with its edgy, mysterious and unusual feel. The film takes a look at the age-old custom of dowry, which is illegally still happening in some sections of India and puts it at the forefront of the two characters’ relationship. Aditya Roy Kapur and Parineeti Chopra pair up in the film for the first time and Habib Faisal is donning the director’s hat once again post a very bland reception to ‘Bewakoofiyaan’ earlier in the year. Although the music has been making waves in all the right places, will the story and film itself be one that audiences appreciate too?
Gulrez (Chopra) is a shoe sales girl of marriageable age living in Hyderabad. However, due to her father (Anupam Kher) not being able to offer a considerable amount in dowry and her personal list of wants being as long as her arm, she is coming across difficulty in finding a family and a dulha. However, taking inspiration from a lady who gets her husband convicted of harassment for dowry (Section 498a – Dowry law), Gulrez comes up with a plan to make money by cheating a potential husband and his family. This takes her to Lucknow and amongst all the potentials, she meets Tariq who is a little cheeky and badtameez��at first glance but seems to be the perfect catch for her plan. It all seems to be coming together until Tariq puts in a condition of his own that puts a spanner in the works.
First off, it simply cannot be ignored that Chopra and Kapur make perhaps the most enticing and talented jodi in recent times. In ‘Daawat-E-Ishq’, they are completely perfect in their respective characters – Kapur is rugged with a heart of gold and Chopra plays a very convincing himmatwali Hyderabadi girl. You cannot imagine any other actor being in these roles and making the film such a pleasure to watch. Aside from the two leads, Kher as Gulrez’s father is definitely worth a mention. Having played a huge array of characters in his career, it is amazing to see him in this film as a more than fitting worried but wanting-the-best-for-his-daughter father who stands hand in hand with her throughout her plan even in times when he doesn’t entirely agree with her. He provides some great lighter and funny moments and you do end up laughing out loud even when you don’t expect to. TV host and actor Karan Wahi makes an appearance in a very small role in the first part of the film. It is great to see such a talented actor on the big screen and his jodi with Chopra is also a good watch.
There’s a lot to be said for Faisal too who is working with Chopra for the second time. Having directed a number of films for Yash Raj Films, most garnering decent responses, Faisal’s style is very full of character, so speak. When showcasing a part of the world in any given story, he seeks to bring all of its colours to the screen and put a different light on them. With ‘Daawat-E-Ishq’ being shot in Hyderabad and Lucknow, there is a real effort on Faisal’s part to put the best of both to the audiences and he seems to achieve this tremendously. He comes across as a director who very much wants the audiences to get sucked in by the film as a package. He doesn’t only want you to love certain moments in the story, the well etched out characters and the memorable dialogues but he also wants you to absorb the little parts of Hyderabad and Lucknow which you may otherwise not really give any significance to. Of course, there are many food-related scenes too which completely suit the script, especially as Kapur’s character is a dhaba owner.
The songs are indeed a compliment to the entire film – Sajid-Wajid have definitely hit the jackpot with their compositions. Two particular songs which are effective both in the film and also just as audio are the title song – sung endearingly by Sunidhi Chauhan and Javed Ali – and also ‘Mannat’, sung by Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and Keerthi Sagathia. The part in ‘Mannat’ where Chopra and Kapur are playing Holi is a beautiful scene and Faisal has definitely made it a little playful and romantic at the same time.
Realistically, it is a little difficult to give a stern conclusion about a film that has so much to offer from romance to food and music to… more food! ‘Daawat-E-Ishq’ is most definitely an invitation that brings some special things with it but if it is to be watched for one thing only then it would be for the lead pair who are impeccable in comic timing and in romance and absolutely oozing with talent. This may well end up being one of the most underrated films of the year but it is most definitely a beautiful invitation of ishq that should not be missed.
BizAsia Showbiz Rating: 4/5
