Writer/Director: Karan Johar
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai
‘A Brilliant Romantic Comedy’
Not many actresses in India are as iconic as Anushka Sharma. Ever since her rise toward fame in the 1990’s, Sharma has become a celebrated Indian actress. Whether it’s bold wrestlers, doomed lovers or historic figures, Sharma has portrayed several compelling characters. Arguably, Sharma’s strength as an actress has often been her commitment towards her craft. She is one of those rare actresses which has seldom been afraid to take risks in her career by portraying women that are complex. Even if she isn’t a main focus of a movie, Sharma has always left a lasting impression. An actress with strong presence, Sharma has made many great movies earning audience. Throughout her powerful career, Sharma has made many memorable movies which are worth talking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Sharma and adore all the films she has made in her career. However, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” definitely stands out as her most meaningful film. Released in 2016, Karan Johar’s movie offered a bold portrait of relationships. Packed with spellbinding musical sequences, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an engrossing Bollywood romantic drama. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance by Anushka Sharma, portraying a woman seeking love. Although “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” is a riveting Bollywood romantic drama, it isn’t a truly flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing, lacking the strong character development of Karan Johar’s best movies. Nevertheless, it offers engrossing entertainment for fans of Anushka Sharma.
“Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” tells a story of a bold musician that has dreams to fulfill. Ranbir Kapoor portrays Ayan Sanger, an ambitious singer with dreams of becoming successful. Ayan has always shared a strong bond with Alizeh (Anushka Sharma), a woman that he loves dearly. Ayan seeks to propose toward Alizeh with a dream of marriage. However, the couple’s relationship is tested by forces of fate causing disaster. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Ayan questions whether it’s truly possible for him to become a successful singer. Torn between his love of two different women, Ayan begins to wonder whether it’s possible for him to ever have a longtime companion.
Karan Johar is fascinated with the stories of lovers facing disaster. A fantastic filmmaker, Johar has often made engaging Bollywood romantic movies which audiences treasure. His iconic film “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” offered a bold portrait of friends forming a romantic relationship over the years. With “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, however, Johar made his first ever film about modern romantic relationships. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture romantic relationships in modern-day India, but he succeeded immensely. Using strong cinematography, Johar captures a musician on journey to find identity. Inspired by Aditya Chopra’s “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, the filmmaker effectively uses montages which capture bonds between lovers. For instance, montages enhance the bond scene. During this heartfelt scene, Ayan and Alizeh spend precious time together sharing their love of music. Using old montages, Johar crafts a portrayal of romantic relationships which is compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Aditya Chopra’s “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” demonstrated, montages enhance Bollywood movies about dancing competitions. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Johar captures tension that lovers in relationships are facing.
Another aspect of “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood romantic films you will see. Johar has always had a talent for staging musical sequences in films, and “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” demonstrated his strengths as a filmmaker. Johar expertly uses cross-cutting to stage musical sequences about lovers which are engrossing. For instance, the cross-cutting elevates the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil song. During this unforgettable song, Ayan delivers a bold musical number showcasing love for Alizeh. Using cross-cutting, Johar crafts a romance that’s engaging. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. It gives the movie engaging atmosphere costing the burden that lovers bear. Through powerful production, Johar conveys lovers facing romantic relationships that experience tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” is a Bollywood romance film that’s engaging. The movie is extremely well-written, and effectively uses silence to capture hardships which lovers experience. For instance, silence enhances the farewell scene. During this heartfelt scene, Ayan is in a state of grief when he bids a goodbye to Alizeh. Through silence, Johar constructs a portrait of relationships which is simple to relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in Bollywood movies. As Zoya Akhtar’s “Dil Dhadakne Do” suggested, silence enhances Bollywood films about broken families. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through a breathtaking screenplay, Johar captures the lives of lovers that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Anushka Sharma delivers one of her best career performances as Alizeh. Sharma earned appreciation for playing romantic women in Bollywood films. With “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a terminally ill woman that faces adversity, but she succeeds immensely. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her in past before: ambitious, charismatic and emotional in her most powerful role. With riveting expressions, she captures angst, bravery and depression experienced by a terminally ill woman facing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses which is working in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Sharma, the supporting cast is equally excellent and worthy of recognition. Ranbir Kapoor is remarkable, capturing ambition of a musician that sacrifices romance for the sake of his tough profession. Aishwarya Rai is amazing, bringing charisma to a woman that falls in love with a celebrated musician causing a dilemma. Lastly, Fawad Khan is worthy of appreciation. As a bold musician, he is unforgettable.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” can’t quite capture the lives of musicians with dreams to fulfill. If there’s a shortcoming to the film, it lacks strong pacing. Johar’s choices to include subplots about terminal illness into the film is admirable but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, sequences focusing on Alizeh’s battle against illness aren’t always as engaging as her romantic relationships. Moreover, the film lacks a strong ending. It’s a melodramatic conclusion that fails to truly bring the movie to a resolution. Therefore, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” is one of those Indian movies that not everyone is going to truly adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Anushka Sharma will absolutely enjoy “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” and so will audiences seeking bold entertainment. A riveting Indian romantic drama, it honours an actress that’s beloved in India.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about an Indian musician seeking romance causing tension, it’s a riveting reminder of a beloved actress that has built a strong reputation by her abilities to portray strong characters in unforgettable movies which are undeniably worthy of appreciation.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 