This is only Vishal Bhardwaj who can make a awefome movie with low cast and low budget, All of the Vishal Bhardwaj fans gonna enjoy this movie but let me also tell you that don't expect the same kind of work as kaminey or Omkara. Most of the reviews said first half is OK but I have enjoyed lot in the first half (same Omkara style double meaning talk like "Sheikh Apni Apni Dekh" and Puzzles like Kaminey) and in the second half (more like kaminey) you guessed or collect all the puzzles. I was expecting much more from the ending but it was kinda similar as kaminey where all the people joined together at the same place like they want to end the movie (Vishal ji Please improve ending... There are also some Glitches in the movie which you will find your self after watching it. Naseer,Arshad and Vidya have performed Superb (I am glad vidya got this kind of strong role again after Parinita). She looks beautiful even in simple SARI..Songs are less but great specially Batuta and Dil to baccha.Credit should also goes to debutant director Abhishek Chaubey..Bollywood has shortage of these type of fearless directors. I strongly encourage all Vishal, Vidaya , Naseer and Arshad Fans to hit the theater and say "Sheikh Apni Apni Dekh :)

Abhishek Chaubey directed 'Ishqiya' is a well-made film in all respects, but it's a film that caters to a niche audience. Sure it has an interesting storyline, but it's take on it is very different. This one is a rustic, abusive, violent & complicated film at the end of the day. 'Ishqiya' has a okay first hr, a terrific second, but a weak end. The climax is not as impactful as one wonders and expects. The twist in the end is also not convincing, it looks made-up, it's bland to be honest. 'Ishqiya' earned amazing critical acclaim, but only average success at the box office, Now I know why! Chaubey's direction is apt, Vishal Bhardwaj's dialog are in complete sink with the film. His music is fantastic, 'Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji' is a lovely track. In the acting department, Naseeruddin Shah is simply superb, he's a matchless performer! Arshad can't stand his feet near Naseer. Vidya Balan is terrific, playing here part with dynamic ease. The actor who plays Vidya's husband is strictly okay. 'Ishqiya' is a must watch for those who are tired of watching simply entertainers, as this one is meant for that section of audience.

I was under the impression that 'Ishqiya' was a Vishal Bharadwaj film. It was only after watching the film that I discovered Abhishek Chaubey to be the director. The movie does have a Bharadwaj feel to it. Though Bharadwaj still has a strong ties to it (as producer, music director and co-writer just to name a few), Chaubey has done a competent job and he's proved to learn a lot from his mentor. Set in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh, this black comedy follows the story of two thieves and a hot but not-to-be-messed-with widow. Surrounding them are gangsters and arms dealers. The story is full of twists and layers. I like that Chaubey has kept much of it raw. For example, the use of language isn't toned down (or tamed). The dialogues are witty and full of dark humour. 'Ishqiya' moves at a steady pace. Next to the solid editing, 'Ishqiya' is beautifully shot. The stunning landscape is captured beautifully but it never distracts from the story. The energetic soundtrack is excellent. It works great as a standalone and fits the film fine. In addition, 'Ishqiya' benefits from three superb performances. It is no new news what a crafted actor Naseeruddin Shah is and here's another solid proof. Arshad Warsi is proving to be a versatile comic actor but even in the more intense sequences he succeeds. Vidya Balan is spellbinding and perhaps she delivers her best performance to date. She conveys a lot through her silence and her chemistry with Shah and Warsi is sizzling. 'Ishqiya' reminds me of those exciting spaghetti western movies that deal with themes of greed, betrayal, love and revenge. It's got plenty of energy to engage the viewer and enough for us to come back and revisit.

This is what a good movie is all about - The authentic setting of village life with beautiful cinematography, the 3 main starts were perfect - I for one could not picture any other actress alive in Hindi cinema that could have delivered the role what Vidya played. Everything could be read from her emotions without her saying anything. You know how good a film is when you can read and feel each character as they interact with each other - almost as good as a book. Without spoiling the film I urge everyone to watch this gem and really do wish it wins awards it deserves. Hindi cinema needs to embrace these new type of film styles - were all fed up with rich brats in foreign lands scenario. Hope YC and KJ are taking a note from these clever films - you don't need mega stars or million dollar budgets to produce a film. Whats refreshing is most people who have posted a review have said similar things. So I am glad I am not alone when I think Hindi Cinema needs to encourage directors/writers that produce films like these. 9/10

I could not comprehend it exactly due to incompetence to interpret a film that does not have much novelty but in dialect and backdrop. On the first look of trailers, I was awestruck and happy. Also, I suspected that it was a faithful remake of 'Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid' but this is just an inspiration to a limited extent. It's layered with Desi Commercial elements to make a typical bollywood pot boiler and that's when it turns out to be plot fouler. The flaw is not in the script/screenplay but in trying to make it commercial and convey something out of nothing. Two goons escape death each time they are caught and are never killed. They escape it once and then fall into the lap of a widow when they try to cross the border and this is when things start to happen. It's a deliberation from writer to make all the threads knit to take it to that end which he has very much pre planned and only the way it's done is to be shown. Only twist is that when I did expect someone to die, someone else did die and it was silly. A old woman (what connection she has to the plot is abstract) triggers a fire. And in this deliberation lay the backlog of the entire script coz right from the beginning it was evident that things were slowly going to that end which has no poignancy or a point. Well, there is no problem with pointless movies but they did move me / engage me or did something to me but this worse coz it left me pale in most parts and in parts where there were witty dialogues it did make me smile else it was a boring thing for 2 hours. If having a novel dialect and putting some scoldings and just knitting some threads to make a script would work then anyone can write and anyone can work crap. Despite, being an admirer of Vishal Baharadwaj who produced this piece, I not only condemn this but discourage such movies from being made. Please add some sense in trying to make a different original movie. It's just good for acting, dialogue and cinematography. It's just average as a whole 2/5.

Undoubtedly, Ishqiya is a delightful watch. And, why shouldn't it be? After all it has backing of probably the most intelligent people of the contemporary Hindi movie fraternity - Vishal Bharadwaj (arguably the best among contemporary movie makers) as the writer and music director, Gulzar (undoubtedly, the best living poet who writes for movies) as the lyricist, Naseeruddin Shah (one of the finest actors), Vidya Balan(too good, isn't she?) and Arshad Warsi (quite a surprise, to outshine his other two co-stars). Finally, Abhishek Choubey, even if a débutant director, but not new to movies as he was the writer of most of Vishal's great movies. No sooner the movie has been released, people have started comparing, "If Vishal is India's Tarantino, Abhishek Choubey definitely is Robert Rodriguez." The movie is set in a remote UP village where you see it all that you have already been aware of from news or views - the caste war, the black marketeering, the corruption, the kidnapping, the flesh business, the adultery, the illegal immigration, et al. But all these are shown with a tinge of humour - black and grey. All the actors give lively and engaging performances. The love triangle is pretty interesting and one dialogue that summarizes all that, which brings lots of giggle of course, is "Tumhara ishq ishq, humara ishq s*x?" Having said all that, I think the movie is 20 minutes too long. So many twists really don't add nicely towards the end of the movie. I won't call this fresh or different. If not many, you have seen this kind of presentations before. Nevertheless, this is a movie that shouldn't be missed for its raw black humour. (Originally posted @ weirdo-on-movies.blogspot.com)

Brilliant trailers and amazing music had created some amount of hype for this movie... and Vishal Bhardwaj's name was just the icing on the cake. This film is divided into two parts: the part before interval, the one I call slow and OK, and the part AFTER the interval, the part I call... brilliant. Where to start... where to start... it's a slow start with a little shaky introduction, one that leaves us baffled, I mean... what just happened!? Then, the great duo comes in, and my my, what a performance by both! Special credit goes to Arshad Warsi for getting back his Munnabhai dialect. For a change, even Balan shone bright! As for the direction of the first half, it's good, but a person tends to get bored at times. I know I did. The whole plot isn't clear till about 40 minutes into the movie. Not a really convincing interval, but well... first part's over! And then comes the second. The movie suddenly picks up the pace and you find yourself engaged! A love triangle builds up amongst Shah, Warsi and Balan (Quote, Warsi: "Vah! Tera Ishq Ishq Hai, Mera Ishq sex."). The excitement grows and the one-liners ("Chutiyam Sulphate", "Chuttad Dhone Se Pehle Tancha Chalana Seekhte Hai")... and the way they're said, it's just BRILLIANT! Kudos to Abhihskek for a brilliant debut, and kudos to Vishal Bhardwaj for being the genius he is, the one-liners and music are amazing! For a change, good cinematography and good editing do their job as well. And that's why it rocks - because all basics are perfect. And, my my, what an end. What a beautiful end. Rating: First half: 7/10 Second half: 9/10 Overall: 8/10 (That's a **** guys!) Somehow, I just know only a small audience will like this wonder... somehow, I just do.

Ishqiya 9/10 After a long time an Indian movie achieves the status of a perfect thriller. This is a milestone history of Hindi cinema. The story is very twisted and with every scene it opens up a bit more. You'll be guessing a lot of things but I can bet that till the end of movie you will still be guessing what and why are all these happening. Let me tell you, all events, actions, scenes, dialogs are important in this movie. If you miss even one frame your questions will be unanswered. Really this is a piece of art. I'm still clueless about a few things. Screenplay: 9/10. Good. If told in any other format, it would have looked so predictable that you could write the whole story from the beginning scene. Cinematography: Beautiful, captures a few good frames on village life. No unnecessary top shots, close ups, framing etc. Every scene is so well rehearsed, well prepared that they stand alone for praise. Dialogs: Whoa. This is the real asset of this movie. In your face dialog. No mercy, no hiding, total raw emotions comes out through dialog. Hats off to whoever wrote it. Acting: Vidya Balan has just washed out all others. Wow!!! She reminded me the actress from "Straw Dogs", doing something, telling something, thinking something and wishing something else...all at same time. Kudos to this girl. She simply rocked. Then comes Naseeruddin and Arshad, marvelous in their part. I want to say that everyone acted brilliantly, even that "nani" Directing: Man, bringing out this kind of believable acting from each and everyone of your crew is not easy. You need to have a clear idea about what exactly you want from this scene, what this frame should look like. Even if you are disgusted how you show your emotions....hats off to Abhishek Chaubey. Really looking forward to more from him. Songs: Now, what more should I tell. Everyone is singing "Dil to bachha hai ji", its a gr8 romantic track in recent times. All other songs are so nicely blended in the movie that you won't feel their presence at all. IMO, I rate it better than Kaminey. Kaminey became very predictable at the last hour. But this is way above all. Very very recommended to all

I had big expectations.. from this movie. A couple of my friends also compared the style of the movie to a Bollywood equivalent of a Tarantino film. I DON'T THINK SO. The movie has some good songs i'll give you that. The story was fast - slow- draggingly slow- hurried again and it all ended with much to be delivered by the end. Naserudin has definitely been wasted here.. he could have done a much better job if the story/screenplay was executed properly. Arshad does good and Vidya Balan.. well what can I say she was OK. I'd have loved to see a better execution of this storyline with more emphasis on character building and a steady engrossing screenplay. 6/10.

This film's trailers have been around for long & I have to admit that I set my expectations very high from this one. Reasons: For one, it's coming from a filmmaker like Vishal Bhardwaj, who we know does take his movies seriously (even if it's a comedy). Second, you have performers like Naseeruddin Shah & Vidya Balan and a near perfect character actor in Arshad Warsi. Third, the way the trailers & the songs have built up the movie for some months now. So, does the movie live up to the hype? Well, both yes & no. Yes, because Abhishek Chaubey has a great sense of the art & the screenplay is really good. The way the lead actors are introduced is the mark of a director who knows his trade. The short lived love triangle between our three lead characters is presented in a way that has the audience guessing all the time. The research that has gone into the work is brought about in the diction with which Naseer & Arshad carry off their Bhopali avatars. Naseer plays his role to perfection, never dominating the screen but making his presence felt all the time. Arshad is ever the joker, brings us some good comic scenes. Vidya Balan has the aura of the seductress and carries herself with some aplomb. The songs & background score leave you wanting for more. Given all this, I get the feeling that I would have been better off walking out of the movie hall after the first half, as in that case, I could have still lived in the illusion that the movie would end in something spectacular, which it unfortunately it does not. I'm still unclear of the objective of the whole thing. It is not just the loose ending but the entire second half. It falls apart. The jokes in the movie have all been around in the trailers & there are only a few fresh laughs for those who have been following the television promos. And these comic scenes with the "dirty" words thrown in look like they have been planted in the movie and have no role in taking the movie forward. Still, there are at least two high points in the movie. One is the song "Dill toh bachcha hai ji". It is really lyrics par excellence, sung from the heart. The second one is the long drawn passionate kiss between Warsi & Balan. It shows that Bollywood is maturing up to romance, minus the qualms & morality. What makes me give such a lowly rating to a fairly good movie is that when you have such a heady cocktail of actors, director, screenplay writers & lyricists, we do go in for a movie of a lifetime(or maybe at least , of the year). Had this movie been directed by a person like Rohit Shetty, I would have proudly said that it is a 8 on 10, but from Vishal Bhardwaj, the man with Omkarra & Kaminey, the bar is set a bit higher and hence, I'm tempted to give it 5, or maybe a 5.5, not more.