There’s undeniable pleasure in watching Naseeruddin Shah speak a word like “ool julool” — a phrase so deliciously untranslatable that it instantly reminds you why Urdu can feel like silk to the ears. And there’s similar joy in seeing Vijay Varma play a man deeply in love with poetry, chasing a reluctant poet and his graceful daughter with a heart full of softness and sincerity.
But while the performances glow, the film often doesn’t.
⭐ Rating: 2.5/5
Plot: Poetry Meets Reality, But the Magic Doesn’t Always Land
Set in 90s Delhi, Gustakh Ishq follows Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman (Vijay Varma), a printer desperate to save his dying press. His hope lies in publishing the quiet, soulful writings of Aziz Beg (Naseeruddin Shah), a reclusive poet running a tiny watch repair shop in Malerkotla. Along the way, Nawab meets Minni (Fatima Sana Shaikh), Aziz’s newly divorced daughter, and a hesitant romance begins to bloom.
On paper, this is a beautiful premise — poetry, pain, nostalgia, and a love story stitched between pages.
On screen, though, it doesn’t always translate.
A Film Too in Love With Its Own Words
The problem isn’t the Urdu — the language is a delight.
The problem is how indulgent the film becomes with it.
The dialogues feel performative, often chasing applause instead of emotion. Several scenes drag on like literary recitations rather than moments meant to move the story forward. The film’s aesthetic and tone make it feel older than its 90s setting — almost like a tribute to 60s and 70s Muslim socials, but without the seamless charm of that era.
A Meandering First Half, A Slightly Better Second
The first half wanders too much.
It takes too long to find its emotional centre, and many scenes feel stretched simply because the film refuses to break free from its love for grand dialogues.
The second half fares better.
There’s a lovely, brief interlude between Shah and Varma that captures everything the movie wants to be — nostalgic, smooth, and full of hazaaron khwaishein aisi melancholy. But these moments come in flashes, not as a consistent emotional rhythm.
Performances That Outshine the Film
- Naseeruddin Shah is spellbinding. The way he treats language, the way he lingers on words — it’s a performance crafted from pure love for Urdu.
- Vijay Varma is sincere and affecting, especially in the climax.
- Fatima Sana Shaikh brings intuitive softness, but her character often feels underwritten.
- Sharib Hashmi is excellent yet frustratingly underused.
Technical Hiccups & Inconsistent World-Building
Despite coming from Manish Malhotra’s Stage5, the production design is surprisingly inconsistent. Some sets — especially Nawab’s home interiors — feel artificial and freshly assembled, breaking the period mood the film tries so hard to evoke. These visual breaks pull you out of the world instead of drawing you deeper into it.
Music: The Saving Grace
The Gulzar–Vishal Bhardwaj duo once again delivers magic.
Their songs bring far more emotion than several dialogue-heavy scenes.
If anything, the music reminds you of the film’s potential — the version it could’ve been.
Final Words: A Beautiful Idea Held Back by Flat Execution
Gustakh Ishq had all the ingredients of a poetic, aching, unforgettable film — rich language, strong performers, a nostalgic setting, and sublime music.
But the execution wavers.
It’s uneven, indulgent, and often emotionally distant, despite sincere performances trying hard to pull it back on track.
⭐ Final Rating: 2.5/5
A film with moments of genuine beauty, but not enough consistency to leave a lasting ache.
