Ishkq In Paris Review

Review by Zayden

Preity Zinta is back, after what seemed like ages with Ishkq in Paris. She has been credited as the producer and with the story and screenplay. And before we forget, she’s also the leading actress in this film! Is that a little too much for one person to handle? Let’s delve into film then.

Story, Screenplay and Dialogues: The story of the film is clearly inspired by the iconic Hollywood film ‘Before Sunrise’ which released in 1994. The film is about two strangers who hit it off on a train journey and decide to spend a day together and do stuff (yes, stuff) and never meet again. Never ever. Ever. Why? Because that’s how they roll. If they manage to keep this promise or not, is what takes us through to the climax of the film. To find out what happens watch the film, I won’t spoil it for you.

The screenplay, as it is with films set over the course of a day, is languid and is dependant on the lead couple’s chemistry and the dialogues. But here, most of the dialogues and cutesy mannerisms are only reserved for the film’s producer. The dialogues are appropriate but pretty generic. Indians love a bit of passion and melodrama in their romantic films. And this film doesn’t adhere to the stereotypical norms of passion, which is a drawback.

Ishkq In Paris Movie Review

Direction, Music and Miscellaneous: Prem Raj, who directed the tepid ‘Main aur Mrs Khanna’ manages to take the staple European style of story-telling and inserts it into an Indian film. This would have worked really well if the audience he made this film for was based in Europe. The film keeps on meandering to the climax and gets a little too comfortable with its sluggish pace for its own comfort.

The music is nothing to write home about. Although, Sonu Niigaam’s number is pleasant to the ears. Salman Khan’s item song is the only rip-roaring moment in the film. Sajid-Wajid seem to reserve their best music only for Salman’s films. The film looks beautiful thanks to the pretty frames supplied by the Parisian backdrop. The cinematographer (Manush Nandan) captures Paris without ever making it look tourist-y. And that’s an achievement of sorts.

Acting: Nobody in Bollywood can do ‘bubbly’ better than Preity Zinta. She’s the best thing about this film. Her mannerisms make her appealing and attractive even for the non-so-easily impressed. Alas, her antics are not enough to save us from the disaster in the form on Rehaan Maliek. He is expressionless throughout most of the film and when he tries to express, he ends up copying Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor, instead. This is why it is so important to get the casting right for films like these. The chemistry of the lead pair is thrown off track due to Rehaan Maliek. A more competent actor would have done wonders and would have helped the film immensely. If only.

Conclusion and Box Office: If you are not bothered by bad acting, love Preity Zinta and have money to spend this weekend, go watch Ishkq in Paris. But if your money is dear to you, stay put at home and watch the IPL instead. Boxoffice wise, this film will find it difficult to make any mark. Shows have been cancelled at many parts of the country. Preity deserved better. So did the audience.

Positives:

• Preity Zinta
• Paris
• Pretty cinematography
• Salman Khan’s guest appearance

Negatives:

• Rehaan Maliek
• Screenplay
• Story
• Sluggish pace makes the film boring for long stretches at a time
• Music

Rating: