Marriages are made in heaven but does anybody have its address? Are match makers and witnesses the real "angels" or obligatory professionals? Does the unannounced or unpredicted love deserve more than the proposed one? Does true love demand sacrifice? 'Ahista Ahista' makes a silent and low profile dent this week with such simple questions as the crux of the story. Generally, a film that plagiarizes mushy love stories comes with a set of new talents and innovative ideas to woo young audiences. It promises loads of melodious music as the backdrop to make things happening. Does 'Ahista Ahista' have the sufficient thump to make things going at the box office? The film succeeds but in bits and parts and sounds a major disappointment compared to biggies like 'KANK'.
The film shows some innovative moves with different characterizations and narration but treatment and climax is a complete downer! The film disappoints to a large extent though it has this year's finest melodious compositions by Himesh Reshammiya. Unlike other love stories this film has down in the dumps backdrop (Old Delhi surroundings), average to poor performances and a fractured script.
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Bollywood's new genre of filmmakers is experimenting different formulae of love triangles and debutante director Shivam Nair is the new kid on the block. Abhay Deol, heir to one of the strongest Bollywood families, makes second big impression on the silver screen with this soft romantic saga. Despite his professional naivety that is reflected in every frame, the aspiring star tries his best with every facial grimace and physical action. The actor still lacks the tenacity to shoulder an entertainment package of three hours with grace and confidence. Unlike his cousins (Sunny and Bobby Deol) the youngster lacks the gripping screen presence that carries the show till the end. From a confused lover in 'Socha Na Tha' to a compassionate protagonist in 'Ahista Ahista', Abhay hasn't shown signs of improvisation.
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Abhay Deol's depiction of benevolent marriage "witness" turned gullible lover makes him contort his facial grimace with raw sensuality to please introvert but compassionate Soha Ali Khan. Soha Ali Khan too carries heritage of successful Bollywood professionals including mother Sharmila Tagore and brother Saif Ali Khan. Soha impresses with her feminine charms as she forms infallible chemistry with Abhay in the first half. In short, this low profile entertainer belongs to her in delivering professional competence in every frame.
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The prolific young actress has mixed fortune at the box office as her biggest offering up to date has been this year's biggest hit - 'Rang De Basanti'. From playing second lead beloved to neglected housewife she has matured into the genre of the leading lady of Bollywood. 'Ahista Ahista' may not be the right launching for her but she has shown great potential in her submissive character. The porcelain beauty gets control of her emotions as she revolts against her parents, waits for her lover Shayan Munshi and confides love in Abhay Deol. Soha, shy and introvert girl from small town, revolts for her lover Shyan Munshi. But she is destined to be loved by somebody more deserving and compassionate...
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'Ahista Ahista' comes "slowly slowly" (means "Ahista Ahista") from the stables of debutante director Shivam Nair with low hype, low expectations and mellifluous music. It brings out Abhay Deol's debut director Imitiaz Ali as the creative head and scriptwriter of the film. The film reminds of 'Dhai Aksar Prem Ke' (Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai) and 'Kunwara' (Govinda, Urmila Matondkar) with twisted plots. Ironically, all these film were loosely inspired from Hollywood's 'A Walk in the Clouds' (Keanu Reeves) but failed miserably at the box office. It seems lessons have not been learnt from previous mistakes as the debutante director tosses his luck with unreliable concepts and novice talents. The film promises to be about true love but deviates completely from its theme in the climax. The film ends on a disturbing note and challenges the writer's view in concluding this love triangle.
It seems Himesh Reshammiya's powerful and effective music is proving jinx for the film. Films like 'Aksar', 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne', 'Tom Dick and Harry' bombed despite chartbuster soundtracks. Similarly, a film with effective "Qawaali" "Aawan Akhiyan" and melodious tracks like "Tum Jo Mile", "Ishq Ne Tere" and "Ahista Ahista" comes out as one of the weakest proposition at the box office.
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'Ahista Ahista' opens up in the surroundings of marriage registrar's office situated in the interiors of Delhi. Megha (Soha Ali Khan), svelte and introvert girl, waits for her lover outside the office. Megha, a resident of Nainital, is madly in love with Dheeraj (Shayan Munshi). Ankush (Abhay Deol), an honest and compassionate young man earns few bucks by standing up as a witness for young couples getting married at the registrar's office. Destiny makes them their compatriots at the office.
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Dheeraj promises marriage to Megha but fails to turn up on the wedding day. Megha revolts against her parents and runs away from home. Ankush requests her that she should turn back to her native place but it's too late for Megha to retrace her steps. Megha is traumatized and disheartened. Ankush supports her and tries to arrange home and job for her. He finds a job for her in an old age cottage and also gives her moral and emotional support. Lady luck strikes Ankush and he becomes a bank representative in a prestigious multinational bank. Ankush wins his senior's appreciation. His life becomes heaven and all dreams turn true.
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Megh's love and compassion for Ankush grows in abundance and she becomes more positive about life. This helps her forget her past and Dheeraj. Ankush gets promotion as an area supervisor. He proposes to Megha for marriage, but the destiny has different plans…. In hot pursuit to find his lost love, Dheeraj comes to Delhi and meets Ankush. Dheeraj asks for Megha but Ankush refuses to recognize or reply about her. Ankush tries all tricks in the book to make Dheeraj turn back to Nainital but fails. On a fateful day Dheeraj and Megha meet and life turns upside down for Ankush. What will Megha do? Will she choose her first love Dheeraj or Ankush?
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'Ahista Ahista' ends on an anticlimax with an unorthodox ending. The film has some engrossing moments in the first half but fails in the second half when everything becomes predictable. Except for Kamini Khanna, no other actor in the supporting cast shows promise. Shayan Munshi's brief appearance in the film is interesting but the characterization is semi-baked. The love chemistry between Soha and Shayan is not properly narrated. Imitiaz Ali's scriptwriting may look innovative in the first half in plotting different backdrop for a love triangle but fails to make impact in the climax. Like his previous work 'Socha Na Tha', the love chemistry and characterizations lack the panache. Prakash Kutty's cinematography is above average and shows its class in soundtracks like "Ishq Ne Tere" and "Tum Jo Mile". After producing 'Charas' (2004), producer Anjum Rizvi's 'Ahista Ahista' sounds like another weak offering at the box-office. It will have maximum collections in the first three days but thereafter the collections may fall. 'Ahista Ahista' will have the best fortune at the multiplexes but will be a non-starter in the interiors and single screen theatres.
