I
love the fact that the most crackling chemistry in Abhishek Chaubey’s ‘Dedh
Ishqiya’ is between the male protagonists. This is no mean feat considering the
film has the delicious pairing of Naseeruddin Shah and Madhuri Dixit, both
seasoned actors who bring charm and humour to their scenes together. But the
scenes involving Naseer and Arshad Warsi are on a different plain, drawing on
the yin and yang qualities of their characters and infusing it with quirky
comedy that made ‘Ishqiya’, the film’s prequel, such a success.
In
‘Ishqiya’ both Khalu and Babban, the characters played by Naseer and Arshad,
vied for the affection of one woman, but fate has been kinder here. So while
Khalu pretends to be a Nawab in order to win the hand of Para Begum, played by
Madhuri Dixit, Babban acts as his butler and is soon besotted with the Begum’s
feisty handmaiden Muniya (Huma Qureshi).
The
plot is centred around the Begum’s search for a suitor who can replace her dead
husband as the Nawab of Mahmudabad. The Begum has a fondness for urdu poetry,
which is conceivable since Mahmudabad is modelled on a princely estate in the
heart of Uttar Pradesh. Khalu may not be a Nawab but he is dead serious about
marrying the Begum. It emerges that Khalu once saw the Begum dancing, many
years ago, and has remained smitten by her since. The elements of urdu poetry
and dance in a film that stars Naseer and Madhuri should tell you of the wonderful
places this film intends to (and does) go. In scenes where Naseer is serenading
the Begum with chaste urdu ghazals, you can literally see the ghost of his
performance as Mirza Ghalib in Gulzar’s wonderful tv series of the same name.
Madhuri has two dance sequences, which are just as mesmeric as some of her best
work.
Much
of the refinement in Khalu and Begum’s budding romance is in contrast to the crude,
but entertaining banter between Khalu and Babban. For a while, their alliance
is tenuous on account of a betrayal that Khalu may have caused Babban. But then
there is no honour among thieves, and Babban’s ability to not take deep offence
keeps this comedy on track. Levity is one of the many pleasures of ‘Dedh
Ishqiya’.
This
is a very well written film, based on a story by Darab Farooqui. Because the
screenplay is penned by Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar, along with Abhshek
Chaubey, the comedy in this film is nuanced and draws skillfully on the vast
landscape that is the questionable motives of men. Betrayal of trust and
manipulation are familiar motifs in films produced by Vishal Bhardwaj. Khalu
and Babban may be conmen, but here they are surrounded by characters who are
playing out their own schemes. Chief among them is one Jaan Mohammed, a local
MLA and potential suitor for the Begum, portrayed inimitably by Vijay Raaz. How
Jaan manages to come up with poetry provides one of the best gags in the film. Without
revealing anything further, I can tell you that – a) it involves a delightful
cameo by Manoj Pahwa, and b) it leads to one of the most hilariously satisfying
climaxes I have seen in some time.
I like ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ for the deep affection
it has for Khalu and Babban, who, on the strength of this film, are sure to be
consigned to film lore. Its take on the conmen-with-hearts-of-gold premise is
both funny and rich with empathy. For all the hell they raise, Khalu and Babban’s
romanticism and the grudging attempts to be better men causes us to care about
them, which is what makes ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ a delightful film. The place they end
up in this film could be seen as a comeuppance or an unfair turn of events. All
I know is that Khalu and Babban are tough buggers who can get themselves out of
any hole.
