Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
RELIANCE HOME ENTERTAINMENT, Rs 399
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Fawad Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Director: Karan Johar
Karan Johar is known for blockbuster films with a storyline that is sometimes mature and sometimes pretty childish. We loved movies like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, My Name Is Khan, Student of the Year to the classics Khabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. For some time, Johar followed numerology, creating film titles in which the first word and a number of others in the title would begin with the letter ‘K’. But he dropped that after some time. Thankfully he has not adopted such a method for his twins born recently! But one thing that he cannot do without is casting his buddy Shah Rukh Khan in most of his films. Yes, King Khan is seen here too.
And so we go to the story, which at times drops to making you wish you could just change the dialogue. Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) keeps getting his heart broken all the time. He falls in love with Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) who doesn’t reciprocate the feeling and wants to be just friends as she is still reeling from her break-up with Ali (Fawad) a small-time DJ who plays at a club abroad. But Ayan loves Alizeh, and thinks that this is truly his life partner. Both are Bollywood freaks who go to great lengths to sing retro Bollywood songs of the ‘80s, poke fun at each other and fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. But Ayan wants more from the relationship, something Alizeh cannot commit to.
While visiting a club on a trip to Germany, Alizeh bumps into Ali. This brings back memories of their days together. She is torn between Ayan who loves her and knows nothing about this relationship and her past. Alizeh leaves Ayan and goes back to Ali and subsequently marries him.
At Frankfurt airport Ayan bumps into poet Saba (Aishwarya Rai), a divorcee who helps him get a new perspective on one-sided love through her poetry. She helps him realize Alizeh’s value in his life, irrespective of their relationship status. Will Ayan get carried away with Saba or does he still long for his first love Alizeh?
Melodious music by Pritam with songs like Bulleya adds to this modern day love story. The title song is also a favourite here. The film is a bit long, and even though the storyline has the same formula of the tried and tested love-friendship, the film is worth a watch for excellent performances by Ranbir and Anushka.
WIN a DVD of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil sponsored by Reliance Home Entertainment!
Email your answers to these simple questions to theteenagermag@gmail.com before April 10, 2017. Please include your name, address and contact number in your email.
1) Ayan is in love with _____ who loves ____.
a. Alizeh, Ali
b. Saba, Ali
c. Alizeh, Ayan
2) Saba helps Ayan get a new perspective on love through her _____.
a. poetry
b. music
c. paintings
3) _____ makes a special appearance in the movie.
a. Salman Khan
b. Shah Rukh Khan
c. Aamir Khan
Verus Ferreira is a music journalist for over three decades. He is the author of The Great Music Quiz Book and The Great Rock Music Quiz Book and the founder of Musicunplugged.in