Mumbai, India: January 29, 2010 - IR Summary/TOI -

Ishqiya is a crazy little black comedy that may be completely desi in its idiom, its lingo, its landscape. Yet, when it comes to drama, it is not less than Hollywood. Debutant director Abhishek Chaubey tells his story with a confidence that falters only in the end.

Sarcastically, if he hadn't faltered in winding up this delectable little tale of a wicked trio, with nothing to lose not even their morals -- he would have created a masterpiece. But the last few reels are so puzzled that they leave you both confused and somewhat dissatisfied.

But till you reach the casual resolution of the story, Ishqiya is pure delight. Both in terms of the narrative that moves from one tangy twist to another; and in terms of the performances, which are so swift they fill you with beans. Naseeruddin Shah lives and breathes the role of the wily and somewhat wizened Mamujan who doesn't balk at falling on his would-be assassin's feet, begging for mercy.

Nor does he see anything wrong in colouring his beard black, when the wily widow, Krishna (Vidya Balan) sets his testosterone in play with her seductive song and guile. But Arshad Warsi doesn't want to be left behind as Babban, the rural rogue and matches him crooked step for step. And the duo is totally bindaas as rivals in love, ready to beat each other to pulp for the charms of Krishnaji. As for Krishnaji: Vidya Balan truly deserves another wow after her entertaining show in Paa. This time, she does a complete volte face to her Parineeta image, flashing her eyes, sucking thumbs and setting out the details for a kidnap plot, with unbridled glee. Truly, this one’s magical threesome that sets the explosive backdrop literally on fire with their everything's-fair-in-love -- and petty crime -- principles.

Adding juice to their antics is the backdrop. The backwater badlands of Eastern UP, with their characteristic gun culture, caste wars and edgy lingo loom large as the fourth character in this crime play. And like the other three, this one's an intensely colourful character too, competently captured on screen by cinematographer Mohana Krishna. Equally enhancing is Vishal Bhardwaj's music score which already has two chartbusters on air: Ibn-e-Batuta and Dil To Bachcha Hai.