Wondering why Preity's first film as a producer was not releasing since last year, at first I thought that it has been delayed because another movie had just released in 2012 which was based on exactly the same theme. So probably they wished to keep a gap to avoid the obvious comparisons. Then in the beginning of this year it was reported that there were some financial issues which was the reason behind this strange delay. But just recently I was informed that Preity had herself stalled the release as her director was being treated for Cancer. Hearing the news I felt hugely shocked because this was something I had rarely seen happening in the film industry before, that a producer was more interested in the good health of his/her director than the release of the film itself. And for this I would eagerly like to give my utmost love, respect and salute to the lady in charge, Preity Zinta.
Returning to the film, honestly I wished it to be a major hit just for Preity Zinta alone. But unfortunately my wish was not granted as the film turned out to be a big disappointment having nothing fresh to say in the genre of Love Stories. Moreover it was also frustrating to realize that it was yet another highly inspired version of the classic western series of BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) and BEFORE SUNSET (2004) directed by Richard Linklater. Incidentally, the third part of this series titled BEFORE MIDNIGHT featuring the same lead actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is scheduled to be released today itself in the west. And here we are still into making the repeated versions of their Ist parts only in 2013.
As mentioned in the beginning, last year we had London Paris NEW YORK, based on the same much appreciated series, with a similar kind of script. And for the new friends here, this is what I had written in its review to be precise, "If you are a lover or have felt the true love ever in your entire past then do watch BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) and BEFORE SUNSET (2004) both, like an essential medication for your precious life. London Paris NEW YORK might be cute in its own limited way but director Richard Linklater's two babies really talk about something of the BEYOND..............which cannot be copied ever."
And that's exactly, what I wish to convey here again about ISHKQ IN Paris, that few films can never be copied and its really foolish trying to create the same magic on the screen again with two different actors in a different region & language. In fact some cinematic gems are just meant to be cherished and not remade. And the truth needs to be understood well before you decide to go for something similar.
For instance, we are very much interested in getting inspired from the foreign gems but still are too conservative when it comes to use the word 'Sex' on the screen. So here we have a dice in the film which readily shows everything from Party, Dinner and Coffee but is too shy to show the side having the three letter word written on it like a perfect Indian traditional dice. Apparently ISHKQ IN Paris has several such insertions which seem to be completely forced in to give it a more Indian feel. But not a single one comes out as a winner, resulting in a very clichéd, predictable & feeble attempt in the end.
Firstly, there is no chemistry between its lead characters which doesn't let you feel the romance in their eyes ever. Secondly the narrative format (of a voice over) is quite annoying along with the foreign mother character, simply thrown in to justify the Paris angle. Shekhar Kapoor's cameo remains wasted and so is the location of Paris, since the city could have been used like a hidden character of the film as promoted in its title. Following the typical Bollywood pattern of nowadays, ISHKQ IN Paris reaches the same old Punjabi Wedding venue in the end and then there comes a Bhangra song too to ruin it further. In few words, the film has nothing much to say in its first half supporting a very slow progression and then the second half falls back to everything seen before and routine resulting in a lackluster climax, which can also be rated as childish.
Unexpectedly, music is the weakest part of this romantic venture, wherein nothing manages to stay with you once its over. Not even the song in which Salman Khan gives a stage performance as his guest appearance (returning the favour, Preity did for his MR & MRS KHANNA). The cinematography and background score is just OK and the same can be said about its dialogues too, which do not have something special to offer to the viewers.
So that brings us to the performances wherein Rhehan is sweet and confident but the film completely belongs to the vivacious Preity Zinta alone as she remains the lifeline of her self-produced project throughout. Such is the impact of her lively act that after a while it becomes painful to admit that the talented lady is putting so much effort into a film which has a very weak backbone or script in the first place. Preity enjoys the best of her form in ISHKQ IN Paris and that can become the only reason for the ones who wish to see it in the theaters.
