Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan

Anwar Says: Bollywood has almost stopped making love stories, which would put you on joy and tears simultaneously. Santosh Singh has made a genuine attempt by adapting Ruskin Bond's story'The eyes have it'. The storyline has nothing new , but the performance makes it watchable.

The first one hour in train journey and at Mussoorie were filmed beautifully and the cinematography is class. Vikrant Massey has already established himself as an actor to reckon with and the blind musician he played is superb. I am highly impressed by Shanaya Kapur, she looks so matured and pretty and always in the character. Zain Khan Durrani also impresses. Dialogues are crispy and delivered with ease. Music of Vishal Mishra is humming and the movie is special for me because of the lyricist Kaushal Kishore from Dhaka, East Champaran, who is like nephew to me.

What's missing is the shock in a love story, like Andhadhun, which makes a film memorable. In my opinion, Hindi audiences accept and remember sacrifice and sad ending in a Love Story. Watch it for Massey and Shanaya.

#zee5 #anwarsays #lovestory #visuallyimpaired #ruskinbond #mussoorie #royalcollegeofmusic #shanayakapoor #vikrantmassey #santoshsingh #happyending.

The film which I saw last night at 12:00 AM was total mess Vikrant is such a good actor but why this time he had messed up Shanaya who was Sanjay Kapoor's daughter was doing overacting Vikrant acts little better in this film but BGM was fine but music was great by Vishal Mishra but unfortunately things had to go downwards there also a great view showing but those saved little bit and Comedy was such a weird feeling and that to the hero and the heroine close their eyes In the whole film This a Comedy Version of Kaabil film and not just that even the love story Comedy dialogues fells very uncomfortable not at all entertain by this crap!

I think everyone is really curious as to how Shanaya Kapoor's acting was in her debut film. Surprisingly, it was not as bad as most debuts. That could be because her character is an unconventional role for many new actresses and their debut roles.

With that said, the story is also different and unconventional and while it could be seen as refreshing in a good way, the script writing let it down. The script did not create a story that allowed the flow and depth to be as strong as it could be. There are a few confusing parts; like why would a character want this? Why did they do the things they did? Some of the dialogue in the second half with the conflict could've been better too. And the build up of the romance could've also been stronger with a better script.

The cinematography, production, and songs lived up to a Bollywood movie. It was beautifully shot, and choosing a location like Mussorie helped the aesthetic of this romantic story.

Rarely does a film come along that not only disappoints but actively challenges your patience and basic faith in storytelling. This movie-whose name is not even worth repeating-manages to do just that. It is, quite frankly, a disaster from the opening frame to the final, painfully prolonged credits. What could have been a compelling narrative about ambition, relationships, or social struggle instead spirals into a nonsensical slog with characters so poorly written, you almost wish they'd vanish halfway just to end the suffering.

Let's begin with the writing, because that's where the rot truly starts. The script is not merely bad-it's offensively lazy. Characters are one-dimensional, motivations are either non-existent or completely inconsistent, and the dialogue feels like it was copy-pasted from a WhatsApp forward. There is zero nuance. Scenes that are supposed to be emotionally resonant are rendered laughable by the sheer artificiality of the writing. You're never invited to feel anything for the characters because they're not people-they're cardboard cutouts acting out the most generic, overdone clichés imaginable.

The writers seem to have no concept of structure, pacing, or emotional progression. Plot twists arrive not because they make sense, but because the script desperately wants to appear clever. There are jarring tonal shifts that leave you wondering whether you're watching a drama, a comedy, or an unintentional parody. The narrative doesn't evolve; it meanders. Long, meaningless sequences fill time, and by the end, you realize that nothing of substance has occurred. It's like watching a train headed nowhere slowly unravel on rusty tracks.

The direction doesn't help matters. If anything, it makes the situation worse. The director seems to have approached the material with all the enthusiasm of someone forced to fulfill a contractual obligation. There is no visual style, no narrative tension, and no rhythm to the film. Scenes are stitched together with all the grace of a school project edited on Windows Movie Maker. Moments that should be powerful land flat, not because they lack potential, but because the direction is so utterly tone-deaf to what the story demands.

Let's talk about the performances-or rather, the complete lack of them. Vikrant Massey, often praised for his restrained acting and subtlety in past projects, is utterly unwatchable here. It's not entirely his fault-the writing gives him nothing to work with-but even then, his performance feels phoned-in, flat, and frustratingly devoid of any emotional range. You spend most of the film watching him drift through scenes with the blankness of someone who clearly knows this ship is sinking and just wants to get through the shoot.

His dialogue delivery lacks conviction, his expressions are robotic, and his emotional moments are so unconvincing they verge on comical. It's hard to believe this is the same actor who once showed promise in earlier films and web series. Here, he appears either miscast or completely uninterested-possibly both.

Supporting characters fare no better, though it's debatable whether the actors are at fault or the laughably shallow script. Everyone is reduced to archetypes, reacting to events like they've never met another human being in their lives. At no point do you feel like these are real people in real situations. The emotional beats are so contrived, they feel like a parody of better films that handled similar themes with actual skill.

The music is forgettable, the cinematography uninspired, and even the production design looks cheap and inconsistent. Every technical department seems to have phoned it in.

Ultimately, this movie is not just a waste of time-it's a waste of talent, money, and attention. It's the kind of film that makes you question whether the people behind it actually watched what they created. There's nothing here to recommend, not even in a "so bad it's good" kind of way. It is pure delusion dressed up as cinema, and it doesn't deserve a single star.

Avoid at all costs.

Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan offers a visually rich experience with soulful music, but falters where it matters most - emotional depth and storytelling finesse. Despite Vikrant Massey's impressive performance and Shanaya Kapoor's promising debut, the film never quite comes together as the emotionally stirring experience it wants to be.

Unfortunately, the screenplay becomes its biggest weakness. While the first half remains decent and watchable, the second half feels confusing and needlessly stretched. The cinematography is undeniably beautiful. Dialogues are generally well-written, often poetic, and resonate in quiet, reflective scenes.

Vikrant Massey, as expected, delivers a compelling performance. He grounds the film emotionally, even when the writing doesn't give him much to work with. Shanaya Kapoor makes a fair debut and there's an innocence and sincerity in her presence that holds promise. While the role doesn't challenge her much, she manages to leave an impression. Zain Khan Durrani and Saanand Verma were decent.

Direction 2.5/5 Acting 3/5 Dialogues 3/5 Story 2/5 Screenplay 2/5.