Director: Sameer Sippy
Cast: Krishna Chaturvedi, Ruhi Singh, Lisa Ray, Javed Jaffery
With the lush green countryside and melodious music, one might think that we have travelled back to the 90’s with this film. ‘Ishq Forever’ marks the debut of popular model Krishna Chaturvedi and Ruhi Singh, who was last seen in Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Calendar Girls’. Director Sameer Sippy has tried to make an engaging romantic thriller, but the film falls flat because of bad performances.
Rhea (Ruhi Singh), a rich spoilt daughter of a MLA Sushil (Chetan Pandit) studying abroad, loves her freedom and independence so much that she is willing to stay all by herself instead at her college hostel. After much pleading with her father, she is permitted to shift into a quaint cottage; after which her life turns upside down. Her father gets his golden ticket and becomes PM of the country. After the announcement, her father appoints a security agency, to protect Ruhi. However, the agents happen to be a divorced couple Naina (Lisa Ray) and Amitabh (Javed Jaffery), whose surveillance start suffocating Rhea gradually. She decides to sneak out from the trap and runs away. On her exciting journey, she meets Aryan (Krishna Chaturvedi) and gives her heart away to him. To know what happens next, you will have to watch the film.
Expected to be yet another cliché love story, ‘Ishq Forever’ has a lot more unexpected store in for you. One might think that the film could have done better with a bigger star cast or lcould have done better in terms of its production value but interestingly the film excels in its good plot. The love story is not just about living happily ever after, but with sudden twists and turns, it manages to keep you intrigued till the end!
From the straight face on the runway, to a full fledged actor Krishna Chaturvedi is successful in getting his expressions rightly, atleast better than few star kids who are just not meant to be on silver screen. Special mention to Javed Jaffery, who adds his personal touch of humor to the film, that is noteworthy. The leading lady Ruhi Singh needs to spruce up her acting skills. Traces of her character in Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Calendar Girls’ are still very alive in this film. Her fake accent, plastic expressions will leave you annoyed. Lisa Ray, who made her comeback with ‘Ishq Forever’, is below average. I believe, the problem with the leading ladies is their lip job.
The only thing that will leave you scratching your head is the romantic linkup of the security agents Javed and Lisa. The two seemed too occupied trying to patch their relationship instead of protecting the female protagonist. The 120 minute twisted love tale could have been much better with better performances or bigger names who could have done a tad better in saving the film.
Music by Nadeem Saifi is melodious, especially the song sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Palak Muchhal ‘Bilkul Socha Na Tha’. Even after mentioning few good things about the film, ‘Ishq Forever’ fails to create an impact and even lacks the emotions one would normally connect with. If you are planning to see a movie this weekend, you can go for this one but enter the theatres at your own risk.
