DAAWAT-E-ISHQ : Serving some well succulent kababs but alas! not a hot steamy Biryani !!

At one point in the film Gulrez tells the garishly flamboyant Tariq ‘ you are a high school drop out, your english is pathetic, you wear tacky shirts , chew paan and burp!’, well but that’s not evident in the film though! And that's what was probably essential in Tariq’s character that could have worked out more so if he was made more vacuous rather than the ‘laugh a loud, good at heart lucknovi chap. Their hasn't been enough timing for the romance to develop between the lead players hence you don’t feel bad for Tariq when he is betrayed by Gulrez.

Having said that, Aditya Roy Kapoor is likeable & attractive,no longer camera conscious or droopy (like his previous projects), he shines as the robust kohl-eyed Tariq. 

Parineeti Chopra with her spontaneity & vivaciousness evident from her very first film is sadly restricted here within this regular glamour doll image with huge dollops of make-up, pan cake and flashy attire,not at ease ,at times, misfit to her character Gulrez! Save for that Hyderabadi accent slipping and falling back into place every now, the dynamics of Parineeti’s role isn’t all that we haven't seen before, but nevertheless, she is always a delight to watch!

It’s a light hearted film focussing on the menace aka dowry, the misuse of section 498A & a father-daughter duo’s plan to con a rich guy who demands a hefty dowry forms the basic premise of the film. The actors should have undergone some strict workshop sessions to get their hyderabadi & lucknowi accent correct, or maybe a few lessons from Shabana Azmi’s Mandi ! The father and daughter’s big, well executed con job is lame and unbelievable! Tv actor Karan Wahi is so bland in the film that one wonders whether he is just out of a drug rehab centre with that anorexic frame and excess baggage under his eyes. Anupam Kher is a delight to watch and it’s good to see him in a charming role after a long time.

The note able landmarks of Hyderabad – Charminar (the film starts with it as the background), Hussain Sagar and Nehru Zoological Park making way for Lucknow’s grand Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza and bustling Aminabad in the second half, unfortunately, hasn’t been utilized properly by the DOP . Sajid-Wajid’s dragging soundtrack, a reminiscence of the 90’s tracks is such a waste barring the title track which has been utilized well into the narrative with some yummy cuisines on display. The film is surely one time watchable because of the sparkling screen presence of the lead cast and Anupam Kher . A much tighter screenplay could have made a lot of difference to the narrative.