Latest news with #Jahaan
India Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan review: Shanaya makes promising debut in predictable plot
Stories about human relationships, often narrated from the lens of an author whose soul lies in the serene mountains, have a special connection with love Santosh Singh's cinematic adaptation of Ruskin Bond's short story 'The Eyes Have It' initially promises a light-hearted yet unique romance, devoid of any quintessential Bollywood tropes. However, as the story of 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' moves forward, one gets to witness all the nostalgic anecdotes from old-school 80s love Vikrant Massey plays a visually impaired musician, Jahaan, who travels to the hills of Mussoorie to seek inspiration for his renditions. During his train journey, Jahaan meets Saba (portrayed by Shanaya Kapoor), a theatre artiste who is on a solo tour while doing her character study and seeking answers through method acting. Promising debut by Shanaya KapoorThe film delves into Jahaan and Saba's bond and transformation while navigating relationships and aspirations. Massey once again brings out more to the character with his nuanced performance. The actor delivers beyond expectations, going by the vision of Santosh Singh and writer Mansi Kapoor, who makes her debut in the vintage-era-inspired romance, captures attention with her screen presence and undeniable potential. The lead actors entirely surrender to the creative sensibilities of the director and screenwriter, giving it their best its visual appeal, Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan, with Vishal Mishra's soothing score, passionate glances, and intense close-up shots, raises a key question: does it live up to the expectations? Despite Tanveer Mir's stunning cinematography, does this story of unconditional love between complex individuals offer a fulfilling experience? Let's find storytelling stumbles the narrativeAcademy-Award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron once said, "When the script or direction lacks vision, even a stellar performance gets lost in the noise of bad filmmaking."While narrating an unusual story is a great attempt and must be appreciated for the courage to experiment, if the messaging and end-product doesn't sync with the narrative, the film loses the engagement quotient. 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan', starts as a simple and poised tale of opposites attract and becomes monotonous as the film progresses. In the unnecessary effort to add all the cliched tropes and over-the-top humour in the first half, the movie easily loses its what one expects to be a promising and genuine relationship ends up being cluttered with repetitive scenarios. The conviction of Jahaan and Saba's connection is not depicted in the plot or the direction. Yet, Massey and Kapoor give their best shot at bringing believability to their characters. The on-screen emotional exhange between the lovers through verbal and physical interaction is a testament to the actors' vulnerability and dedication to the trailer here: Poorly-crafted scenes, over-the-top humourKapoor shows promise and perfection in emotionally demanding scenes, showcasing her artistic maturity when it comes to acting prowess. Nevertheless, the actor's dialogue delivery and expressions go flat stereotypical screaming and shouting as part of the fatigued Bollywood banter template. It indicates the often unpredictable and unforeseen helplessness of actors while emoting poorly written lines and and Massey succeed in portraying the poetic, allegorical connection and intimacy between a visually-impaired artist and a theatre actor. But the duo completely lack the chemistry in the forced comic sequences. While Massey carried the film on his shoulders, Kapoor somehow stumbles when it comes to the over-dramatisation of Khan Durrani, who gave a grounded performance in the series 'Mukhbir-The Story of a Spy' doesn't disappoint, even though he has limited screen time. His portrayal as the flamboyant green-flag Abhinav is another proof of his acting brilliance. Unfortunately, the stretched plot of Bond's heartfelt, innocent love story doesn't do justice to the talented plot, irrelevant scenariosAfter a rather expected interval sequence, 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' becomes completely predictable in the second half. Unnikrishnan PP's editing would have helped with a more crisp and cohesive compilation. The technical aspect can't be entirely blamed, due to the lack of a solid three-act absence of a convincing conflict and closure can often hamper the soul of a well-intended story. Joel Coe Castro's score and Mishra and Kaushal Kishore's lyrics of the title track strike chords in creating the melancholy of the pain of separated lovers.'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' is surely a missed opportunity, despite the team giving it their all. However, the film is surely a one-time watch because of the on-screen camaraderie of the actors. Kapoor may not be a part of a path-breaking debut, yet shows potential and artistic finesse in comparison to her peers in Bollywood.'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan' is a learning ground for aspiring writers, filmmakers and actors to understand the relevance of a well-crafted plot in order to resonate with the audiences' expectations.- Ends2.5 out 5 stars to 'Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan'.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' movie review: The eyes don't have it
A title like Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan spells trouble. It signals the surge of poetry about to overwhelm the screen. Conversations, voiceovers, song lyrics — everything is tuned to Radio Metaphor in Santosh Singh's romantic drama. 'She saw me not with sight, but insight,' says the hero, a visually-impaired man, of his beloved. A beat later: pyaar andha hota hai (love is blind). The film's obsession with sight-based metaphors and poetic punning becomes... a blind spot. They meet on the train to Dehra. Jahaan (Vikrant Massey) is a musician and a songwriter, low on inspiration, seeking a creative reset in the hills. The passenger opposite him, in the coupe, is Saba (Shanaya Kapoor), a theatre artiste wanting to break into Hindi films. She's wearing a blindfold (it's prep for an important audition, she says) and has resolved not to remove it till the end of her trip. Since her manager bailed at the last minute, Saba has to travel alone and unattended. This means two things: 1) method acting, not family connections, is clearly the key to Bollywood. 2) Saba doesn't realise that her co-passenger, with whom she's struck up a lively rapport, is not a sighted person. Curiously, Jahaan plays along. It's here, at this early juncture, that the film departs from its slender source material, a famous Ruskin Bond short story called 'The Eyes Have It'. The protagonist in Bond's story made a harmless game of his subterfuge, a minor pastime to be indulged on trains. Jahaan, though, is in for the long haul, as Saba joins him in Mussoorie and bunkers down in his stay. There is a near-accident. There is dancing in the rain. There's a kiss. And then, on the threshold of love, he's gone. 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' (Hindi) Director: Santosh Singh Cast: Vikrant Massey, Shanaya Kapoor, Zain Khan Durrani Run-time: 140 minutes Storyline: In this romance, a visually impaired man falls for a stranger, withholding the fact of his condition Some romances have a limited elasticity — stretch them too far and they snap in your hand. For all their awkwardness, the scenes in Mussoorie have an underlying sweetness and warmth, with merry stops at maggi and sunset points, Massey and Kapoor not as erroneously mismatched as their ages might suggest. Kapoor, making her debut, is relaxed and confident for the most part, though her crying game is strictly a B-minus (it falls behind cousin Janhvi.) Indeed, this becomes a problem when the film leaps ahead three years, to Europe, with a lot of weeping and yearning taking over the plot. We follow Saba's winter of discontent, as Jahaan re-enters her life by blind chance (sorry) and tips it over. The auditing of emotions reaches a fever pitch, with big, Bhansali-like ideas weighing down on this modest film. There is no modesty in Vishal Mishra's soundtrack, of course — a full-tilt concert of coolly curated anguish. The last time Vikrant Massey hung around trains, we got a propaganda film. The actor is in more agreeable form here, playing a flopping-haired savant with a guitar, intoning words like 'taiyaari' and 'tarakii' with the appropriate poetic flourish. For a second, I thought back to Lootera, Massey's first film, and how his precise line-readings would light up scenes alongside Ranveer Singh. Over a decade later, Massey has cracked Bollywood. But Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is not his Lootera, far from it. 'Stardom works but talent flies,' Saba says. I donno. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is currently running in theatres
Scroll.in
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Review: ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' is blind to its absurdities
Saba meets Jahaan on the train to Mussoorie. Saba (Shanaya Kapoor) is playacting at being blind in preparation for a role. She appears to be a direct descendant of Konstantin Stanislavski, so steeped in method acting that she never once takes off her blindfold. As a consequence, she does not realise that Jahaan (Vikrant Massey) is actually blind. Jahaan goes along with Saba's experiment, training her to see with her ears, as it were. Saba proves to be a worthy student. From method cooking to method sex, Saba gives her craft her all. She even dances around with a cane at one point. Love develops between the aspiring actor and the singer-songwriter. But when the time comes to take off the blindfold, Jahaan has disappeared. Santosh Singh's Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, based on short stories by Ruskin Bond, initially flirts with its metaphorical possibilities. The idea of lovers who are blinkered by their expectations has promise, as does the notion that acting involves deception. But the screenplay by Singh, Mansi Bagla and Niranjan Iyengar proves to be literal-minded to a numbing degree. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan intends to follow the love-is-blind principle all the way through, and it does. From a regular, 1960-style drama filled with Vishal Mishra's soulful tunes, the movie rapidly collapses into an unintended comedy with mediocre dialogue and never-ending absurdity. It's hard to choose between Jahaan's exaggerated poetic air and Saba's hand-wringing. Although Jahaan rejects the description of being 'specially abled', his angst about his condition or his poor self-esteem isn't exactly a vote in favour of the blind. Saba's inability to understand why Jahaan might want to stay away from her boggles the mind. Much of the 140-minute film focuses on these two mismatched lovers. Zain Khan Durrani, briefly popping up as a character who directs Saba in a play, is a regular supplier of risible moments. The film itself feels like a stage production, or more accurately, a radio play. Vast chunks of Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan can be consumed through the ears, rather than the eyes. Perhaps viewers too should go along with Saba, blindfolding themselves to the drab visuals and giggling along with the earnest exchanges between the couple. Vikrant Massey looks haggard in some scenes, as though unable to shoulder the burden of Jahaan's misery. Shanaya Kapoor makes a passable acting debut, but Saba's lack of will or basic intelligence is jarring. Play
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NDA basks in glory of alumni as astronauts who inspire new space chapters
Pune: The National Defence Academy (NDA)'s legacy saw a new chapter with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flying aboard the Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday, after the groundbreaking journey of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma — the first Indian to travel to space on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. NDA Commandant Vice-Admiral Gurucharan Singh described the moment as "To space with glory". He told TOI on Wednesday, "The NDA continues to groom future leaders of our Armed Forces and make India Saare Jahaan se Accha in its true sense. His (Shukla's) mission will certainly inspire our cadets, whom we groom and train to face tough challenges and new frontiers." He said, "The NDA, the cradle of leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, adds another feather to its glorious past and also brings glory to our nation's quest of conquering uncharted territory." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Former astronaut and NDA alumnus Air Commodore (retd) Ravish Malhotra, who was the standby astronaut for Sharma, told TOI from the UK, "It is a very proud moment for the country and for us all to witness a second Indian go into space. Group Captain Shukla is carrying with him the aspirations, blessings and good wishes of the entire nation." He said, "A new chapter is being carved in Indian space exploration and our endeavours to conquer space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A severe blood disorder has put her life at risk! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo It is after 40 years that India sent its second astronaut into space. I would like to congratulate the Isro team, who worked hard to train our four astronauts, including Shukla." Malhotra, who met Shukla in Bengaluru last year, said, "Shukla rightly pointed out that his mission is a precursor to our own Gaganyaan mission slated for 2027, and his experience will be very valuable for our human space programme. It is the first time that an Indian astronaut is going up to the ISS and will be conducting experiments. He will be a pioneer, leading the way for other Indians to follow his example and achievements. " NDA honours the bravery of their alumni by giving names to its blocks. One of them has been named Rakesh Sharma Block. It houses departments of computer science, economics, geography and political science. Group Captain Shukla is from the 108th course of the NDA. He is from the Hunter squadron, known for rigorous physical training. Shukla was commissioned on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is a Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) and a test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience. He flew a variety of aircraft, including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32. His NDA coursemates describe him as a cool and passionate air warrior. Shukla's NDA coursemate and Commanding Officer of IAF's aerobatic Surya Kiran team, Group Captain Ajay Dasarathi, in a special video message said, "From the skies of India to the frontiers of space, the Surya Kiran team wishes you the best for the mission ahead. Your journey from the blue skies of India to the boundless expanse of space fills us with immense pride. " "Fly high and blaze the trail. Always an air warrior, now a space pioneer. You are an inspiration to every Indian. The entire Surya Kiran team is cheering for you, with hearts full of admiration and respect. May your mission be smooth, your vision be clear, and your return be safe and glorious. Touch the sky and beyond with glory," he added.
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Happydent 'Chamking Gum: Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan' brings a fresh cinematic twist to its iconic storytelling
Happydent, one of India's most beloved chewing gum brands from the house of Perfetti Van Melle India, has launched a striking new ad film that takes a playful yet purposeful turn. The New Campaign 'Chamking Gum: Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan', rekindles the brand's legendary storytelling with a fresh, cinematic lens—celebrating the magic of a radiant smile and its power to inspire imagination, drawing viewers into a visually rich narrative world. Conceptualized by McCann Worldgroup India, the campaign is led by renowned creative leader Prasoon Joshi, who has written the lyrics for the background song and lent his unique voice to it, set to the music of Bollywood's renowned music maestro, Shantanu Moitra. The campaign is thoughtfully crafted to resonate with a new generation of consumers who value authenticity, playfulness, and purpose. At the heart of the film is a storyline revolving around a group of performers who, with the help of visual-red paint and bright smiles, highlight the improper conduct of needlessly littering their surroundings. It is an imaginative yet insightful reminder that small acts of brightness can spark larger societal change. Rooted in cultural insights and everyday behavior, the film blends relatability, warmth, and a subtle message to highlight how simple gestures can inspire collective responsibility. With rich, high-impact visuals, the campaign pays homage to Happydent's iconic legacy—including memorable classics like the Palace and Photographer ads while evolving its storytelling for today's world. Commenting on the launch, Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director, Perfetti Van Melle India, shared 'At Perfetti Van Melle India, our goal has always been to build brands that resonate culturally and emotionally while delivering business impact. Happydent perfectly embodies this vision. 'Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan' reflects our strategic intent to stay relevant with modern consumers while staying true to the brand's core. Our enduring partnership with McCann Worldgroup continues to deliver creative excellence that is both distinctive and meaningful.' Gunjan Khetan, Marketing Director, Perfetti Van Melle India, added 'Happydent has always believed in the power of imaginative storytelling—narratives that don't just entertain, but connect. This campaign celebrates the sparkling smile as a symbol of imagination, expression and meaning. 'Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan' isn't just a tagline—it's the spirit of the brand and the times we live in. As we engage with Gen Z and modern audiences, we're proud to create stories that reflect purpose and emotional resonance with visual brilliance.' Prasoon Joshi - Chief Creative Officer & CEO McCann Worldgroup India said: 'Writing for Happydent has always been close to my heart. But this project would not have been possible without the unwavering trust and collaborative spirit of the Perfetti team. Special acknowledgment goes to Nikhil and his belief in bold ideas. Along with Gunjan who gave us the creative freedom we needed to soar. They have kept the legacy of visionaries like Sameer Suneja who redefined Perfetti's advertising. The day I met Vinil for this project I knew he would be the right person to give life to this idea and script. He has an exceptional eye for craft and storytelling, and it shines through in every frame. A shout out to my wonderful team at McCann Utsav, Gaurav, Jeet, Abhishek and my old partner in melody, Shantanu'. The new Happydent commercial is a film that isn't just another commercial—it's a reminder of what advertising can be when it dares to dream, laugh, and feel.
