Gustaakh Ishq (2025) [Movie Review] — A Dark Romantic Thriller Driven by Emotion and Mystery

Gustaakh Ishq is a thoughtfully made Bollywood drama that privileges atmosphere, poetry and restraint over melodrama. Director-writer Vibhu Puri and co-writer Prasshant Jha build a world steeped in tahzeeb — a place where manners, music and verse carry emotional weight. With standout work from Naseeruddin Shah and a quietly committed Vijay Varma, the film offers moments of real beauty even if the overall momentum never fully gathers.

Story & Themes

A rescue mission for a printing press becomes an ode to memory, art and duty

The plot is simple and elegant: Nawabuddin (Vijay Varma) arrives in Malerkotla to persuade the reclusive poet Aziz Beg to publish his unpublished verses and thereby save Nawabuddin’s late father’s failing press. What follows is less about plot twists and more about impressionistic encounters — the process of coaxing a guarded artist back into the public eye, and the fragile ties that bind a small community. Love in this film grows in whispers and shared cups of tea; Puri is more interested in the texture of feeling than in explicit declarations.

Direction & Screenplay

Quiet direction and a screenplay that savours pauses — sometimes to its detriment

Puri’s direction is confident in restraint. He gives the camera time to linger on faces, interiors and the small rituals that define his characters. The screenplay favours patient revelation, and the shayari woven into the narrative (notably through Aziz Beg) is a highlight. But this very patience becomes the film’s chief drawback: sequences meander, the midpoint lacks a decisive turn, and the romantic arc between Nawabuddin and Minni often feels undernourished. The intention is artful minimalism; the effect is occasionally anodyne.

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Performances

Naseeruddin Shah anchors the film; the younger leads are sincere but muted

Naseeruddin Shah is the film’s soul — his Aziz Beg is dignified, weary and luminous in the film’s best moments. Shah’s delivery of poetry and the small acts of tenderness he performs lift scenes beyond their modest staging. Vijay Varma brings an earnest, self-effacing charm to Nawabuddin that reads as honesty rather than showmanship. Fatima Sana Shaikh as Minni is graceful, though the script gives her limited space to assert emotional agency. Sharib Hashmi and the supporting cast add texture, but several characters remain frustratingly underwritten.

Music, Poetry & Visuals

A pleasing sensory palette with memorable lyrical moments

The film’s soundtrack — including contributions that recall Gulzar’s gentle lyricism — complements the visual aesthetic. Music and shayari provide emotional punctuation where the screenplay is discreet. Production design and cinematography evoke a faded grandeur that suits the printing-press milieu; Manish Malhotra’s production presence is visible in the film’s sartorial and visual polish. These elements often succeed in making specific scenes linger after the credits roll.

Flaws & Reservations

Underpowered romance and an uneven screenplay blunt the film’s impact

For a movie that traffics in feeling, Gustaakh Ishq rarely forces the issue. The love story unfolds timidly, and certain turning points pass without the emotional thrust they demand. Pacing is deliberate to the point of slackness at times, and a leaner edit might have sharpened the film’s focus. While restraint is admirable, here it sometimes translates into a film that is more admired than deeply felt.

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Verdict

A deserving, imperfect romance for viewers who favor poetry over punch

Gustaakh Ishq is a film of small, lovely parts — unforgettable poetry readings, a towering performance by Naseeruddin Shah, and quiet, tasteful filmmaking. It doesn’t always cohere into a stirring whole, but it rewards viewers who want a Bollywood film that treads softly and listens more than it shouts. Recommended for audiences who appreciate literary cinema, period sensibility, and performances that simmer instead of explode.

Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)