Tere Ishk Mein: Dhanush, Kriti Sanon-starrer fails to tug at the heartstrings

Over the years Bollywood has delivered its fair share of intense romantic sagas where men go to extreme lengths to win over their beloved From Saiyaara to Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat we know this familiar trope well Tere Ishk Mein from the makers of Raanjhanaa attempts to revisit that passionfuelled narrative Does this live up to the hype and does Aanand L Rairsquos narrative leave a mark Letrsquos find outStory of Tere Ishk MeinThe film opens by introducing Shankar Dhanush the Indian Air Forcersquos brightest yet dangerously impulsive pilot who is forced into therapy due to his unmanageable temper Enter Mukti Kriti Sanon a therapist who drowns herself in alcohol yet chooses to take on his case The twist They share a complicated pastSeven years ago Mukti was pitching her PhD thesis which argued that even the most violent men can transform into peaceloving individuals with the right treatmentMidway through her presentation Shankar barged in and caused chaos Determined she took him under her wing and eventually succeeded in reforming him helping her secure her doctorate But when Shankar fell deeply in love with her but she resents itShe later hatches a plan to improve Shankarrsquos life by insisting he meet her father who agrees to their alliance if Shankar passes the UPSC exam He does so after three attempts and arrives to inform Mukti However a cruel revelation makes him cross all boundaries in his passionate rage for love While he now strives to become a successful Air Force pilot Mukti drowns in alcohol while also being pregnant Whose child is she expecting What unfolds when the two cross paths after seven long years The film holds these answersReviewTere Ishk Mein is more of a revenge than a romance Aanand L Rai known for his raw emotions striking visuals and heartfelt storytelling once again crafts moments that shine The emotional core is solid and certain sequences land beautifully However the filmrsquos uneven pacing frequently derails its impact The treatment feels all over the place and messyThe first half delivers humour drama and gripping action But the momentum falters in the latter half as the film rushes toward an abrupt convenient and illogical climax The screenplay struggles to maintain coherenceHimanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav clearly wanted the audience to relive the era of the hero crossing all boundaries for his unrequited love but none of the actions or events have a strong sense of connectivity The twists and turns though interesting couldrsquove struck a chord with a more nuanced plotlineThere are several cinematic liberties taken in the film which fail to strike a chord For instance Mukti herself is suffering from depression and is heavily pregnant yet she takes on the assignment While she calls off her wedding she is shown pregnant but it remains unclear whose child it is When Dhanush sees Kriti getting engaged to Jasveer he burns down her whole house yet during her haldi he arrives to pour Gangajal on her These scenes though intense and engaging leave you disappointed with the unclear ending What disappoints even more is that the title track appears nowhere in the film The music by Rahman is also forgettable overallThe performances are one of the major strengths of the film Dhanushrsquos character graph stays steady throughoutmdashhes intense fierce and deeply passionate His effort to internalise an intense character is palpable As a brooding and abrasive Shankar he stands out in every frame His scenes especially with his dad played by Prakash Raj are endearing Prakash Raj pulls off his act with ample warmth and conviction lending gravitas to the narrativeNext comes Kriti Sanon who surprises you with her range as an actress She nails the complex character with ease Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub Murari blows your mind with his surprising act and it remains to be seen if viewers recollect him from Raanjhanaa Priyanshu Painyuli Tota Roy Chowdhury and others lend able supportFinal verdict for the filmSadly the film in totality fails to tug at your heartstrings While Kriti Sanon and Dhanushrsquos performances keep you intrigued the screenplay lacks the spunk and spark needed to elevate the narrative Overall itrsquos a familiar romcom recycled without adding depth