Ishaqzaade- Habib's burden of the past catches on

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Ishaqzaade (IQZ) indeed is coming off age movie for Yash Raj Films (YRF). Probably not for Indian Cinema. YRF's biography of films, mostly feel good cinema and carrying the morality aspect with so much of noise and brouhaha is indeed a lot of responsibility. In that sense IQZ seems different and the creative license awarded to Habib Faisal the director is truly noticeable. Though one would tend to like Habib's earlier work the wonderful, Do Dooni Chaar, but of course he had Rishi and Neetu as strong casts along with Archit and Aditi as strong characters, that made the film stand apart.
IQZ's reason for standing out is the strong screenplay and never does at any point in time goes out of the plot. The sudden tweak at the interval and then the rising hostility between the two families is one long battle that goes on. To me however, the winner is the film location and the strong cinematography. The fictitious town of Almore and it's simmering rift, the political agenda each and every individual (including families) nurses and the craving to seize power at whatever cost, comes out best through the rusty and dusty locale in the film. Shot through Hardoi, Lucknow and Sitapur, the film's biggest hero has to be the hostile and gritty locale that brings out the differences in the warring families even more.
The plot though hackneyed yet seems to stand out as the Director has relied heavily on a fresh star cast and an unknown medley of supporting cast. Some of them do justice while others, would be wrong to say failing in coming up to the expectations.
Parineeti stands out as the spunky and farinaceous in character, girl. She takes off from where she left in Ladies versus Ricky Bahl. Carrying confidence and an easy charm around her, she is good and particularly carries off the chases and intimate scenes with Arjun, with aplomb. Arjun on the other hand is a lost case. He needs to spend more time with Roshan Taneja (his Chacha's biggest influence) and watch more films of his Chachi too, to understand acting and it's subtleties. His's is a wasted investment and never stands out. I thought the role was cut out for Ranveer Singh. His rustiness and earthly appeal would have done wonders+he has a running contract with YRF (!).
What does not work out for the film, besides Arjun? A weak support cast. Gauhar is good (why do we see so little her, she was immersing in Rocket Singh and carries on from there), but the rest of the cast do not seem to stand out. With mint fresh and novice star cast the presence of a more stronger support cast is essential (a good case in point- Jaane Tu Yaa Jane Na) to bring out the best in the leads. That's where I thought Habib does not do justice. The film's turning point (to me, Zoya's slap) does not have adequate dramatisation, that paves the way for the film's future course of action. It is only when Parma ditches her into the honey trap you realise the audacity of it. But by then the film has gone into the zone.
However, in it's entirety the film is raw and earthy ably supported by the unique locales. It had the promise of a Ek Duje Ke Liye (remember Kamal Hasaan and Rati Agnihortri's raw courage), but only comes close to it. I had wished some more, specially with Habib's Do Dooni Chaar looming heavily as the backdrop. Music is good and the item numbers are all in sync with the surrounding.
One to watch out for, Parineeti! Has to be!         

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