Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha: A Heartfelt Romance with Cult Potential

Never seen such a low occupancy at Plaza Cinema, Dadar on a Sunday afternoon show; Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha will obviously display no 'dum' at the box office but it is one of the most heart-touching romantic movie I have seen in recent times. The last time I enjoyed such an experience was with Vikramaditya Motwane's Lootera (2013); another sensitively handled lovely film which also crashed at the ticket windows.

Neeraj Pandey, known for A Wednesday (2008), Baby (2015) and the Dhoni biopic (2016), chooses a soft sensitive drama of unrequited love. Krishna (Devgn) and Vasudha (Tabu) are college lovers, whom destiny separates after Krishna lands up in jail for double murder. He is released after twenty odd years and meets his former lover and her inquisitive husband (Jimmy) one last time. Why the educated dude committed such a heinous crime is revealed slowly through elaborate flashbacks...

Admittedly, the pacing is super slow with repetitive scenes and no great punchlines. It ought to be. Pandey's story is not a two minute instant noodle, you see. This is like haleem, which requires its own sweet time to turn delicious and savory. Naturally, the film's treatment is old school '60s, which will be a test of patience for the new gen.

No surprises, Ajay Devgn and Tabu are outstanding as always. Their scenes together, will tug your heart. The intensity in Devgan's eyes is truly a treat to watch. Jimmy Sheirgill impresses in a small role. Shantanu and Saie Manjrekar, playing the younger version of Devgn-Tabu, are competent. It would have been better though if Devgn and Tabu had dubbed for them because a character's looks may change over time, voice doesn't.

Finally, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha may find limited audience in theatres but will certainly attain cult status a few years down the line. Just like Lootera did!!

Ratings on some key aspects* :
1. Acting : 4.5/5
2. Direction : 3/5
3. Music : 2/5
4. Story, Screenplay and Dialogue : 3/5
5. Cinematography : 3.5/5
6. Editing : 2/5
7. Costume Design : 2.5/5
8. Special Effects and VFX : NA
9. Action : 3/5
10. Production Quality : 3.5/5

#SNRating for #AuronMeinKahanDumTha : 3 & 1/2 stars out of 5.

- Sumeet Nadkarni

* - The overall film rating is not a simple average of all ratings on key aspects but a weighted average of the ratings where some crucial aspects (like direction, acting, story and screenplay etc) are assigned more weightage than others.

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#SNRatings barometer:
1 star = Poor
1 & 1/2 star = Below average/ Avoidable
2 stars = Average
2 & 1/2 stars = Above average/ Risk it
3 stars = Good enough/ Endurable
3 & 1/2 stars = Definitely worth a watch
4 stars = Very good
5 stars = Masterpiece/ Outstanding.

2024 SNRatings.

About Sumeet Nadkarni :

Sumeet Nadkarni is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a self-styled film critic by passion. He reviews Bollywood movies and OTT releases on his popular personal blog #SNRatings. His film-related articles have appeared in leading publications in India. With a keen eye for cinematic detail and a knack for insightful critiques, Sumeet brings a unique perspective to the world of Indian cinema. Follow him for the latest Bollywood insights and unbiased film reviews. #FilmCritique #BollywoodReviewer

Also Read: Neeraj Pandey's next ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha!’ goes on floor!