NH Studioz and Friday Filmworks’ Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha (UA) is an unusual love story. Krishna (Shantanu Maheshwari) and Vasudha (Saiee Manjrekar) are madly in love with each other. Both hail from lower middle class families and live in the same colony. Krishna is yet trying to make a career and towards that, he is keen to go to Germany for a while. Vasudha wants to achieve something in life and also wants to settle her younger brother and sister by partly bearing their education expenses rather than letting her father bear the entire financial burden. However, just on the eve of his departure to Germany, Krishna and Vasudha get separated. There is no chance that the two can come together — not for the next 25 years, at least.
After more than two decades, the grown-up Krishna (Ajay Devgan) and Vasudha (Tabu) meet each other. What happens thereafter? Do sparks fly? Has Vasudha moved on? Is Krishna keen to unite with her? Or are they able to get over one another?
Neeraj Pandey has written an unusual love story that spans twenty-two years. The story is very intense and the screenplay — also penned by Pandey — of the mature love story is extremely heartfelt. However, the drama moves at its own slow pace, something the masses will not approve of. Also, since the drama revolves around Krishna and Vasudha only, it does get a bit monotonous for those who look for variety in films. No doubt, Krishna’s friend, Jignesh (Jay Upadhyay), Abhijeet (Jimmy Shergill), Pakya (Hardik Soni) and don Mahesh Desai (Sayajirao Shinde) also play significant roles in the drama but the fact remains that all the proceedings centre around Krishna and Vasudha. After watching the film, the viewers will also wonder why Krishna did not think of the other course of action (which is not being mentioned here so as to maintain the suspense) on the day before his departure for Germany, which could’ve prevented their separation.
Be that as may, the drama has been written with so much feeling that the viewers who will feel invested in the goings-on, will often be swept off their feet by the sheer intensity of the two characters, their thinking and their actions. The drama has special appeal for the womenfolk. The twist in the tale, which is revealed in the climax, is so shocking that it makes the audience stare in disbelief. The other climax — conversation between Krishna and Vasudha — is heart-wrenching. The very thought, concept and one-line of the story are wonderful. And the development of the drama or, in other words, the screenplay is an inspired piece of writing which can mesmerise the class audience and students of cinema. The writer has etched out the characters of Krishna and Vasudha so extraordinarily that the film could, in times to come, get the status of a cult classic. Neeraj Pandey’s dialogues are simply outstanding. There are many dialogues which one doesn’t need to hear with his ears, they just reach the inner recesses of the heart and stay put there.
Ajay Devgan plays Krishna to such perfection that it would seem, he were born to play the role. His demeanour, his gait, his nuances, his voice acting, his expressions, all of these add so fabulously to his acting that his performance turns out to be applause-worthy. Tabu is supremely natural in the role of the older Vasudha. She goes through her role with such ease that it leaves the audience asking for more. Shantanu Maheshwari is a revelation in the role of the younger Krishna. He acts with all the conviction at his command and makes his character absolutely believable. In one word, he is terrific. Saiee Manjrekar brings a lot of dignity to the character of the younger Vasudha with a performance which has a lot of gravitas. Jimmy Shergill’s character (Abhijeet) convinces the viewers that there couldn’t have been a better actor to play the character. He is so endearing as Abhijeet that he leaves an indelible mark on the audience’s mind and heart with his portrayal. Jay Upadhyay leaves a wonderful mark as Jignesh. Hardik Soni stands his own as Pakya. Sayaji Shinde has his moments as underworld don Mahesh Desai. Shahrukh Sadri (as Jamshet), Jiten Lalwani (as superintendent of police Solanki), Meherzaan Mazda (as Raghuvanshi), Kushal Shah (as young Jignesh), Pratibha Borade (as young kaki), Velji Nakar (as Sundar), Vaibhav Sharma (as Kona), Ahmed Khan (as jail inmate Dada), Sachin Giri (as deputy superintendent of police), Benedict Garret (as young Krishna’s boss), Shivanshu Mehta (as Chhota Ustara), Aishwarya Sharma (as Nandu), Simran Chugaria and Arpita Pandey (both as young Vasudha’s friends), Rahul, Sajid and Nawed (all three as Pakya’s friends), and the others lend very good support.
Neeraj Pandey’s direction is extraordinary. The genius of his directorial touches is evident all through the film. Note, for instance, the entry of the older Krishna in his house (after many years) juxtaposed with the exit of the younger Krishna. Note also the hint of Krishna’s spectacles shown in the space between the hand and hip of the jail inmate who throws his (Krishna’s) plate to the ground. The scenes of the conversations between Krishna and Abhijeet are another example of the mastery of Pandey on the medium. M.M. Kreem’s music is melodious but the classical base of the songs will not find favour with the audience today. Manoj Muntashir’s lyrics are weighty. M.M. Kreem’s background music is outstanding and heightens the impact of the scenes manifold. Sudheer Palsane’s cinematography is excellent. Abbas Ali Moghul’s action and stunt scenes as well as Cyril Quenel Raffaelli’s action choreography are first-rate. Sunil Babu and Vaishnavi Reddy’s production designing is terrific. Praveen Kathikuloth’s editing is sharp and brilliant.
On the whole, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is an excellently made film which boasts of great performances, superb dialogues and outstanding background music but its box-office performance will not at all match its merits because it is slow, and has taken a dismal start. Collections will pick up on the strength of the patronage of class audience but the masses will give the film ago-by. Overall, losing. In the years to come, the film may be counted a classic but the box-office today will tell a different story.
Released on 2-8-’24 at Inox (daily 7 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: below the mark (impact-wise). Opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull everywhere.