Ae Dil Hai Mushkil directed by Karan Johar is one of the most awaited films of the year. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is a typical Karan Johar movie. The central theme of the movie is love and romance and it revolves around Ayan (Ranbir) and Alizeh (Anushka). ADHM is a movie that belongs to Ranbir to Anushka completely. We think that flop from Ranbir’s life has disappeared after the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The characters have done justice to their roles and they look quite promising. Although you need to wait quite long too see Aishwarya and Fawad, but that’s okay, as Ranbir is the show stealer. Coming to the direction, Karan Johar no wonder does wonders as always. The picturesque landscapes will leave you mesmerized. The soothing and refreshing music makes you fall in love with the movie over and over again. For us, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is a sure shot winner. Go and watch it to have a fun-filled Diwali weekend.

Karan Johar and his team must thank all the controversy around their film’s release for creating a huge buzz, because otherwise Ae Dil Hai Mushkil boils down to little more than a mash-up of all those clichéd dreamy films that are high on cinematography and melodrama but low on realism. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is like revisiting Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with a 2016 twist — friendship and the chemistry that friends share beat love and eventually translate into that eternal love. Of course, this is 2016 and marriage isn’t the ultimate goal of love. Johar has given major screenspace to Ranbir and Anushka and they do not disappoint. It is amazing watching their friendly banter and the fun they have. The chemistry is very organic and authentic. Written by Karan, the dialogues are typically KJo — very filmy and artsy at the same time. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil offers little in terms of story and fails to get the audience empathise or feel for the characters and events in the movie. What it does offer is brilliance in the name of Ranbir and Anushka, some awe-inspiring shots of Aishwarya and Fawad and a very beautiful canvas as it is shot at exotic locales of London and Paris.

Anushka Sharma is familiar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan catches the eye but it is Ranbir Kapoor who lifts the film. He is terrific as the fellow who crumbles, and cries and shoves his aching heart on his sleeve. But Johar is unable to go the extra mile it in the other department, leaving you wanting both more and less. That’s because of a lack in focus: this he falls in love with her-she loves another-he falls in lust with another-she teaches him how like is better than love is all over the place and stretched at ends, the intervening bits filled with songs (club, shaadi, even a ‘break-up’ ditty) and dialogue (yes, not lines, but dialogues, in the old-fashioned way: why, when your characters inhabit the here and now?). Sure, they play ‘shayars’ and singers, but their delivery makes a lot of those conversations feel forced and cheesy. There’s a nice bro-moment between Fawad and Ranbir when the film sparks to life. And you wonder if this pair shared more screen space, would the se ‘dils’ have been in a little less ‘mushkil’ ? I’m going to think more on that, and listen to some weepy old songs, and hope that Johar will come up with something newer and sharper the next time around.

There’s a lot of good news, and only a little bad news, so let’s start with the former. With Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Karan Johar has let go of the “candy” but retained the “floss”, resulting in a beautiful-looking film that isn’t bereft of logic. This is Karan Johar’s most grown-up movie yet. He has come a long way from “Pyaar dosti hai,” (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) to “Pyaar mein junoon hai, par dosti mein sukoon hai” (ADHM).  Karan, the writer, overpowers Karan, the director here. Anushka Sharma plays the most well-rounded character with abandon; she's remarkable. Ranbir's portrayal of the clumsy, turned-down one-sided lover is heartbreaking; his honesty comes through yet again. Seeing Aishwarya in the role of a confident seductress is a welcome change. On the downside, there’s a bizarre twist in the last 15 minutes that could have been replaced with a scene or two of good conversation, but if you have an appetite for melodrama, you might just like it. That said, you usually come away from a Karan Johar movie dreaming of singing sweet tunes in the Alps; but ADHM makes you realize just how cold it is, up there. Go watch it for a relatable portrayal of modern-day relationships.