"AAP JAISA KOI" IS A CINEMATIC ATTEMPT TO BREAK STEREOTYPES, EXPLORE PERSONAL FREEDOM, AND PORTRAY THE EMOTIONAL INTRICACIES OF RELATIONSHIPS. DIRECTED BY ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER HUMA QURESHI, THE FILM CHALLENGES CONVENTIONS AND GIVES A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON IDENTITY, SEXUALITY, AND EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY.
IN THIS REVIEW, WE’LL BREAK DOWN THE FILM’S STORYLINE, PERFORMANCES, DIRECTION, MUSIC, AND MORE, OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK INTO WHY "AAP JAISA KOI" IS WORTH YOUR ATTENTION.
STORYLINE AND PLOT OVERVIEW
A MODERN TALE WITH AN UNCONVENTIONAL EDGE
THE FILM CENTERS AROUND DIYA (HUMA QURESHI), A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL NAVIGATING HER WAY THROUGH SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS AND HER OWN PERSONAL TRUTHS. WHEN SHE MEETS IMRAN (RAJKUMMAR RAO), A CHARMING, PROGRESSIVE WRITER, THEIR RELATIONSHIP QUICKLY EVOLVES INTO SOMETHING DEEPER AND MORE INTENSE. HOWEVER, AS LAYERS UNFOLD, SECRETS SURFACE — LEADING TO EMOTIONAL REVELATIONS AND TOUGH DECISIONS.
KEY THEMES EXPLORED:
- GENDER FLUIDITY AND ACCEPTANCE
- MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
- LOVE BEYOND BINARIES
- FAMILY EXPECTATIONS VS. PERSONAL DESIRES
“AAP JAISA KOI” IS NOT JUST A LOVE STORY—IT’S A MIRROR HELD UP TO SOCIETY.
PERFORMANCES AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
POWERHOUSE ACTING THAT STANDS OUT
HUMA QURESHI DELIVERS ONE OF HER MOST POWERFUL PERFORMANCES TO DATE. SHE BRINGS DEPTH, EMOTION, AND RESTRAINT TO HER ROLE, MAKING DIYA RELATABLE YET COMPLEX.
RAJKUMMAR RAO IS EQUALLY COMPELLING, ADDING NUANCE TO A CHARACTER THAT COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED CLICHÉ. HIS CHEMISTRY WITH HUMA IS NATURAL AND INTENSE, MAKING THEIR DYNAMIC BELIEVABLE AND TOUCHING.
SUPPORTING CAST HIGHLIGHTS:
- SHEEBA CHADDHA AS DIYA’S MOTHER DELIVERS EMOTIONAL WEIGHT.
- SHIKHA TALSANIA ADDS LIGHT HUMOR AND PERSPECTIVE AS DIYA’S BEST FRIEND.
DIRECTION AND SCREENPLAY
A CONFIDENT VISION WITH A BOLD VOICE
HUMA QURESHI MAKES HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT WITH THIS FILM, AND IT’S IMPRESSIVE. THE FILM DOESN’T SHY AWAY FROM SHOWING THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS OF MODERN RELATIONSHIPS. THE SCREENPLAY IS TIGHTLY WOVEN, WITH CRISP DIALOGUES AND WELL-PACED STORYTELLING.
NOTEWORTHY ASPECTS:
- CINEMATOGRAPHY BEAUTIFULLY CAPTURES URBAN ISOLATION AND INTIMACY.
- SCENES OF CONFRONTATION ARE RAW AND REAL.
- FLASHBACKS ARE EFFECTIVELY USED TO SHOW EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE AND GROWTH.
MUSIC AND SOUNDTRACK
A SOULFUL YET EDGY MUSICAL SCORE
THE SOUNDTRACK OF "AAP JAISA KOI" IS BOTH INTIMATE AND EXPRESSIVE. THE TITLE TRACK, A REIMAGINING OF THE ICONIC SONG, HAS BEEN MODERNIZED WITH A HAUNTING TWIST THAT RESONATES WITH THE FILM’S TONE.
STANDOUT TRACKS:
- “DIL BANJARA” – A MELLOW BALLAD WITH POETIC LYRICS
- “KHO GAYE” – A SOULFUL EXPLORATION OF LOSS AND LONGING
THE BACKGROUND SCORE COMPLEMENTS THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH OF THE SCENES, ENHANCING THE VIEWING EXPERIENCE.
CINEMATOGRAPHY AND PRODUCTION DESIGN
VISUALLY POETIC WITH MEANINGFUL SYMBOLISM
SHOT MOSTLY IN MUMBAI, THE FILM USES LIGHTING AND SPACE TO REFLECT CHARACTERS' INNER WORLDS. DIYA’S MINIMALIST APARTMENT, CROWDED CITYSCAPES, AND RAIN-DRENCHED STREETS CREATE THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE OF CONFLICT AND INTROSPECTION.
WHAT WORKS IN AAP JAISA KOI
- BOLD STORYTELLING THAT ADDRESSES TABOOS
- STELLAR PERFORMANCES BY LEAD ACTORS
- WELL-WRITTEN DIALOGUES WITH EMOTIONAL DEPTH
- FRESH DIRECTION WITH MEANINGFUL SYMBOLISM
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
- THE SECOND HALF SLIGHTLY LOSES MOMENTUM
- SOME CHARACTERS FEEL UNDERDEVELOPED
- THE CLIMAX MIGHT FEEL TOO ABRUPT FOR SOME VIEWERS
FINAL VERDICT: AAP JAISA KOI – WATCH OR SKIP?
RATING: 4.5
"AAP JAISA KOI" IS AN EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT FILM THAT DARES TO EXPLORE THE SHADES OF GREY IN MODERN LOVE AND IDENTITY. WHILE NOT PERFECT, IT’S A BRAVE AND MUCH-NEEDED VOICE IN CONTEMPORARY CINEMA.
IF YOU LOVE FILMS THAT ARE HONEST, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AND EMOTIONALLY ENGAGING—THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.