{"id":61714,"date":"2025-11-29T15:21:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T09:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/29\/gustaakh-ishq-old-world-romance-with-new-age-scrutiny\/"},"modified":"2025-11-29T15:21:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T09:51:26","slug":"gustaakh-ishq-old-world-romance-with-new-age-scrutiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/29\/gustaakh-ishq-old-world-romance-with-new-age-scrutiny\/","title":{"rendered":"Gustaakh Ishq \u2014 Old-World Romance With New-Age Scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p data-start=\"355\" data-end=\"653\"><strong>Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 29: <\/strong>There\u2019s something almost rebellious in dusting off love letters, putting on your best sherwani, and whispering \u201cishq\u201d in a world addicted to swipes, emojis and instant gratification. <em data-start=\"538\" data-end=\"553\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> enters this fray with ambition, nostalgia and a battered heart \u2014 but it doesn\u2019t arrive unscathed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"655\" data-end=\"831\">Set in the textured, fog-lit alleys of Old Delhi and the quietly poetic bylanes of Punjab, this 2025 film asks: can love survive tradition, betrayal, and the cruelty of time?<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"875\"><em data-start=\"845\" data-end=\"860\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> \u2014 What It Is<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"877\" data-end=\"1219\">Directed by <strong data-start=\"889\" data-end=\"903\">Vibhu Puri<\/strong> (of <em data-start=\"908\" data-end=\"920\">Hawaizaada<\/em> fame), produced by fashion-maestro-turned-producer <strong data-start=\"972\" data-end=\"991\">Manish Malhotra<\/strong> under Stage5 Productions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DNxvOYuUNuE\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em data-start=\"1018\" data-end=\"1033\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> <\/a>stars <strong data-start=\"1040\" data-end=\"1055\">Vijay Varma<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1060\" data-end=\"1082\">Fatima Sana Shaikh<\/strong> as the romantic leads, with veteran <strong data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1139\">Naseeruddin Shah<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1161\">Sharib Hashmi<\/strong> in pivotal roles.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1221\" data-end=\"1652\">The story is painted with poetic strokes. Vijay Varma plays Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rehman, a young, idealistic shayar (poet) who arrives at the home of a retired Urdu poet to learn the nuances of shayari. There, he meets Minni (Fatima Sana Shaikh), the poet\u2019s daughter. What begins as shared verses and shy glances blossoms into deep affection, complicated by duty, honor, and unspoken truths.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1856\">The film had its gala premiere at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on 24 November 2025, before its theatrical release on 28 November.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"2129\">Under a 128-minute runtime, the makers aimed for a slow-burn romance \u2014 heavy on nostalgia, poetry,and\u00a0 yearning. The music, composed by <strong data-start=\"1990\" data-end=\"2009\">Vishal Bhardwaj<\/strong> (songs) and <strong data-start=\"2022\" data-end=\"2038\">Hitesh Sonik<\/strong> (background score), adds a smoky, soulful layer.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2136\" data-end=\"2182\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61874 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PNN-2025-11-29T151058964.jpg\" alt=\"Gustaakh Ishq \" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"2136\" data-end=\"2182\">What\u2019s Working \u2014 The Gentle Strengths<\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"3673\">\n<li data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2590\">\n<p data-start=\"2186\" data-end=\"2590\"><strong data-start=\"2186\" data-end=\"2221\">A Tribute to Old-School Romance<\/strong>: In an era of instant-love clich\u00e9s and flashy bedroom dramas, <em data-start=\"2284\" data-end=\"2299\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> dares to be patient. Its slow pace, Urdu poetry, delicate dialogues, and aesthetic sensibilities offer a rare respite. As one critic observed, when Naseeruddin Shah appears on screen, \u201cthe film lifts\u201d \u2014 he anchors the emotion with gravitas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2591\" data-end=\"2968\">\n<p data-start=\"2593\" data-end=\"2968\"><strong data-start=\"2593\" data-end=\"2626\">Visual &amp; Emotional Atmosphere<\/strong>: The recreations of old Delhi and its timeless charm \u2014 bazaars, fading facades, dusty lanes \u2014 are convincingly crafted. The world-building is immersive; for moments, you smell the damp air, hear the distant azaan, feel the weight of time. Many viewers say this nostalgic authenticity stays with you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2969\" data-end=\"3229\">\n<p data-start=\"2971\" data-end=\"3229\"><strong data-start=\"2971\" data-end=\"3000\">Music &amp; Atmosphere Intact<\/strong>: Vishal Bhardwaj\u2019s musical sensibility, aided by soulful lyrics, complements the old-world romance. Songs like <em data-start=\"3112\" data-end=\"3128\">Ul Jalool Ishq<\/em> and background scores swirl around emotions, adding depth.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3230\" data-end=\"3673\">\n<p data-start=\"3232\" data-end=\"3673\"><strong data-start=\"3232\" data-end=\"3263\">Braving Certification Storm<\/strong> \u2014 and Still Releasing: The film recently hit headlines because the board asked to change words like \u201charami\u201d and \u201csex\u201d \u2014 replacing them with milder terms like \u201ckameena\u201d and \u201caiyaashi.\u201d No scenes were removed; only language was trimmed, and the film got a U\/A certificate. For a romance rooted in realism and raw emotion, this restraint (or compromise) is significant.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3675\" data-end=\"3817\">In short: <em data-start=\"3685\" data-end=\"3700\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> feels like a hushed poem whispered in a noisy room \u2014 subtle, sincere, and almost too fragile for its own ambition.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3824\" data-end=\"3879\">The Cracks Showing \u2014 Where the Romance Falters<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3956\">But auburn nostalgia and lush poetry cannot always mask structural flaws.<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3958\" data-end=\"5216\">\n<li data-start=\"3958\" data-end=\"4352\">\n<p data-start=\"3960\" data-end=\"4352\"><strong data-start=\"3960\" data-end=\"4003\">Too Much Sweetness, Not Enough Conflict<\/strong>: Critics argue that after the first half-hour, the film slips into comfort \u2014 the emotions remain soft, the stakes low. The central conflict lacks the weight to pull the slow-burning romance through its own lethargy. As one review bluntly put it: \u201cToo much sweetness, even for lovers of old-school romance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4353\" data-end=\"4675\">\n<p data-start=\"4355\" data-end=\"4675\"><strong data-start=\"4355\" data-end=\"4395\">Predictability Breeds Disappointment<\/strong>: When your most considerable tension is about a printing press and hesitant glances, predictability becomes the villain. Many audience members felt the climax and moral dilemmas were too easy to foresee \u2014 in a way that diminishes emotional impact.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4676\" data-end=\"4914\">\n<p data-start=\"4678\" data-end=\"4914\"><strong data-start=\"4678\" data-end=\"4721\">Pacing Equals Patience \u2014 a Risky Gamble<\/strong>: For viewers accustomed to quick cuts, loud drama, and cinematic peaks, <em data-start=\"4794\" data-end=\"4809\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> may drag. The slow pacing demands patience \u2014 an attitude rare in today\u2019s streaming-spoiled generation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4915\" data-end=\"5216\">\n<p data-start=\"4917\" data-end=\"5216\"><strong data-start=\"4917\" data-end=\"4945\">Box Office\u2019s Cold Mirror<\/strong>: For a film with glossy production and a strong cast, the opening day collection remains modest \u2014 reportedly around <strong data-start=\"5060\" data-end=\"5075\">\u20b90.50 crore<\/strong>.\u00a0That\u2019s hardly a blockbuster start, especially with competition and changing audience preferences.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"5218\" data-end=\"5326\">When you aim to seduce hearts with whispers, there\u2019s always a danger of silence winning instead of sorrow.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"5333\" data-end=\"5382\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-61876 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PNN-2025-11-29T151851366.jpg\" alt=\"Gustaakh Ishq - PNN\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"5333\" data-end=\"5382\">Industry Backdrop &amp; Production Realities<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"5384\" data-end=\"5562\">This film is more than romance \u2014 it\u2019s a gamble. It marks the <strong data-start=\"5445\" data-end=\"5482\">producer debut of Manish Malhotra<\/strong>\u00a0under his banner Stage5 Productions.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5564\" data-end=\"5824\">Shooting wrapped in March 2025, and the film saw its final form just before its IFFI premiere in Goa. The decision to delay release from 21 to 28 November 2025 was reportedly to avoid a clash with other major releases.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5826\" data-end=\"6015\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">After its theatrical run, the film is slated to stream on\u00a0<strong>JioHotstar,<\/strong> which could give it a second life among home viewers seeking softer romance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"6022\" data-end=\"6094\">The Duality of Romance &amp; Reality: What <em data-start=\"6068\" data-end=\"6083\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> Tells Us<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"6096\" data-end=\"6181\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DRjMRmLCI6N\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em data-start=\"6096\" data-end=\"6111\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em><\/a> isn\u2019t a film made for impulse. It\u2019s a film that demands reflection.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6183\" data-end=\"6451\">It asks viewers to lean in when the dialogue hovers like smoke, to breathe in when the camera lingers on a handwritten shayari, to feel the ache of quiet longing. It doesn\u2019t offer dramatic explosions or loud heartbreaks \u2014 it offers subtle fissures inside the soul.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6453\" data-end=\"6747\">Yet, in a world that consumes stories like soft drinks (fast, sugary, and disposable), such quiet heartbreak may not sell. The CBFC\u2019s censorship demands, modest box office returns, and mixed critical reception highlight a hard truth: subtlety is expensive, both artistically and commercially.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6749\" data-end=\"6940\">But for those willing to invest \u2014 emotionally, mentally \u2014 <em data-start=\"6807\" data-end=\"6822\">Gustaakh Ishq<\/em> offers something rare: a longing that doesn\u2019t need fireworks. A love that doesn\u2019t scream. A pain that doesn\u2019t brag.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6749\" data-end=\"6940\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/category\/entertainment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PNN Entertainment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 29: There\u2019s something almost rebellious in dusting off love letters, putting on your best sherwani, and whispering \u201cishq\u201d in a world addicted to swipes, emojis and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61715,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_rishi_post_view_count":36},"categories":[6],"tags":[672],"class_list":["post-61714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-entertainment","rishi-post"],"rishi__cb_customizer_meta":"","comments_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61714\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newswiredelhi.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}