Honest Review: ADHM is long, really really long!

Film: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Director: Karan Johar

Producer: Apoorva Mehta, Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Fawad Khan

As any other Karan Johar film would have it, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil too is a story intertwined between love, friendships, unrequited feelings of an ex with all the authentic KJo masala one would expect.

Unfortunately, ADHM is a movie that will leave you muddled – the kind that makes you forget to eat your popcorn (not in the good way). While the execution of the story and acting was fairly well done, the plot line and story was three things – confusing, perplexing and long!

The initial part of the movie is all about the fun times shared between Ayan (Ranbir) and Alizeh (Anushka), and in the bargain (as we’d guess) Ayan falls head-over-heels in love with her. But Alizeh is in love with Ali (Fawad Khan). Alizeh and Ali eventually get married in a classic Big Fat Indian Wedding. Now, because Ayan is so recklessly in love with Alizeh, he cannot bear the pain and leaves their wedding half way. Ranbir, now struck with the Devdas disease meets Saba Taliyar Khan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) at the airport. Saba is a graceful, well-aged lady and poet. Aishwarya carries Saba’s character with poise and undying charm. The two of them then decide on a no-relationship-relationship (if you know what we mean *winkwink*). Purely physical, the chemistry between Ayan and Saba truly turns on the heat of the movie!

Fast forward a little bit, Ayan decides to invite Alizeh over, with an aim to make her jealous because of the passion shared between him and Saba. That obvs doesn’t work and this plan turns out to kick Ranbir in his own face! Saba figures out that Ayan is still in love with Alizeh and heads straight out the door.

What follows next is Ranbir’s rockstar, heartbroken, musician avatar who turns out to be a YouTube sensation. Two years later, Ayan meets Ali and is made aware that Alizeh isn’t his wife anymore. Ayan runs back after Alizeh.

Waaaait. That got a bit confusing. Let’s break it down.

Ayan loves Alizeh. Alizeh loves Ali. Alizeh breaks Ayan’s heart. Ayan meets Saba. Ayan sleeps with Saba. Ayan invites Alizeh to make her jealous of Saba. Ayan’s plan fails. Saba leaves. Ayan is alone. Ayan turns into a rock star. Ayan meets Ali. Realises Alizeh is single. Runs back after Alizeh. Alizeh rejects Ayan AGAIN.

And there continues Ayan’s journey to pursue his love for Alizeh still.

We are now as tired of writing this review as we were while watching the movie. ADHM is really, really long and has been riding on plots and concepts that has worked in Indian cinema before. Karan Johar has taken no risks upto the limit of incorporating references from ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ and ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’.

Don’t waste your money, go eat some food instead!

We’d give this one a 2/5