Ajay Devgn and Tabu in a still from ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’ | Photo Credit: YouTube/ NH Studioz
Neeraj Pandey’s latest venture, "Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha," veers away from his signature edge-of-the-seat espionage thrillers to explore a tale of renunciation in romance. The story, which could have been rousing in its simplicity, unfortunately turns out to be a tedious and at times unintentionally amusing experience.
The film centers on Krishna (played by Shantanu Maheshwari in his younger years and Ajay Devgn as an adult) and Vasudha (portrayed by Saiee Manjrekar when young and Tabu in later years), whose love story is torn apart by circumstances. Living in a chawl, Vasudha’s social background forces her to move on with life, yet she cannot expel Krishna from her thoughts. For Krishna, Vasudha remains his life’s purpose, and the film delves into what transpires when they meet again. Unfortunately, the journey to the event that separated them is more engaging than the subsequent developments, largely due to the performances of the younger actors, Shantanu and Saiee.
One of the primary issues with "Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha" is that its soul doesn’t consistently translate on screen. The bittersweet narrative might have fared better with a cast of lesser-known actors, and a fresh approach to romantic locales in Mumbai might have helped. The film’s trailer reveals too much, and the adulation of the central character, Krishna, detracts from the story’s impact. The background score fails to maintain the emotional essence of the scenes, further diminishing the film's potential.
Shantanu Maheshwari once again demonstrates his big-screen prowess, impressing as the young Krishna, while Saiee Manjrekar holds her own as the demure yet determined Vasudha. Their chemistry breathes life into the first half of the film, creating a connection that is both innocent and compelling. However, this connection fizzles out when Ajay Devgn and Tabu take over as the older versions of the characters. The seasoned actors’ performances, unfortunately, feel misaligned with the story’s soul, making their scenes more mundane than moving.
Neeraj Pandey’s direction seems overly focused on bolstering Ajay Devgn’s star image, resulting in a lopsided treatment that overshadows the film's core themes of pain, loneliness, and sacrifice. Krishna's character, though intended to be under the radar, is constantly celebrated in a larger-than-life manner, undermining the narrative's subtlety. Despite casting a hero in a seemingly non-heroic role, Pandey repeatedly finds ways to highlight his stardom, detracting from the story's authenticity.
The film also features Jimmy Shergill as the predictable third wheel in the love story, adding little more than a ritualistic presence. His character feels like an afterthought, further weakening the narrative. The film attempts to inject self-referential humor, but these moments often fall flat, with only a few exceptions, such as a scene where Krishna’s friend Jignesh (Jay Upadhyay) plays a nostalgic song on the car radio, evoking memories of spurned love from the 1990s.
The uneven treatment extends to the film’s production values as well. The sets often appear artificial, detracting from the film's realism. The dated approach to romance and the soap opera-like treatment fail to elevate the story, leaving the audience yearning for more depth and authenticity.
M.M. Kreem’s melodies, which could have bolstered the emotional resonance of the film, unfortunately, do little to aid the lead actors' cause. The conversations between Ajay Devgn and Tabu lack the heady passion needed to drive the narrative forward, further highlighting the disparity between the younger and older versions of the characters.
In most Bollywood sagas, the arrival of senior actors is anticipated as a moment that will elevate the narrative. However, in "Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha," the flashbacks featuring the younger actors are the more compelling parts, making the audience long for their return. This divide reduces the film to an uneven theatrical experiment where the strong source material and promising start ultimately fail to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
"Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha" is currently running in theatres, offering a mixed bag of performances and a narrative that struggles to find its footing. While there is still a space for selfless love and old-school melodrama in Bollywood, this film falls short of capturing the magic that Ajay Devgn and Tabu are capable of. The film serves as a reminder that a well-crafted story requires more than star power to resonate with audiences and leave a lasting impact.
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