Aisha – Slick and stylish but lacks substance

My sole purpose of watching Aisha, was to see how someone (Sonam Kapoor) who claims to be an avid Jane Austen reader, recreates her master piece ‘Emma’ on the silver screen. Alas! Aisha is no ‘Emma’, though it’s an adaptation of it, but it could very well be touted as the desi Sex and the City.

Aisha Kapoor (Sonam Kapoor) is the archetypical uptown girl from super rich Delhi. She's smart and sassy, spending her time on animal rights, art exhibitions, polo matches and shopaholic sprees along with her newly found obsession – matchmaking. The film takes us on her journey on finding a suitable match for small town Shefali (Amrita Puri), by trying to hook her up with the mithai scions son Randhir Gambhir (Cyrus Sahukar). But first she must transform this behenji into a diva with the help of her BFF Pinky Bose (Ira Dubey). This challenge of hers just gets a tad bit difficult because of her childhood friend Arjun Burman (Abhay Deol) who terms her new social work projects as a meddlesome mess is always on an ‘Aisha’ criticising spree. Well, he doesn’t seem to be the only hindrance, the entrance of NRI bombshell Aarti (Lisa Haydon) along with feelings of jealousy, pride, ego and love seem to create quite a flutter and send our protagonist into a scurry. So are marriages made in heaven or can they be stage managed and does Arjun’s opinion really matter and most of all does Aisha succeed is what forms the crux of the story.

Firstly, the film completely dazzles with its style quotient. Rhea Kapoor comes across as quite a benevolent producer with each frame being picture perfect. Secondly, welcome to the life of the high flying rich young Delhi chicks that are sweet, svelte and stylish. Thirdly, finally we have one fun youth oriented female centric film wherein the concerns seem so recognisable and rib-tickling for anyone who has been through the match making game. And then, there is your distinct social divide of the uptown dude and dudettes and your downtown bhenji’s and bhaiyyas.

Along with this you have a brilliant soundtrack from Amit Trivedi which sets your feet tapping instantaneously and some memorable performances. Abhay Deol is a charmer throughout the movie and churns out another impeccable performance. Sonam Kapoor plays the role of a rich spoilt brat to the T minus her nasal tone which proves to be quite a hindrance when it comes to the dialogue delivery. Funny man Cyrus Sahukar manages tickling your funny bone as always, as the rich mithai scions bhaiyya type son, while Lisa Haydon and Arunodoy Singh provide the eye candy. Though the surprise package are Ira Dubey and Amrita Puri who give a power packed performance as the bindaas city babe and the behenji trying to turn mod respectively.

However, there is a flip side too. Unfortunately, the film is treatment oriented and not substance oriented and hence relies heavily on the dialogues, performance and the styling. The storyline remains untouched but the depth is missing. Though the film looks great it lacks substance. The love story though simple, the characters are complex and that was the highlight of the book. However, at times Rajashri Ojha (Director) makes the characters seem superfluous and overly obsessed with the L’Oreal’s, Chanel’s and Ferragammo’s along with the story taking a bit of the backseat. To add to the woes of those who have come for some meaningful cinema, well the film rides slowly in some portions on its high heeled stilettos.

Well, anyone who did go to see the movie (mind you it got a good opening) obviously went to see it for the wardrobes, the styling and the latest fashionista in tinsel town Sonam Kapoor. So for those expecting a dose of glamour and glitterati well you wont be let down, but those expecting a brilliant film full of soul and life, well, maybe you should give this one amiss, however, it’s a good time pass chick flick, hence a one time watch only for the girls.

Why

Sometimes life takes crazy twists and turns,
Days which are supposed to be your happiest, end up being your worst.
Things which are supposed to give you pleasure and joy
Leave you in despair and utter turmoil.
Why cant things be simple and straight
Happy when you want them to or just pass away?
Or why can’t we be as solid as a rock
Let nothing affect us and move on without any blocks?
Why do we let our emotions carry us away,
Into thoughts of misery and dismay?

Can’t we be happy all the way
Singing and dancing and have a merry stay?
Is it necessary to have these ups and downs,
Constant mood swings, laughter followed by frowns?
Why can’t we be there when someone wants us the most
When we want to be helpful but are helplessly lost?

There is nothing we can do but sit and stare
Watch life gamble away, with our emotions at stake
Bringing sadness to happiness and happiness to sad
Is that one statement - that this time will also go away.
The only thing constant, the only thing which will not stay
Which will play with our feelings, our situations, our states.
Why can’t we let time standstill just for awhile?
Till we solve all our problems and absorb the happiness that’s there…