Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review: A Poetic Love Story That Whispers, Waits & Wins Your Heart

Cinema doesn’t always need noise to move you- and Gustaakh Ishq is proof. In this Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review, we dive into Vibhu Puri’s quietly enchanting romantic drama that unfolds like an old diary rediscovered: soft at the edges, heavy with emotions, and glowing with the warmth of forgotten Urdu verse. Featuring powerful performances from Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Naseeruddin Shah, the film doesn’t chase grand gestures- it thrives in silences, gazes, poetry, and the conflicts that live between heart and responsibility.

A Story Rooted in Love, Guilt & Shabds

Set between Old Delhi and Malerkotla, the film follows Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman (Vijay Varma), a young man desperately trying to protect his late father’s printing press from collapsing. His only hope is to publish something remarkable- something that can bring the press back to life. And that “something” lies in the lost verses of retired poet Aziz Baigh (Naseeruddin Shah), a man once celebrated, now self-exiled into silence.

Nawab travels to Punjab with a simple task: convince Aziz to share his work. But once he enters the Baigh household- stepping into its slow rhythms, its unspoken wounds, its poetry-filled air- he finds more than inspiration. He finds Minni (Fatima Sana Shaikh), Aziz’s daughter, whose softness hides a quiet resilience. As Nawab becomes Aziz’s student, learns shayari, and grows close to Minni, his hidden motive slowly begins to clash with the affection blooming around him.

Lies come undone. Hearts get tested. And what begins as a mission gently transforms into a conflict between truth and love.

Performances: A Trio That Holds the Film’s Soul

Vijay Varma: His Most Tender, Layered Work Yet

Vijay Varma delivers a masterclass in controlled emotion. Nawab is a man torn between duty and desire- between saving his identity and protecting the people he begins to love. Varma conveys this internal conflict with remarkable subtlety:

• His eyes soften every time he looks at Minni.
• His voice cracks when guilt creeps in.
• His silence speaks volumes in scenes with Aziz.

This is easily one of his most emotionally rich performances.

Fatima Sana Shaikh: Fragile, Fierce & Impossible to Forget

Fatima plays Minni with a softness that hides enormous strength. She doesn’t get dramatic monologues- and she doesn’t need them. Her performance is built on glances, pauses, and quiet heartbreak. She brings grace, vulnerability, and dignity to every frame she enters.

Naseeruddin Shah: Sheer Brilliance, Effortless Authority

As Aziz Baigh, Naseeruddin Shah embodies a man haunted by his own genius and guilt. His scenes- especially when he slips into poetry- are magnetic. There’s grief in his silence, pride in his stance, and truth in every sher he recites.
His presence elevates the film instantly.

Supporting Cast: Small Roles, Big Impact

• The younger Aziz storyline adds emotional weight.
• Sharib Hashmi, as the loyal Ataichi, brings warmth and bittersweet humour.
• Nawab’s brother grounds Nawab’s insecurity beautifully.

Every face feels like a real person, not a supporting prop.

Direction, Music & World-Building: A Love Letter to Old-World Cinema

Vibhu Puri builds a world that feels like a dream dipped in sepia- nostalgic, intimate, and timeless. Yes, the “90s” timestamp feels unnecessary, but the atmosphere he creates—crumbling kothis, dusty bookstores, cramped rooftops, old tea stalls- feels so real you can smell the paper and ink.

The writing is rich with old Urdu phrases, layered emotions, and dialogues that land like poetry.
The second half does rush through emotional transitions, but the sincerity of the narrative holds it together.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s music is exquisite.
‘Ul Jalool Ishq’, ‘Aap Iss Dhoop Mein’, and ‘Suniye’ are not just songs- they’re emotional beats in the story.
Gulzar Sahab’s lyrics breathe soul into every sequence.

The cinematography by Manush Nandan is breathtaking- each frame composed like a painting, each setting a character.

What Works

• Stellar performances that carry the entire emotional load.
• Vishal Bhardwaj’s music– soulful, haunting, and woven seamlessly into the story.
• Gulzar’s poetry, which gives the film its heartbeat.
• Manush Nandan’s cinematography– frames that look like hand-painted memories.
• A rich world-building rooted in nostalgia, Urdu, old Delhi charm, and Malerkotla’s simplicity.
• A story that unfolds with emotional honesty, not theatrical gimmicks.

What Doesn’t Work

• The 90s setting feels unnecessary– the story could have worked in any era.
• The second half feels rushed, especially emotional transitions.
• A few subplots- particularly the printing-press conflict- resolve too neatly.
• The pacing may feel too slow for audiences seeking a more modern, punchy romance.

What Makes Gustaakh Ishq Special?

It’s not a loud romance.
It’s not a modern, flashy love story.
It’s a film made for people who still believe in letters, verses, pauses, longing, and mohabbat that grows in silence.

If you carry even a little bit of poetry in your heart, this film resonates long after it ends.

Final Verdict:

Gustaakh Ishq is an old-school, heartfelt, lyrically rich love story that unfolds slowly but beautifully. It may test your patience at times, but it rewards you with performances, poetry, atmosphere and emotion that linger long after the credits roll. A gentle, soulful watch for anyone craving romance with depth.