Tere Ishk Mein Review – Where Passion Turns Poison

Bollywood seems to be witnessing a renewed wave of love stories. After the massive success of Saiyara, a fresh line-up consisting of titles like Dhadak 2, Param Sundari, Sunny Sanskaari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyatare set to storm cinemas. Meanwhile, this week too, audiences receive their share of romance with Gustakh Ishq and Aanand L. Rai’s Tere Ishk Mein.

A tale of obsessive love and the madness it fuels, Tere Ishk Mein brings back the formidable combination of director Aanand L. Rai and actor Dhanush. Having already cast a spell on audiences with Raanjhanaa, the duo returns to the terrain of unrestrained, self-destructive romance. The striking dialogue by writers Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav,  “Main pyaar mein pad gaya toh Dilli phoonk doonga”, is already a hit among front-benchers who enjoy raw intensity and dramatic swagger.

The narrative revolves around Shankar, the president of the Delhi University Students’ Union, a fiery, impulsive figure constantly embroiled in campus chaos. Mukti Beniwal, a thoughtful research scholar from the same institution, believes that even the most violent man can be transformed. She chooses Shankar as the subject of her thesis, yet in the process of observation, Shankar finds his heart hopelessly attached to her.

As their interactions increase, Shankar’s rage begins to subside, but his obsession only grows deeper. He pushes himself through trials and transformation to win Mukti over, until the harsh truth strikes: she does not love him back. Heartache turns his affection into a destructive resolve, if his world burns, so will the rest of the world with it.

Seven years later, destiny once again places Shankar and Mukti in each other’s path, but this time, it is not only Shankar wounded by love; Mukti too carries scars etched by longing and loss.

Aanand L. Rai is known for shaping intense love stories with heartfelt sincerity. Just as he delivered in Tanu Weds Manu and Raanjhanaa, the first half of this film is gripping and engaging. The contrast in backgrounds, the collision of personalities, the madness of new love, emotional familial bonds, these elements ensure the film takes off with compelling momentum.

However, post-interval, the narrative begins to scatter. As the climax approaches, the realism gives way to cinematic exaggeration. A slightly shorter runtime would have helped sustain the emotional rhythm more effectively. Still, the film’s technical finesse never falters, striking cinematography, a consistently commanding background score, and production design that lifts the thematic world. Expectations were higher from A.R. Rahman’s music, yet aside from tracks like Tere Ishk Mein and Jigar Thanda, the album does not linger long in memory.

Performance-wise, the cast carries the film with admirable strength. Dhanush stands out as the ace up the film’s sleeve, he lives through the agony, passion, rage, heartbreak, and emotional turbulence of a man destroyed by love. He does not merely play a lovelorn protagonist; he becomes the embodiment of obsessive affection.

Kriti Sanon matches him remarkably well, displaying both emotional conviction and magnetic screen presence. Despite limited screen time, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub leaves a lasting mark. Prakash Raj and Priyanshu Painyuli, too, lend depth and gravitas to their characters.

Tere Ishk Mein captures the scorching extremes of romantic obsession with a familiar yet potent voice. Even as the latter half wavers and the storytelling becomes a touch conventional, the film stands tall on the strength of its performances, emotional intensity, and technical quality.