Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review Ft. Vijay Verma, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Naseeruddin Shah Bring A Visual Ghazal, ‘Uff, Miyaan Hum To Mureed Ho Gaye!’
Gustaakh Ishq creates a magical world and it makes me Qaayal and Ghayal both, let me live here – full movie review
Gustaakh Ishq is one of those rare films that transports you into a poetic, intoxicating world filled with rhythm, emotion and longing. It weaves a universe where words breathe, glances speak and love is allowed to ache slowly. Vijay Verma, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Naseeruddin Shah anchor this heartfelt, immersive creation that feels like a ghazal unfolding on screen.
Star Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Verma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sharib Hashmi and others
Director: Vibhu Puri
What’s Good: A visually stunning, poetic experience that builds a magical world
What’s Bad: A faltering timeline that slightly disrupts immersion
Loo Break: Only during interval
Watch or Not?: Watch if you love poetry, romance or Gulzar Sahab’s world
Language: Hindi
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Udaasi mein hanste hain, Khush ho to rote hain, Musaafir mohabbat ke bade hi ajeeb hote hain. Naseeruddin Shah’s sher captures the essence of Gustaakh Ishq in a single breath. The film stands as a tribute to longing, separation and the bittersweet nature of love. Shah plays poet Aziz Baigh with such grace that the film often feels like his memoir, with Vijay Verma and Fatima Sana Shaikh becoming inheritors of his wisdom and wounds.
2025 has seen romance make a grand return to Hindi cinema, and Gustaakh Ishq finds its place among those gentle, old school stories that dare to whisper instead of shout. Whether Gen Z embraces this soft, slow world is yet to be seen, but for those who miss the charm of timeless love, this is a space to stay and feel.
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review: Script Analysis
The story begins simply. A man in Delhi is fighting to save his father’s old printing press. The only way out is to produce something significant, something that still has power. That significance arrives in the form of Aziz Baigh, a revered but reclusive poet whose name alone can revive the press.
Vijay Verma’s Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman travels to Malerkotla to meet Aziz and persuade him to publish his work. What begins as a mission turns into mentorship, affection and a deeper bond. As Nawabuddin becomes Aziz’s shagird, he also finds himself drawn into the lives of Aziz and his daughter Minni.
But hidden beneath his admiration is an agenda. Will he reveal the truth? Will duty override love? Gustaakh Ishq explores these conflicts through simplicity and soulful writing. Love falters, questions rise and time intervenes as it always does.
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review: Star Performance
The entire cast fits beautifully into the film’s emotional rhythm.
Vijay Verma delivers a tender and layered performance. He portrays a man torn between responsibility and desire, and his eyes do half the acting for him. He makes flawed love look beautiful, believable and deeply human.
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s Minni is a gentle anchor. She embodies patience, quiet strength and emotional clarity. Her stillness balances the turbulence around her, making her presence quietly powerful.
Naseeruddin Shah is exceptional. As Aziz Baigh, he brings wisdom, melancholy and grace. His shayari, his pauses and his voice give the film its spine. The younger actor playing Aziz in flashbacks deserves praise for capturing the poet’s early fire with charm.
Sharib Hashmi adds warmth as Ataichi, and even the supporting cast, including the actor playing Vijay Verma’s brother, brings authenticity.
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review: Direction, Music
Vibhu Puri creates a dreamlike universe reminiscent of classic Bhansali textures but with more intimacy and personal warmth. His frames feel handcrafted, filled with details that speak of nostalgia, literature and heartbreak. The film asks for patience but rewards it generously.
The music is the film’s heartbeat. Gulzar Sahab’s poetry paired with Vishal Bhardwaj’s compositions results in magic. Ool Jalool, Sheher Tere Nai Vasna and Suniye Aap is dhoop mein feel like letters written in melody.
The only issue lies in the timeline. The yellow tinted frames and specific references make the era feel inconsistent, and the mention of Karan Johar’s “Naya Ladka” connects the story to the late 90s in a way that breaks the illusion. The fantasy of “pehle jaisa” would have worked better without time markers.
Still, these flaws fade against the emotional richness of the film.
Gustaakh Ishq Movie Review: The Last Word
Gustaakh Ishq is a heartfelt, lyrical experience that values emotion over logic, poetry over plot and longing over resolution. It allows flaws to exist, just like poems do. The film is an ode to literature, music and the ache of love.
Naseeruddin Shah’s line, “Insaan ka zameer ek baar kaanpta zaroor hai,” lingers as a reminder that we always know when we falter. The film beautifully contrasts two men who make opposite choices after recognizing their mistakes.
Gustaakh Ishq is not for everyone, but for those who carry a little poetry in their hearts, it is a rare cinematic treasure. It restores faith in romance on screen, especially when real life feels drained of it.
4 stars
FAQs
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Is Gustaakh Ishq a typical Bollywood romance?
- No. It is poetic, introspective and rooted in Urdu literary charm.
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How is Vijay Verma’s performance?
- Brilliant. He brings vulnerability, charm and emotional conflict with great finesse.
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Is the film slow?
- It unfolds at a gentle pace, which works beautifully for the poetic tone but may not suit everyone.
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Is the music good?
- The music is extraordinary, functioning like a character in the story.
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Should I watch this in theatres?
- Yes. The visuals, poetry and soundscape deserve the big screen.
