Review : Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan: Love Is Truely Blind!
There have been quite a few movies based on visually impaired lead characters. Black, Scent of a Woman, Andhadhun, The Miracle Worker, and Kaabil are a few notable examples. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan follows a similar premise, where the lead character is blind and falls for a beautiful girl. The film has an interesting plot, but the clichéd screenplay and direction make it feel like it’s walking a blind path.
Saba (#ShanayaKapoor) travels by train from Delhi to Dehradun en route to Mussoorie. She is blindfolded as part of her preparation for an audition, she’s a theatre artist aiming to play a blind character using method acting. Her manager deserts her and flies to Germany to meet her boyfriend. Saba’s co-passenger on the train is Jahaan (#VikrantMassey), a blind musician something she is unaware of, and he chooses not to reveal. Circumstances force them to stay at the same place, and one thing leads to another and they fall in love and become intimate. But out of fear of rejection, Jahaan disappears, leaving Saba heartbroken. The story then shifts to Azerbaijan, where, by coincidence, they meet again. What transpires next forms the crux of the story.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan is adapted from Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’. The film feels like an old-school romance, with a script that leans heavily on coincidences. The dialogues sparkle at times, and the overall tone oscillates between love and pain. The movie is visually stunning, and the music is extremely soothing.
Vikrant Massey once again proves how brilliant an actor he is. He is completely convincing as a blind man, portraying a wide range of emotions with utmost ease. This is Shanaya Kapoor’s debut film, and she doesn’t disappoint. Her screen presence, dancing skills, and dialogue delivery are impressive, with her emotional scenes particularly standing out. Others, including #ZainKhanDurrani and #SaanandVerma, lend solid support.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan once again proves that love is truly blind.