Aisha is a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen's famous novel Emma. Now I'm personally not into this kind of movies, but I still wanted to see it for Abhay Deol, whom I consider to be one of the most talented actors in India today, and most of whose films and performances I highly appreciated. Aisha actually centres around the young Sonam Kapoor, whose Aisha is a take-off on Austen's Emma. The movie reminds me of many of those kitschy Hollywood fairy tales like The Princess Diaries, and it tries very hard to be western. It actually is supposed to be a fairy tale, but it mostly looks like a wannabe rather than a good movie on its own. Its dialogues, songs, characters, and its overall atmosphere all seem to have been inspired from various foreign movies of this sort, and sadly, not even once does it try to show the beauty of India, using it only in some comic scenes of parody instead. Sonam Kapoor plays the title role, and she is okay. She does manage to carry the film on her shoulders, but despite being pretty and vivacious, she somehow seems to lack the charm her character requires, and at points she gets a bit annoyingly unnatural. Abhay Deol is reduced to a role of minimal importance and by the end of the film I was left wondering what on earth he could find in this movie or role that he accepted it. Aisha is not a complete bore and it does have its moments from time to time, but overall it's an ordinary and rather mediocre tale, which could be easily skipped.
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Peter_Young9 October 2010
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swagatam_8222 March 2011There is a scene in the movie where Abhay Deol looks at Sonam and accuses her of being shallow. He may have been talking to the director of the movie. I don't know how many times poor Jane Austen may be rolling in her grave. Forget about adapting from the book (which is a true masterpiece ); it wasn't even able to copy from another classic of its kind.
The story does not progress with any logic – scenes seem to have been cut and pasted to fill in the gap. The character Emma is supposed to be a complex one – she is vain, narcissistic and controlling yet has charm and an attractive appeal about her. You love to hate her. Aisha, on the other hand , seemed plain dumb. Fighting with her childhood friend and acting like a bitchy teenager when another hot girl comes into the picture (a totally irrelevant addition) is really not a show of character. The love-hate equation with Abhay Deol should have been crackling but they keep arguing unnecessarily throughout the movie. Sonam doesn't look very convincing in her I-know-what's-best attitude.
As for the characters - Sonam has potential but is slowly becoming a bimbo expert. However she usually looks pretty in her movies and has a good sense of style so her styling in the movie seemed way off. The outfits were meant to emulate the Manhattan street style but looked odd and out of place. Abhay is his smart Alec self but looks so disgusted with his co star, you wonder how he fell in love with her. The supporting characters actually add flavor to the movie. Amrita Puri is fabulous, with good roles and opportunity she can make it big. Cyrus looks very genuine and appears to be a typical Delhi boy. Ira Dubey goes from headstrong and blasé to gentle and soft in 2 consecutive frame which confuses everyone.
The only scoring point was the movie's music which is very apt , youthful and a true delight..wish the movie was the same..! -
i watched the flick today and i din' find it convincing...i was expecting a bit more from it..it did not even had the level of entertainment value one would expect watching the trailers of this movie..i went to watch the movie to enjoy to the fullest...thinking of it as one of the urban comedies that would make me laugh..and get involved with the movie...and i came back from the cinema hall reluctantly..
Talking about performances..well they were just average...Abhay Deol's expressions were nice...but he was not able to carry himself with the story and the plot of the movie..Sonam was as disgusting as ever when it comes to act...though she looked cute in it..Ira Dubey was much better on CHICKS ON FLICKS rather than wasting her time here and even smooching Cyrus Sahukar...m.k. Raina was just jumping along with the lead actors trying hard as if he is turned 25 again...Cyrus Sahukar was as he is..and others also gave just average performances...yupp..the only girl i can praise is Amrita Puri...being her debut movie...she did a great job..acted better than Sonam Kapoor and many other experienced actors...she was really convincing..
the music was very cool..specially the song "GAL MITTHI MITTHI BOL" is already my one of the favorite of recent times..and the title track "AISHA" is also nice...the direction was somehow fresh..but was again just an average direction..cinematography was good...screenplay was okish except in few scenes when it became ultra-slow..
all in all...the movie was just average..with a below average story and content..
i would rate it 4 / 10 this week...go for DESPICABLE ME..instead of AISHA..at least you would enjoy much more than watching AISHA..!! -
anantk-16 August 2010The less said about this movie the better. But I have to add 10 lines so here goes. The movie is as shallow as the characters. Every plot element is completely predictable. And this makes it even more frustrating. You find that each and every stereotype is played out. The characters do not do anything to make you relate with them. The lead characters (Aisha) acting makes you cringe every time she opens her mouth. The only thing that that was not completely useless in this movie was the acting of the person who played Shefali.
I would have to nominate this as the worst movie of the year. Of the decade even. -
Week after week I push myself into believing that the next movie I watch will not make me want to impale myself on toothpicks. It takes hours of psychiatric therapy and experimental pharmaceuticals... but somehow I manage to do it.
And then something like "Aisha" happens. WHY God, WHY?
Let's get the facts straight. Sonam Kapoor can't act. She can be subtly (and overtly) bitchy. She can smile the crap out of 35mm cinemascope print. But she can't act. And when you have drunk tweens for a supporting cast who can't decide if they'll do more justice to this country's 220 million poor and hungry wearing Gucci or Versace, well... Abhay Deol (wasted) and Cyrus Sahukar (relief) are there. And they seem to be fighting. But it seems like a lost cause.
I also remember the good old days when you needed a story to make a movie. Clearly the good director has transcended that particular limitation. I guess the idea these days is to base it on a well known half remembered piece of literature and hope for the best. Snob value should take care of the rest.
Pretty clothes and expensive handbags do not a good movie make. Do yourself a favor and buy the toothpicks instead.
2 out of 10. 1 because I'm shallow and don't care for substance. -
DICK STEEL10 August 2010Sonam Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone burst onto the Bollywood scene just about the same time with one another in 2007, with the Kapoors (no relation here) starring in their first feature film together in Saawariya. We know how prolific Ranbir Kapoor has become with a successful 2009 and 2010 seeing him all serious in Raajneeti, while Deepika Padukone herself is fairing none too bad with a string of releases. This is not a tabloid so I'll stay hands off on the on-off romance between these two, but somehow Sonam Kapoor has got off the blocks rather slower than her peers, and seem to be making up for it just recently.
Thanks to dad Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea as producers, I suppose a project like this will only befit one of their own in taking on the starring role as the titular Aisha, or shall you say the Hindi version of Jane Austen's Emma, directed by Rajshree Ojha. Sonam Kapoor steps into the role as the romantic matchmaker wannabe who, as the idle daughter of a rich man in Delhi, takes it upon herself to be a Ms Fixit, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Not hers of course, but that of her friends and family. With best friend Pinky (Ira Dubey), Aisha takes it upon herself to transform plain Jane Sheali (Amrita Puri) into an air-head femme fatale, and just about as confused as Aisha herself is.
I suppose if you know the story of Emma, then you'd know the story of Aisha as well, although it's more like Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone than Austen's literary epic for the more modern, upbeat feel to it. Amongst Sonam Kapoor's role, I actually disliked her portrayal of Aisha, who's more negative than a positive one, highlighting with some cliché humour on the fairer sex's indecisiveness when it comes to the matters of the heart, and seriously, creating more problems out of nothing than to actually address the issues at hand. The coy yet arrogant, cloy yet independent behaviour when in the midst of different parties just brings out the sheer hypocrisy of the character.
Which is not to say that Sonam Kapoor didn't do well with the role, but I felt her earlier roles were more challenging. If anything, she shows that she's quite the clotheshorse here with, I think, almost every scene seeing her decked out to the nines in designer togs, and carrying them off very well on her lithe frame. In some ways the film becomes an advertising feature for the various fashion houses and labels that Aisha endorses, and becomes like a huge product placement during one of the montage sequences.
Everything else that goes on in the film, sad to say, you wouldn't care too much about, because the rest of the supporting cast are quite the caricature, offering not much depth as they either pander around or loathe Aisha's presence as she sashays her way to manipulate the lives of others, only to see her plans backfire hard one by one onto herself. However, every spoilt brat deserves a break, and in comes the indecisive (as well) hero Arjun (Abhay Deol) who drapes a New York based colleague Aarti (Lisa Haydon) around, to invoke the natural bitchy comparison by any pretty lass when another prettier, more popular lass is in their midst. Meow.
There seems to be quite the disconnect with the characters as they all seem to be fairly loaded without doing anything substantial, most born with a silver spoon in their mouths, and watching them wild about their idle time attending weddings, parties, and the likes, just seems too surreal to be rooted in reality. But as a romantic comedy, this one had its eye candy cast galore to thank for to hold your attention as it plods its way (and thankfully for a Bollywood film, just slightly over 2 hours) to a finale which you know all's well that ends well, with all the messiness of relationship entanglements straightened out in no time. Strictly for those with Emma fetish and want to compare across all versions and variations. -
summer_butterfly9 August 2010I thought Aisha was really cute. As an Emma adaptation, I thought it was excellent- they kept all the important elements of the story in, and I saw a few homages to Clueless in there as well. I like that Aisha wasn't 100% likable, as she shouldn't be- she is a girl who's been given everything in life, which doesn't always lend itself to peachy sweetness. Of course she's going to be arrogant! Nobody other than Arjun ever says no to her.
Because this film is about a very wealthy girl and her matchmaking pursuits, which do often come across as very superficial and celebrating monetary pleasures, and the characters are very shallow at times (their problems are hardly anything, compared to the very real struggles other Indians face) I can see how some people might not like it- my dad thought it was absolutely ridiculous (his exact quotes were "I can't believe filmmakers would waste celluloid on this trash").
However, the essence of the film is to show how silly Aisha's attempts are at forcing what cannot be forced, regardless of how much she tries to manipulate the situation or how much money she throws at it. She is portrayed as an arrogant girl, but we are shown that doing so ultimately alienates her friends from her. Do the filmmakers celebrate what could be labeled as "western excess" in the process of telling her story? Sure, but who doesn't like seeing pretty clothes and hairstyles once in a while? Aisha Kapoor is not one of the "mango people"- who would expect her to be?
The music was terrific, and the supporting cast did a wonderful job- especially Amrita Puri, who played the character of Shefali. For those who have seen Clueless, I definitely felt echoes of Brittany Murphy's character Tai through her performance- in a great way. She was really cute! And Ira Dubey played Aisha's sarcastic friend Pinky (Dion in Clueless) to a T, and Abhay Deol and Cyrus Shankar were great as Arjun and Randhir.
I personally highly recommend this film if you're looking for a fun, escapist Jane Austen adaptation with great clothes and danceable music. -
pateldeependra062 June 2019I really liked the music of this movie which made me watch it without looking for trailer or reviews. This turned out to be complete waste of my time which I am never getting back.
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Actually I wasn't planning to see the movie , but then I saw this review where this movie was compared to Peepli live .........the writer was whining about how Aisha lives in a different world where no dirt or beggars are seen on the street ,how unrealistic it is , blah blah blah............and how the real world is shown in Peepli etc.........
Then I decided to see the movie for one reason --- We go to movies to escape from reality , not to encounter it .........I mean ,what is the point in seeing movies if the same dreariness of real life is shown in them , the same poverty ,injustice .........we go to indulge in our dreams ( which are never going to turn to reality ) ,like marrying beautiful women or rich men ( depending on the gender you belong to -- sorry for being presemptous ,but here I am taking the liberty of thinking that all women want rich men )..........thats why the old movies many a times showed rich people marrying poor people breaching the rich poor gap and all that ........they allowed the poor to indulge in such dreams for three hours..........
Coming to the movie , it shows Sonam kapoor as a scatterbrained rich girl who is forever into matchmaking ,but without ever achieving any results........
Who cares anyway.........life powered by money is good ,there are lots of parties ,vacations to attend ,polo matches to watch and cheer, shopping malls to visit and run expensive bills , handsome hunks are around to escort you .........above all ,time to play around with.........
Her fave project is to fix the marriage of a small town cousin of hers to some rich guy ........here too she fails ,and a small complication develops as the girl ,after other guys have rejected her for precisely her small-townness , falls for the guy Sonam is angling for..........oh poor little Sonam
No problems however ,Sonam's father proclaims that this guy will also reject the girl on the same grounds of smalltownness.........and so he does !!!
Who cares anyway , Sonam gets to wear fancy clothes , act like a fashion model ,play beach-volleyball in skimpy clothes .........and we get to watch all that........
One nice point though .......the parents are non-interfering in the whole movie........a welcome change from other movies where where fighting against the parents' opposition about the marriage takes up half the time ........i was tired and sick of this ( seen too much of it in real life again )...........
rest of the movie is all okay....... -
mujtabashareef6 August 2010Aisha... A good adaptation of the Best Selling "Emma"...
The movie has got its own pluses and minuses... The biggest Plus point of the movie is its Music and Sonam Kapoor, Amrita Puri and Ira Dubey's Performance, Sonam has carried the role of Aisha with true sincerity and with elegance, She looked so stunning and her styling was just awesome.. Sonam Kapoor, has the touch of her dad Anil Kapoor who can never do bad acting in any of his movies... Its the same with her...
Amrita Puri as a middle class girl was just awesome.. Ira Dubey was awesome... Abhay Doel, no words to describe his screen presence...
The other actors have done their bits well and good..
Music and Lyrics are awesome...
Now the Minuses... The movie tends to get slow after the intermission and as it reaches climax it gets boring...
Watch this for Sonam and the other ensemble cast...
Movie - 7/10 Music - 10/10 Performances - 9/10 Overall - 7/10 -
whytryharder17 June 2012Dear. ... Sonam,
Simply unbearable, Sonam Kapoor, I pledge from now on, in whichever movie you will appear, I would stay away from even trailers, forget movie. You overact too much baby, you forget that you are from bollywood. You think that your father born n bred you in LA or NY. So poor baby..You are from India. Get it straight to your head. Overacting is something what I hate.
The way you act, I actually get blushy moments on your pathetic attempt to copycat F.R.I.E.N.D.S Jenny's inevitable style, I request you to get natural and please act like you've been born n brought up in Mumbai/Delhi wherever you belong, not being Kardarshian.
Sonam, I ......never believed in you. Believe me, never. Last I saw your glimpse in Saanwariya, it was apparent that either Sanjay leela bhansali had indebted truckload of money to your father or worst your father was intimate with him, thus your surprising inception in film industry has been justified.
I am not saying you don't have talent or looks.........so what, even I have got loads of talent and great looks, then? My father isn't a human bear, with hairs on the corpse body more than you have got talents in your bootie and some solid luck with B'wood.
You were horribly awful in the movie. I got swayed away by 4 star ratings which TOI, and many other newspapers gave you. And I swear, the day I will lose hope of life, the day I will accept that their is no other way left, I will start reviewing movies.
I lost my 200/- + snacks ~ 400/- like ........whooooosshhh! All I needed was just a place to place my ass in this sweltering delhi heat where I had decided a dayout with ma friends, else I would have preferred indoors. Pls avoid acting for goodness's sake! -
QaReZmA6 March 2011Aisha is about this super rich good-hearted luxury-snob who sees nothing beyond anything high class, and she can very well afford to. Sonam Kapoor plays Aisha, who is some sort of a cross between Sex and The City's Carrie (in her quintessential fashion sense) and Cher from Clueless (in her adorable snobbishness). She's into social services such as protecting animal rights, appreciating and creating arts, and not to forget her newly found talent, match making.
Teamed with her best friend Pinky, Aisha tries to match make a plain-Haryana-Jane (named Shefali) with her friend Randhir, whom she thinks is perfect for Shefali, but Randhir in fact is in love with Aisha herself. Her only obstacle is Arjun (Abhay Deol), or so she thinks.
In a nut shell, Aisha is a feel good movie, with cute and lovely characters, who each leave their mark with their roles and acting, although I felt Abhay Deol was shortchanged for the amount of potential he has. Amrita Puri (Shefali) in my opinion is the best one to watch out for. Sonam is also very lovable in the snobbish role of a high society snob whom we'd love to hate.
One downside of the movie is that I felt the movie was really pretentious with the amount of super high flying luxurious life shown, especially with the polo match and unreal river rafting getaway in a well-equipped camp house for the vain people. On a positive note, the movie was some very light hearted moments, even makes a what seems serious love declaration at the wedding function into a light comedy moment. You can't help loving Aisha! -
suite925 November 2013The film opens at a wedding party for the upper crust, leaders of industry, old money, their families. The opulence is clear. The narration proceeds from Aisha, a young woman perhaps not quite of marriageable age. Aisha decides she's is going to be a matchmaker. Her first project is to match the not-beauty-conscious Shefali with some suitable bachelor, say Randhir, who is well-established and thinks rather highly of himself.
Aisha and Pinky start the make-over of Shefali. Arjun lets Aisha know he thinks she has gone to far. While setting up Randhir and Shefali, Aisha encounters Dhruv, her aunt's new husband's only son. Arjun seems a bit jealous the next morning. Aisha and Shefali go to the animal rescue center (ARC) where Shefali meets Saurabh, whom she seems to know and like already. This seems out of step with Aisha's plans.
The whitewater camping party was a bit of a change from all the ostentatious display of wealth in the initial wedding scene, or the polo match, or the trips to the upscale clothing stores. The single instrument, single voice musical interlude was quite nice. The music without dance was well done. Shefali falls into the river at one point; Arjun jumps in to rescue her.
Aisha's interest in Dhruv and in Arjun deepens during this trip. The presence of Arjun's friend Aarti from New York helps this along. Randhir reveals his interest in Aisha, who is quick to discourage it, since this upsets her plans. Shefali wonders why Randhir did not help her out of the river. Randhir confides to Pinky that no one likes him. He bemoans the probability of remaining a bachelor for life; Pinky says, 'join the club.' Great stuff. On the way back, previous events match Pinky and Randhir driving back with just each other. Aisha goes with Dhruv after the bad scene with Randhir.
Back at home, Aisha decides to quit matchmaking, and tell Shefali about Randhir. What more could possibly go wrong? Arjun and Aisha reconnect, for a while. Shefali reconnects with Saurabh. The writing is on the wall, but Aisha tries to re-direct things, again.
Ah, another party. Dance numbers. Territorial stuff. Arjun slugs Dhruv, then leaves with Aarti. At a formal family party, Arjun brings Aarti. Will Aisha recognize her own interest in Arjun?
Randhir and Pinky become engaged; Aisha is surprised that no one consulted her. Shefali wants to get rid of everything that reminds her of Randhir. Aisha thinks of setting up Shefali and Dhruv. Shefali is more interested in Arjun, since he actually stepped up to save her in the river. Shefali finally revolts against Aisha's controlling actions. Aisha and Arjun have another falling out.
Dhruv and Aarti get engaged. Aisha tells her father she's in love with Arjun. Her father tells her he will set things up, and that she should go tell Arjun, who's at the party for Aarti and Dhruv. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a bit.
------Scores-------
Cinematography: 8/10 Focus is too soft for my taste, but most of the camera work looks very good.
Sound: 9/10 Fine.
Acting: 6/10 Overly dominated by the indifferent Sonam Kapoor; fortunately, many of the good supporting actors cushion this effect.
Screenplay: 7/10 It's a piece about a strongly irritating personality, but it's fairly well done.
Musical Numbers: 6/10 There is not nearly as much dancing as usual. Included a few moments of rap, which I could have done without. -
lekuswati5 September 2010I have not read 'Emma'...but the concept seemed really hilarious. I was really keen to watch this movie that looked very stylish....but when I did...it was like horror and shock unfolding before my eyes.
For one...the movie is too Americanised. All characters dress the way Americans do...they wed the American way and even education system is American (Aisha mentions how Arjun once changed her grade from 'F' to 'A'....which school in India uses the grade system?)
Two...none of the actions of the characters seems believable and equations of characters change abruptly. Pinky Bose abruptly decides to break her friendship with Aisha to pursue a relation with Randhir. Shefali, who had been following her advice on relations like a puppy, suddenly decides to go her way. Dhruv Singh abruptly seems to be in love with Arti Menon. There seems to be no build-up for it.
Three...The lead of the film Aisha seems just too superficial. Agreed that the lead don't have to be perfect....but shouldn't her actions have some tiny little logic. Her criteria to match people is just based on how they look together...which is OK for a 13 year old....not someone as old as Aisha. So she matches Shefali with Randhir coz they look good together...though she personally believes Randhir to be a loser. In the end...there seems no logic for a mature, reasonable Arjun to actually fall in love with superficial airhead like Aisha....this again, happens abruptly.
I'm sure the writer and director can come up with a good product....next time, they should focus less on clothes and more on the plot and its execution ;) -
I caught Aisha accidentally, reached back home early for a change, mom said she is bored sitting all day in the house, wanted to go for the new flick Aisha, even I were excited to the core after catching the promos and the Soundtrack.
Aisha is based on the 1815 classic by Jane Austen, 'Emma'. You begin watching 'Aisha' with the nagging feeling that a remake of an 1815 classic, after several adaptations worldwide, is hardly likely to offer anything fresh.
Since director Rajashree Ojha and writer Devika Bhagat do make an attempt to retell the story, one would expect some creativity from them. They bring in a new character which is not a part of the original book. Unfortunately that one character - which is Aisha's best friend - has been borrowed from 'Clueless', one of many adaptations of the movie made on screen.
'Clueless' released in 1995, starring Alicia Silverstone, with direction by Amy Heckerling. And that's not it. Both 'Clueless' and 'Aisha' start in similar styles - the protagonist briefing the audience on her world. Worse, both films start with shots of the protagonist driving her car! Having said that, 'Clueless' is a different movie since the writer did bother to alter the storyline.
Aisha is a girl who likes making matches and she believes she does it best. When she finds a new friend Shefali (Amrita Puri), who gets into her city just to find the right guy to get married to, Aisha decides to get the perfect match for her. She goes about converting Shefali from a shy small town girl to someone befitting the high society and also tries setting her up with a childhood friend Randhir Gambhir (Cyrus Sahukar) who is in love with Aisha instead. She does not learn her lesson yet, despite being warned by childhood friend Arjun Burman (Abhay Deol). Things only get worse till Aisha realizes she has been a fool.
The problem with Aisha is the screenplay. It never gets deep enough to evoke any emotions in the audience. Two major points in the film are when Aisha's two friends decided on moving on with their own lives. But there was no build up for any of them to be justified. And by the time Aisha realizes her love the film hardly managed to create any attention.
Having said that, credit should be given where due! The character of Shefali, though stereotypical, is well written and enacted. Amrita Puri does a great job getting brilliant expressions every time she is on screen. She is the star of the movie. The other characters come out well too and there are no faults as long as performances are concerned. Sonam is good and so is Ira Dubey who plays the best friends. Abhay Deol does not have much to do and I think got an underplayed role - something very unfortunate for the talented actor. But he brings the screen alive whenever he is on it. Cyrus Sahukar does a great job too playing the lovable loser. New guy Arunoday Singh impresses and some potential for quite some time in the industry, Lisa Haydon didn't got enough Screen space, but looked ravishing, even Anand Tiwari punched in a cute performance in a peek-a-boo.
Technically the film has been shot well. Styling had the front seat here all the big names (from Manish Arora, Anamika Khanna to Chanel and Ralph Lauren, Aisha and her friends just leave you gurgling with glee as they balance the bizarre with the beautiful). Though quite a bit of the film is shot indoors it has been done well. The gloss of the posh South Delhi society comes through. Background and playback music works too. Editing could have been better though.
Even Saddi Dilli's essence was 'so' missing, I were yearning for it during the whole show time (sad again)
A special mention for Amit Trivedi, he is the future Rahman. He knows his notes and the best part is very few people now is actually aware of music arrangement and that is something Trivedi has a finesse into.
Overall, Aisha is best in the promos! The film clearly misses the spark and ends up as an average product. At no point in the story do you feel anything for the protagonist or the people around her. It stays superficial. You would not miss much if you give Aisha a miss! -
saadgkhan29 August 2010AISHA – CATCH IT ( B- ) Aisha is inspired by international Best seller Emma and the scenes of the movie are ditto copy of Alicia Silverstone's Clueless. The whole movie is like you have seen that hundred times before. The movie is really stylized and Sonam Kapoor looks really Hip. She acted really well and looked like an elite gal. Amrita Puri and Ira Dubey were amazing; they were funny and acted really well. Abhay Deol is like a dead fish, I don't know why people cast him, I found him incredibly boring. Lisa Hayden, Cyrus Shahukar and Arunoday Singh were perfect. Overall it's a complete chic flick, which we have seen hundred times, so watch it if you want to see a Hindi version other wise leave it. Watch Clueless again even after Two Decades its much much better.
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I had been warned about the film before I hit the theatre! "Pathetic," "drag," "awful" was what I'd heard. I was still curious to see just how pathetic it could get ;) Despite all my fangirl-ism for Sonam K, louv for Abhay D and huge expectations from the film, it did turn out 'p.' A shallow storyline with cardboard characters (save a few), Aisha will only be remembered until your next movie on the theatre. The film, all swank and ritzy, is high up on the visual quotient, but that is all there is to it!
Airheaded Aisha (the character) is a sucker for everything chic. She wakes up to a life that's perfect. An ordinary day in her life means - shop n splurge (she flaunts Dior bags throughout); watch polo matches (and rub shoulders with the elite); go around advising people (she mistakes that 'muft ka gyan' for 'social work'); and smile pretty! La la la laa. Superficial, yes, but she's pulled it off 'pretty' decently. Abhay Deol is royally wasted in the film. There isn't much of him, but whatever little, he's fab. He's at his best where he proposes Aisha. (He looks dapper in his Dior suits ;)
After cameos in Rang De Basanti (as a struggling RJ) and Dilli 6 (as a loser photographer), Cyrus Sahukar strikes again and as convincingly, though as a rich-Delhi-da-munda Randhir Gambhir. He's hilarious, he's annoying, he's adorable! Lakme face and supermodel Lisa Haydon (Angelina Jolie look alike?) who plays Abhay Deol's NY-returned friend, is to watch out for (all reasons besides acting ;) All in all, if not anything, the movie will at least make you want to liven up your wardrobes ;)
Find me on http://eatpraylovemovies.blogspot.com/2010/08/visual-delight- and-thats-it.html -
namashi_13 October 2010A modern day adaption of the 1815 British novel, Emma by Jane Austen, 'Aisha' is a confused and mainly boring film, that holds very less appeal.
Rajshree Ojha's 'Aisha' is a tale about a few confused youngsters, of whom, all, are in the search to find the "Right" one. The usual late realizations, the very-usual complications, verbal-fights are put in this chick-flick.
The problem with 'Aisha' is it's writing. The Screenplay doesn't justify it's characters, and thus, the show is spoiled. The first hour yet manages to hold your attention. But the second hour is a complete letdown! Even the climax, is disappointing!
Rajshree Ojha's direction is fairly okay. The Screenplay is the villain here. Cinematography is just right. Amit Trivedi's Music is vibrant. Acting wise, Sonam doesn't look the part. She looks fine, though. Abhay Deol is very good, as always. Cyrus Sahukar is wasted. Ditto for Ira Dubey. Amrita Puri and Anand Tiwari are superb. Lisa Haydon looks well.
On the whole, 'Aisha' is at best, an average fare. One expected much more! -
Queen_of_pentacles1 November 2010Anil Kapoor has gone all the way to reinstate his dearest daughter Sonam, as he presents her in world famous designer costumes, as claimed in the extra shots, when the movie was shown on T.V. channel. i haven't seen Emma of Jane Austen, but the life style of today's hep youth depicted in this movie, is completely western, and mostly much advanced,even for the majority of rich and affluent class of India,or specially the Metros.
Firstly, i am not quite convinced, why the veteran, ever green Anil, has chosen to select Emma for Sonam, after she appeared in Saawariya, a flop fantasy of Bhansali, which launched Sonam and Ranbir. Then she acted in a couple of movies, popularized Maskkali song,with her spriteful number, but didn't make any mark ,as an actor to reckon with. And most probably, Aisha would meet with the same fate, though there were mixed reactions from the viewers and the critics.
The plot line is hardly substantial, more or less predictable, and lacks grip ; all the couples switch partners, come extreme close physically, but depend on some casual incidents like Shefali falling in water, or Saurabh running to get her sandal in the middle of the traffic,etc. Sonam and Lisa have some beautiful bodies, but as per the western standards; In fact,i was wondering why Sonam is wearing a brassiere, since i failed to see any noticeable bosom ! Did any body else ? Those farm house parties with couples sexily dancing to tango, or the guitarist playing some soulful music, and the girls swaying without any inhibitions, and the last Bhngada number at the time of the multiple weddings, have been tastily filmed, and quite beautiful. But then, the movie has it's own limitations, due to the weak interaction among theses youngsters in search of love, as the attitudes seem to be mostly shallow, and drifting based on how the wind blows. Daddy Anil has tried to present his loving daughter in a leading role of an ultra-modern girl, who is actually more traditional in her ideas about love, marriage, and friendship. She is supposedly generous, by spending more than fifty thousand rupees only dresses and parlors, visiting animal clinics once in a while, etc. Next, though Abhay has done o.k., his voice is his weak point; it clearly lacks depth, and sounds monotonous. Now ,then, Daddy Anil, please come up next,with some real strong good story, and cast poor Sonam opposite an equally charming hero , and avoid making odd pairs. Watchable on a DVD, but easily forgettable. -
AishFan11 August 2010Clueless was a novel adaptation of Austen's Emma that introduced and spread like wildfire the Beverly Hills/Valley Girl/California culture to the rest of the U.S. during the roaring 90s. Now it's India's turn, and Anil Kapoor picks New Delhi as the LA equivalent. The idea is brilliant since India's rapidly increasing materialism, consumerism, and westernization and fascination with romance create a terrific setting for this story.
Alicia Silverstone's shallowness, lack of concern for her career, romantic obsessions, glamorous stupidity, and an infatuation with materialistic possessions created the notorious stereotype of a California girl, which even till today is the image that is conjured in people's minds. Sonam Kapoor carries out her character wonderfully. However, where I feel the movie failed was instead of bringing out the new spirit of New Delhi, the film was forced into being a carbon copy of the American adaptation. From PBJs and Valley Girl slang to the VW bug and pepper sprays, the culture portrayed is so obviously not of Delhi at all. For example, far-left liberalism and formation of animal rights groups is something unique in Cali, whereas majority of people in India are already vegetarians, and this aspect of Aisha's ditsy character doesn't even make sense.
Each scene is an in-your-face desperate attempt to copy American culture, and it is repulsive. Other films such as Wake Up Sid, Rock On!!, and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na brought out the new generation of urban India successfully and not by trying to imitate the West. Other than that, songs were terrific and very catchy. -
marspeach2 May 2011Aisha, which just came out last summer, is Bollywood's version of a modern Emma. Set in the high society of Delhi, it follows Aisha in her misguided matchmaking attempts. Like Emma and Cher, Aisha is a spoiled rich girl who means well but is really clueless. This one follows the book a little more closely than Clueless did and includes more characters, like the John Knightleys and Jane Fairfax (Aarti). Here, the Miss Taylor character is Aisha's aunt. This version's Knightley (Arjun) is still her childhood friend and brother-in-law's brother, but younger this time. Emma dislikes Aarti, his colleague from America, but she doesn't realize it's because she's jealous. Dhruv (Frank Churchill) is her new uncle's son and they flirt for a little bit but she's just not that into him so he goes for Aarti instead. There is an Elton character, but he's not a pompous jerk at all, just a bit dorky.
I thought this version borrowed too many elements from Clueless rather than Emma. Maybe that's inevitable in a modern setting, but I'm not sure. Aisha has a best friend, Pinky, who's only equivalent is Dionne. She disapproves of Pinky's love interest (I won't give away who it is!), like Cher did to Dionne. Like Cher, Aisha loves to shop till she drops. The Harriet Smith character, Shefali, comes from out of town and Aisha gives her a makeover .sounds pretty familiar! Emma never gave Harriet any sort of makeover. She liked Harriet because she was very pretty and sweet already. I dunno, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
For anyone hesitant about seeing this film because they don't like Bollywood, I just want to say- don't let that stop you. This movie is very, very Westernized. At least half the dialogue is in English, possibly a bit more. There are some "musical" scenes but the music is Western-style, not the typical Bollywood singing. The characters don't break into song either- rather the music highlights what's going on on screen. These characters behave very much like rich Westerners would (I've read criticisms that it was trying too hard to be American, even) and there are even a couple kissing scenes.
I thought this was a good movie, but not great. The production values were obviously very high- everything looked great. Unfortunately, I think that was part of the problem- they focused too much on style over substance. The script needed a bit of work. The whole Jane/Frank story was handled very poorly in particular. Still, it was a fun movie, even though, like Clueless, it's not going to go down as one of my favorites. -
bobbysing16 August 2010The entire promotional campaign of AISHA revolved around only one character alone and the film also does the same. It's a Sonam Kapoor show all the way where she luckily gets ample support from her supporting cast too. AISHA is rich in glamour, has a certain class of its own and has also got some breezing romantic elements to offer to the younger generation. So Sonam is here to make another impression on the viewers with her fresh charm and elegant style which is clearly visible throughout the movie till its last frame.
But unfortunately, the news is not entirely positive as the compliments given above are strictly meant for the movie before its intermission. Revolving around the story of a funky, fashionable girl who loves to be a match-maker for her friends, AISHA surely manages to impress the audience in its first hour with some good sequences and fine performances. But post interval, it simply starts walking on the same old decayed path of realizing your actual love and then apologizing for the same. Though the movie is not too long in its duration but still it drags a lot in its second hour and has got nothing new in the name of content to sustain the impact generated by its initial reels.
Actually the fact is that AISHA heavily relies on its treatment and therefore comes out as only a partially good product as far as its story content is concerned. Any avid moviegoer can easily predict the complete film and its climax, after just watching the first 10 minutes of the movie. Moreover post intermission it loses the pace and one seriously misses all those witty or comic relief moments which are in fact the highlight of the movie in totality. In other words if the makers would had given more stress on its content than on its styling, the film could have been a milestone in the career of Sonam Kapoor.
Based on Jane Austen's novel EMMA, and also inspired from "CLUELESS" (1995), the movie has all the colours in the right tone, but the real problem is that the colours are not many. As the movie reaches its end, the characters become lifeless and monotonous, which don't allow them to emotionally connect with their viewers. So, one doesn't really feel overjoyed as Aisha finds her true love in the end. Moreover, the climax sequence of entering the wrong marriage venue seems to be just pushed in without any purpose. Actually the movie should have ended right there, but the director deliberately inserts another love proposal scene which is not enjoyable at all towards the end.
On a brighter note AISHA has a refreshing first half and that's because of some brilliant performances by its supporting cast which mostly has debutants making their presence felt.
Both Ira Dubey and Amrita Puri as Sonam's fast friends are really a treat to watch. They straight away catch your attention right from their first scene and excel. Especially Amrita Puri who indeed has got the talent to be explored in the right way. Cyrus Sahukar as the dumb rich boy is not loud this time and impresses. Arunoday Singh also leaves a mark with his frank appearance. Anand Tiwari as a middle class boy is lovable but Lisa Haydon as the foreign returned only stands in her scenes without any expression.
Taking about the main lead, there is good news for the fans of Sonam Kapoor, since the girl is there in her full form and style. Along with her acting skills she strongly showcases her fashion sense with her great outfits and make-up. Sonam easily carries the whole film on her shoulders and once again proves that she is undoubtedly among the most talented young girls in the tinsel town. She has always managed to do full justice to her roles in the past but for some reasons all her films till date are only partially good and same is the case with AISHA. I really hope in the near future she hits the bull's eye with a bang.
However for the fans of Abhay Deol, AISHA may not give them any reason to celebrate as the thinking actor is not present here in his full spirits. Abhay underplays his role well but in absence of a well written character he fails to make the kind of impact he usually does. Still, I loved his silence and one liner dialogues delivered in his own unique manner.
AISHA may work for the younger audience due to its elegant production value, eye catching costume designing and Mills & Boon kind of romantic theme. But for the smaller centers, it doesn't have the required merit to make it big. Director Rajshree Ojha has strictly made the movie keeping in mind the cities and multiplexes only. It has some good numbers composed by Amit Trivedi as "Suno Aisha" and "Gal Mitthi Mitthi Bol". But I couldn't understand why a fine party song "Gal Mitthi Mitthi Bol" was saved to be used in the end credits only. In all, AISHA has a refreshing first half but with a not so impressive second, I was only satisfied partially. Yet, for the romantic movies fans, I would like to rate it better than Sonam's last "I HATE LUV STORYZ", but still its quite shallow. -
bollycritic6 August 2010I mostly love films with a purpose and depth to them. But every once in a while comes a flick with a relaxed tone and an oft repeated story that still knocks the socks off me.
Aisha is such a product. Looks to me like the makers had tons of fun, cause I sure did watching it. Featuring a pitch perfect ensemble cast led by the winsome and pretty Sonam Kapoor, Aisha is a tribute to Jane Austen's Emma, but twenty-first century affluent Indians' style.
There's little nouveau about the tale, but the performances, screenplay, dialogues, cinematography, music, editing, direction and choreography all weave together in perfect tandem. I'm not kidding; I thought they all came up with an awesome team effort. Each scene is a pleasure to watch.
Moreover, the flick doesn't take itself seriously, which was great for me, cause I'm frankly a little tired of the countless Hindi films that purport to be "the Love Story of a Lifetime". Hey people, not every movie has to be Romeo & Juliet or Ek Dujjhe Ke Liye.
Bonus for those of us weary of the traditional high volume Bollywood drama. Even when the heroine goes off on a cringe-inducing lengthy monologue about life and her one true love for the climax, we know we're watching a comedy. The director quickly reminds us courtesy a great twist at scene's end. Speaking of which, Rajshree Ojha is a great find. Hope she strikes it big cause she definitely deserves the success.
9/10 -
Sherazade11 April 2011This movie was like a 2 hour commercial, with Dior and L'Oreal being the two main fashion and beauty sponsors respectively, one could only wonder why a bunch of teenager girls would go to the mall and shop at only one store "DIOR" and every moment they pause to reapply their makeup, the name of the brand "L'OREAL" is focused on. That said, let's move on to the acting. Only one person really stood out to me and that was the girl who played Shefali (the Brittany Murphy character from Clueless), she just stole the show from right underneath our so-called filmy kid lead actress Sonam Kapoor who is becoming more and more repetitive with each new film. No growth, no depth. She plays every character the exact same way. There was another debut in the film by an apparent imported model named Lisa Haydon whose acting seemed like she had been studying the non-existent acting skills and language challenged challenged Katrina Kaif. The only other saving grace in the film beside the actress who played Shefali is Abhay Deol who was hopelessly wasted in his role. Emma is a book, read it and get bloody creative. The makers of Clueless did not copy anybody, why did Aisha have to lift and ape so much. BAKWAS!!!!!!!
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Chrysanthepop11 October 2010It's a known fact that Devika Bhagat's screenplay is an adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Emma'. The trailers gave the impression of another silly Yashraj movie but seeing the cast and the fact that it was based on a Jane Austen novel, I wanted to give it a shot. Phew, it's definitely not as bad as the Yashraj fairy tale garbage. However, even though I enjoyed 'Aisha' it could have easily been better.
With the exception of the wedding and engagement sequences, most of the time 'Aisha' felt too western. They could have Indianized it a bit more. I'm not saying to completely traditionalize it as it's important to show Aisha as an arrogant spoiled brat who loves modern fashion but there's no need to make the film look like a fashion show of western outfits. Also, the commercialization of brands was sometimes too in-your-face. In addition, a few sequences have been lifted off Amy Heckerling's 'Clueless', especially the scenes with Shefali. Moreover I felt that the ending was rushed. I would have liked to see more development of Aisha, Shefali and Pinky post the 'breakup'.
Among the good points is that 'Aisha is fun to watch. The music is superb. The comedy works very well. There's hardly a dull moment. The chemistry between most actors is just right. Beautiful looking Sonam Kapoor shows tremendous improvement as an actress since her awkward debut in 'Saawariya'. The performance may not be stupendous but she's competent and proves to be a much better actress than most of her contemporaries. Abhay Deol doesn't have a large role but he lights the screen with a natural performance when he appears in a scene. Ira Dubey, Cyrus Sahukar and Amrita Puri are brilliant. Lisa Haydon doesn't overdo her sexbomb colleague character. A stunning Anuradha Patel is a treat to watch. Anand Tiwari is wasted.
'Aisha' is a decently made film. I found the settings quite confusing and inconsistent. Some scenes were filmed in India and others abroad while there was no mention of such. The cinematography is average and the editing at times felt patchy but not to the extent that it ruins the entire movie. 'Aisha' is no classic but it's entertaining.