An esteemed reviewer for a leading newspaper had commented that the movie spent a long time staring at Madhuri Dixit. Yes, it's true. From the moment she stepped on to the screen, her iridescent beauty threatens to overwhelm the viewer. I felt like she didn't have much to say in this movie. Not enough dialogues for her. But, she is one actress that doesn't need dialogue to stop from emoting and expressing her feelings. As beheld in the song Jagaave Saari Raina, she didn't sing. Just expressed. Naseeruddin Shah's character had expressed it rightly. She became dance. Madhuri's portrayal of Begum Para was nothing short of perfect. The slight hesitation in speaking that comes with royalty (thehraav),the inborn dignity, the chewing of the paan, the show of polite humility yet steely resolve. In many ways, it was reminiscent of her Chandramukhi, but without the tawaif background. She was simply breathtaking.

Playing her sidekick, Muniya, is Huma Qureshi. Her best friend, her confidante, her shadow. She could switch from chaste Urdu to crass Bhojpuri which was fantastic, along with her comic timing. She is not afraid of using sex to get her way. Huma, in a gang of acting stalwarts, made her own mark on the film. If she doesn't get nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Filmfare, I will eat my hat! But, of course, if movies like Dabangg and Chennai Express win Best Film, the future of Bollywood cinema and awards is shaky.

Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi teaming up again for the adorable Khalu-Babban pair is nothing short of classic. We have seen a lot of such before, but not with such realistic portrayals. Their acting is top notch! One cannot find flaws in the performances of the thieving Uncle- Nephew pair. They give and take with all their hearts. Their daredevilry, dialogue delivery, wit and charm are what makes this movie an all rounded entertainer and a classic. Naseeruddin Shah's switching of character between a thief and a Nawab impostor is absolutely fantastic. One minute he would be spouting poetry, and the next minute he would talk about sex. It was crazy! Absolute fun! Arshad's tapori act, one minute begging for mercy and the next minute being the 'bhai' walking on thin ice, was just delectable.

Vijay Raaz plays the villain, Jaan Mohammed. In most Hindi movies, one ends up forgetting the villain. But not this one. At certain points, he overshadowed them all. His rustic evil plans, his comedy, his lust for control and so many things.. Things I can't reveal for fear of ruining the movie... *sigh*

A short synopsis: Khalu-Babban get separated while doing a jewel heist. Thinking that Khalu has conned him, Babban goes in search for him. He finds Khalu posing as a Nawab in an event thrown by the Begum of Mehmoodabad, Begum Para. The Begum's erstwhile husband, apparently, expressed a desire on his deathbed that she should remarry a poet only. The most renowned poets from all over the country have come to win her hand. Khalu is in love with the Begum and Babban falls in love with Muniya. Throwing a spanner into the works is Jaan Mohammed who wants to marry the Begum. At the end of the event, she announces her decision to get married to Jaan Mohammed. But she gets kidnapped. Now, what happens next is for you to find out. There are a couple of twists in the movie. Trust me, they will deliver a Knock Out.

It's not often that I get to see Hindi movies with such powerhouses of talent to steer the ship through. I laughed out loud and shed a couple of sad tears too. It is much better than the previous Ishqiya, but, of course, I am biased here. This movie is not a regular run off the mill movie. Vishal Bhardwaj and Abhishek Chaubey have come up with a brilliant movie, deserve to be remembered.

But the Indian audience, as usual, sucks. They are still too busy watching Dhoom 3, instead of something much more fun and original as Dedh Ishqiya.

Trust me, go watch it. It's money well spent. You won't regret it.

A sequel of the 2010 hit Ishqiya, 'Dedh Ishqiya', written & directed by Abhishek Chaubey, is A Brilliant Film! A top-notch screenplay along-with fantastic direction & stellar performances, make this one a massive winner!

'Dedh Ishqiya' Synopsis: Two wanted con-men fall in love, while on the run. Trouble follows...

'Dedh Ishqiya' is gripping & arresting. The characters are well-written, the poems are perfectly pitched in the narrative & the sequences, most of them, are hugely impressive. The romance works, the humor works & the thrills work. In short, Abhishek Chaubey's Screenplay is top-notch. A special mention for the wonderful dialogue written by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Abhishek Chaubey's Direction, on the other-hand, is fantastic. He captures each moment with flourish. Cinematography is royal, just like the film's mood. Editing is pretty sharp. Art & Costume Design, are appropriate. Music by Bhardwaj is melodious.

Performance-Wise: Naseeruddin Shah & Arshad Warsi reprise their roles from the prequel & they are in complete form. Naseer is endearing, while Arshad is simply flawless. Also, The on-screen chemistry between Naseer & Arshad, is magical. Madhuri does a commendable job. She carries off her part with grace & elegance. Huma Qureshi is splendid. Vijay Raaz is outstanding as the menace. His performance stands out. Manoj Pahwa is excellent.

On the whole, 'Dedh Ishqiya' works big time!

So, sequels are supposed to be jinxed. Abhishek Chaubhey is back with his quirky continuation of the tale that reintroduced neo-noir into Bollywood.

Dedh Ishqiya borrows heavily from the thriller/heist movies we have seen lately, but it deals with itself differently. Maybe the dialogs are quite subtle & strong at the same time. No prizes for guessing how the actors maneuver the plot into dynamism. Well, the plot revolves around a masquerading crook trying to woe a widowed princess so he can become the Nawaab of that town. The beloved duo of Ifthekar & Babban enter the scene with rather bizarre intentions and somehow get entangled. What follows is something better than majority of the 2013 releases.

Huma Qureshi is too sexy for the role, Madhuri Nene is shimmering and steals all the limelight; Shah & Warsi are sweethearts when it comes to character build-up. They truly are the real drivers of the violence- infested story. Lots of poems, sex, betrayals and songs pave the way for a rather appreciable effort.

Not that the songs are amazing, but if you have little doubt whether to watch or not, take Vijay Raaz as an alibi; boy, can he act! He is wonderful. Let the long running time and amateur editing not stall you from 2014's first blockbuster.

At least, they didn't screw it up. But I do feel they could've related the prequel (more) into the plot. That'd make me more jubilant. Adhai Ishqiya is on the way, though!

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended!

Profanity/Vulgarity/Mouth-Kiss: Strong | Sex/Drugs: No | Smoking/Alcohol: Mediocre | Violence/Gore: Very Strong