Ishqiya is a rickety but fun rickshaw ride. It takes you through the lives of the lawless in UP. Nothing has been glossed over. Just plain crude. Its feral. It contemporizes what we read in old Birbal tales, that wit can get you to cheat death. Its painfully hilarious at moments. It gives you lot of the unexpected to keep up the thrill. The answer to the puzzle is unobtrusively given to you in the beginning of the movie. If you are wise enough you’ll catch it or you’ll just end up feeling silly when its revealed (like me).

Cinematography is simply superb. Right from the first frame to the last. Editing is apt.

Music, what can I say is sort of like Multani Mitti (Fuller’s earth). We girls are quiet acquainted with it. It’s nothing but mud. But it’s soft and cool and great for your skin. The music seems to have sprouted straight out of the soil… so rooted, so humble, but yet strongly effective! Dil to baccha hai ji is already a hit. But do watch out for Vidya’s solo singing sequences where just a female voice with the accompaniment of sitar is featured. It’s fantastic!

The color scheme is basic. Right from the natural browns and greens of the village to the bright yellows, reds and magentas of Vidya’s attires (and in one shot Arshad’s undies too).

The action in the film is shocking at times revolting too.

Then there are other puke-inducing stuff shown like – A woman may act pricey. But corner her in an empty house, forcibly give her a taste of yourself and eventually she’ll sleep with you. Maybe, it’s there to feed the male ego?