PremiumIshq Vishk Rebound review - Love's echo fades in Rohit Saraf and Pashmina Roshan's rom-com doldrums
In Nipun Dharmadhikari's Ishq Vishk Rebound, a modern portrayal of love struggles to find its footing.
Last Updated: 01.28 PM, Jun 22, 2024
The story follows four young people (Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan, and Naila Grrewal) as they navigate the complexities of friendship, love, and coming-of-age.
When I have to mention what Ishq Vishk Rebound is all about, what should I write? Could you describe the plot of the film, which spans one hour and 47 minutes and features five songs in total? In Gen-Z lingo, what is the meaning of rebound? Has it changed for the better? In this era where love is so unpredictable that even millennials must compete to survive, has it become less subject to judgment? Even after watching the film in a packed small theatre in Mumbai, the question persists.
Ishq Vishk Rebound, like several other films, follows the narrative template of a person in the present going back in time in the past and telling all about his life. Rohit Saraf, portraying Raghav, a writer aspiring to become a screenwriter in Bollywood, hosts both the flashback sequences and the "present-day" scenes. The actor brings his charm, which he has been exuding since Dear Zindagi (2016), and breaks the fourth wall while talking about what Ishq Vishk Rebound has in store for his viewers.
In Raghav's story, his two best friends, Sanya (Pashmina Roshan) and Sahir (Jibraan Khan), join him. They form a friendship trio, into which Ishq Vishk quickly integrates. From the outset, it is evident that Sanya and Sahir are in an immature relationship, characterised by frequent reconciliations and breakups, with Raghav being referred to as "Switzerland." But when an eventual breakup puts a painful stop to their relationship, the best friend, who always lends a shoulder to cry on, offers his lips for an awkward kiss.
Why "rebound"? Not only does Sanya experience a breakup with Sahir, but we also witness Raghav initiating a romantic relationship with Riya (Naila Grrewal), a forceful catalyst in the screenplay. What effect? I still don't know!
Rebound lacks a healthy definition. Rebound relationships refer to the practice of resuming a relationship prematurely following a breakup. Some people may repress their feelings, seek revenge on an ex, or just want to avoid being alone by using rebounds. Nipun Dharmadhikari, the film's director, thoughtfully incorporates all these aspects.
Given that it belongs to the romantic comedy genre, the film fails miserably in its attempts to portray romance or humour. For me, the Netflix series Mismatched also stayed on similar lines; the creators are the same: Nipun and Akarsh Khurana.
Over the years, people have asked Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao, the lead actors of the 2003 film Ishq Vishk, who should play their characters in a remake or reprise. However, the right question was: What should the story be like after 20 years?
In the previous film, we also see Shahid's character Rajeev fall for Alisha (Shenaz Treasurywala) soon after he breaks up with Payal (Amrita). But here, the rebound is intentional and vengeful. However, in the new film, it feels like as the generation changes, the maturity level also goes down. Coming of age occurs at a juncture where the film's narrative is about to conclude. Like rebound relationships, the film also doesn't seek a proper closure within themselves, leaving us to decide how they went about it.
In terms of performances, the lead actors don't help elevate the film at all. Rohit, who wears his charm on his sleeve, gets it right initially. However, the inclusion of the fourth wall break in unwelcome sequences eventually becomes grating.
On the other hand, Pashmina, who makes her acting debut with the film, goes all Shanaya, the character played by Alia Bhatt in her debut film, Student of the Year. However, as she navigates the delicate balance between portraying an immature young girl and an annoying character, her performance lacks clarity.
Jibraan, who makes his full-fledged Bollywood debut as an adult after being a child actor in the early 2000s, gets an opportunity to impress, but the film fails him miserably. To be honest, I wished to see more of his character fleshed out than any other in the film.
In the meantime, Naila's role in the film was akin to a special appearance, merely a necessity for the script. If you wish to see what the actor can offer, do watch the Maamla Legal Hai series on Netflix.
While writing the dialogue with Akarsh, Nipun penned the screenplay with Vaishali Naik, Vinay Chhawal, and Ketan Pedgaonkar. The film explores the universal language that now portrays the life of Gen-Z. However, it appears that the film oversimplifies the complexities of this generation, forcing viewers to understand them. Maybe we need a little rebound from Gen-Z and take a look at how toiling the lives of millennials have become in this era.
Ishq Vishk Rebound stumbles in its attempt to charm, delivering a lacklustre love story that leaves viewers feeling more jaded than jubilant. The film's narrative quickly loses its spark, much like a rebound relationship that starts with a bang but fizzles out.