I’ve been a fan of Imtiaz Ali before Tamasha got cult status. If there’s one thing about his stories, it is that he loves mountains, and even more so, he loves stories, and “Laila Majnu” might be his favorite. “Laila Majnu,” directed by Sajid Ali and presented by Imtiaz Ali, is a new sensation in India, but guess what? This movie came out six years ago, and like Imtiaz’s previous films, this one is now getting the love it deserves.
Sajid Ali’s “Laila Majnu” is a cinematic gem that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling. This modern adaptation of the classic love tale is a poignant exploration of love, obsession, and the destructive power of passion. The film is a visual poetry that captures the raw intensity of the protagonists’ emotions.
Everything happening in the film feels dreamy and poetic. Laila is a free-spirited girl from a conservative family who firmly believes in living for the present. Qais, a spoilt brat, falls head over heels in love with her. Their families, however, are warring over property, which leads to self-destruction, pain, and bleeding hearts.
Tripti Dimri and Avinesh Tiwari deliver stellar performances as Laila and Majnu, respectively. Their chemistry is palpable, and their portrayal of the iconic lovers is both heartbreaking and mesmerizing. The film’s narrative is driven by Majnu’s obsessive love for Laila, which not just borders on madness but actually crosses it. His journey from innocent love to worship is a beautiful and heartbreaking exploration of human emotion as we see the seven stages of love one after the other, and in which Majnu takes the worship stage to a point where he literally sees Laila as his God. The part where he sees her for the first time in years and calls her ‘La-Illah’ and then proceeds to describe Laila in everything he sees is probably the most beautiful part of a love story I’ve ever witnessed. This story shows that no matter what religion you are of, love and God are one.
This film frankly cannot work the first time over if you only see it as a popcorn flick. It is not one of those. In fact, if you watch this film without any context about who made it, it’ll feel like an overly rushed or very anti-climatic film. But as Ludwig Deiter from Army of Thieves said, “In order to understand a work, you must engage with it.” Similarly, the moment you acknowledge what the filmmakers behind the film try to tell in their other stories, you begin to see the poetic nature of the film and how they love the madness of it all. They have a point, and they’re presenting it without being overly artsy or trying to make it perfect, which is what makes the film even more beautiful. The film started hitting me as the first half approached, and from that point on, the dialogue didn’t feel like script words for a film but like lines of a poem.
The film’s powerful storytelling effectively conveys the characters’ emotions, making even the simplest of lines feel deeply impactful. For example, when Laila says, “There’s nothing behind the mountains!” Her words resonate with a profound sense of loss and despair.
“Laila Majnu” is more than just a love story; it’s a commentary on the destructive nature of societal expectations and the power of love to transcend boundaries. Sayak Bhattacharya’s cinematography is breathtaking, capturing the beauty and intensity of Kashmir and Majnu’s dreamy hallucinations. The music is equally evocative, adding depth and emotion to the narrative. The lyrics by Irshad Kamil, as always, are perfect.
Sajid Ali does a wonderful job directing this film. The screenplay by Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali hits the right notes at the right moments. It adds yet another beautiful chapter to the Imtiaz Ali and the “What’s Beyond the Mountains?” cinematic universe. You can really connect the dots, and it makes Tamasha feel like The Avengers of this universe as all stories collide. Ved says, “Didn’t like the ending? So what? It’s our story. We can change the ending!”
This film’s re-release was a much-needed cinematic redemption that was amazing to witness. “Laila Majnu” is an amazing poetic tragedy love story by Sajid Ali that is unafraid to express love. It is bold and fearless. It is beautiful, and despite, from a critical perspective, not working as coherently as it should, it still hits the right notes because it’s a generational film that we come across as part of a large universe. The poetic nature makes the case for the film, which makes it a must-watch.
I’d rate this film a four out of five stars for all its madness. Also, if any of the storytellers are reading this review, what’s beyond the mountains?
