# Ishqiya

Ishqiya (transl. Passionate) is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language slapstick black comedy film directed by debutante Abhishek Chaubey starring Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi, and Salman Shahid, with cinematography by Mohana Krishna, and was produced by Raman Maroo and Vishal Bhardwaj. The film was released on 29 January 2010.
The film performed moderately at the box office. It was selected for screening at the 34th Cairo International Film Festival. A sequel Dedh Ishqiya was released in January 2014 with the same cast and crew, sans Vidya Balan, who was substituted by Madhuri Dixit and Huma Qureshi.

## Plot

Ishqiya starts with Krishna Verma (Vidya Balan) trying to convince her husband, Vidyadhar Verma (Adil Hussain), a local gang-lord, that he should surrender. He agrees but is soon killed in a gas explosion. Two criminals, Iftikhar aka Khalujan (Naseeruddin Shah) and Razzak Hussain aka Babban (Arshad Warsi), botch up a job and escape from the clutches of their boss, Mushtaq (Salman Shahid), who wants to bury them alive. They land up in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh to seek refuge in the house of Vidyadhar Verma.
Instead, they meet his widow Krishna, who gives them shelter and tries to seduce them to achieve her own secret goal. She proposes the kidnapping of Kamalkant Kakkar aka KK (Rajesh Sharma), a small businessman. The duo reluctantly agree, since they want to escape the clutches of Mushtaq. Meanwhile, Khalujan and Babban realise that they are falling for Krishna, but they do not reveal their feelings to each other. Babban eventually seduces Krishna and both have sex. Khalujan decides to tell his feelings to Krishna but is shocked when he sees Krishna and Babban together dancing after having sex. Khalujan is angry but keeps quiet. However, when the kidnapping does not go as smoothly as wanted, Khalujan and Babban start fighting.
Meanwhile, Krishna tortures KK and asks him where her husband is hiding, revealing that Verma might be alive. KK finally calls Verma. Babban and Khalujan realise that Krishna was just using them. They confront her, whereupon she reveals that KK and Verma were partners in the illegal business and that Verma is still alive. The duo reach KK's factory and are shocked to find Verma. Verma's goons blindfold the duo and take them to a deserted spot. When they take out their blindfolds, Babban sees Nandu (Alok Kumar), a boy he had previously met, pointing a gun at them. Nandu leaves them alive and explains the whole story. He tells that Verma had no plans to leave his criminal life, so he faked his death in front of the world, to get two benefits, getting rid of his wife by killing her in explosion and faking his death so he can start a new life with new identity as police was after him. Khalujan and Babban race back to Krishna's house, where they have left her tied to a chair.
Meanwhile, Krishna succeeds in opening the tube of gas cylinder, causing a leak. Verma confronts her and she tries to kill them by igniting a lighter. Verma assaults Krishna while the duo arrives. Soon, police arrive at the scene, too. Verma's goons are killed in a shootout, while Verma is killed in a gas explosion. The duo save Krishna and soon the trio is seen walking away from the burning house.
Unknown to them, Mushtaq is pointing a gun at them. Suddenly Mushtaq's wife calls. The trio are still seen through the gun hole of Mushtaq, making their fate unclear, although it can be assumed that Mushtaq left them alive.

## Cast

* Vidya Balan as Krishna Verma
* Naseeruddin Shah as Khalujan/Khalu/Iftikhar Hussain
* Arshad Warsi as Razzak Hussain aka Babban
* Salman Shahid as Mushtaq Bhai
* Adil Hussain as Vidyadhar Verma/Shyam Prasad Kulshreshtha
* Rajesh Sharma as Kamalkant Kakkar 'KK'
* Anupama Kumar as Manju Kakkar
* Gauri Malla as Mamta
* Alok Aarav as Nandu
* Anisa Bano as Tai

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film was composed by Vishal Bhardwaj and the lyrics are penned by Gulzar. The music was released on 1 January 2010. The reception to the music has been positive with "Dil To Bachcha Hai" and "Ibn-E-Batuta" being instant chartbusters. The track "Badi Dheere Jali", based on an Indian classical raaga "Lalit" and the ghazal "Ab Mujhe Koi" are sung by Rekha Bhardwaj.

## Reception
### Box office

In three days, the gross box office collections of the film in India crossed Rs. 150 million on 522 screens. Friday morning shows opened with 40–60 per cent in key areas like Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune evening settled down to 65–70 per cent with average occupancy cultivating first day gross box office of Rs. 38.5 million. With glowing reviews ranging from 3–4 star ratings and strong word-of-mouth from audience, Saturday showed an impressive jump of 25–30 per cent and settled down to Rs. 50 million; Sunday showed further jump of 30 per cent compared to Friday and 8–10 per cent compared to Saturday, garnered a further Rs. 54 million to cumulate an opening gross weekend collection of more than Rs. 140 million at the box office. After five weeks Ishqiya grossed Rs.220,500,000 and was declared an above average performer at the box office.

### Critical reception

Anupama Chopra of NDTV wrote, "Ishqiya would have faltered if the performances had not matched the writing but all three leads are absolutely terrific," while giving the movie 3.5 stars out of 5. Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN while giving it 3.5 on a 5-star rating, called it, "a delicious little film that teeters dangerously between saucy comedy and suspenseful noir....the film sparkles for its inspired writing and uncompromised direction." Pratim D. Gupta of The Telegraph called Ishqiya "a rollercoaster rustic ride through ishq aaj kal" and praised director Abhishek Chaubey calling his "one of the most assured debuts in recent Hindi cinema." Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL gave 4 out of 5 stars and said, "Ishqiya could have been an average film had it not been for the screenplay." The Indiatimes review also gave 3.5 stars out of 5. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama while giving the film 4 on a 5 star rating scale, said "You can't help but fall in ishq with Ishqiya. Tired of sherbat? Try this spicy jaljeera for a change!"

## Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| BIG Star Entertainment Awards | 21 December 2010 | Most Entertaining Film Actor – Female | Vidya Balan | Won | [16] [17] |
| BIG Star Entertainment Awards | 21 December 2010 | Most Entertaining Music | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [16] [17] |
| BIG Star Entertainment Awards | 21 December 2010 | Most Entertaining Singer – Male | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Nominated | [16] [17] |
| FICCI Frames Excellence Honours | 23–25 March 2011 | Best Actress | Vidya Balan | Won | |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Best Actress | Vidya Balan | Nominated | [19] [20] |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Critics Award for Best Actress | Vidya Balan | Won | [19] [20] |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Best Supporting Actor | Arshad Warsi | Nominated | [19] [20] |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Best Music Director | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [19] [20] |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzar ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [19] [20] |
| Filmfare Awards | 29 January 2011 | Best Male Playback Singer | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [19] [20] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Story | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Screenplay | Abhishek Chaubey Sabrina Dhawan Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Dialogue | Vishal Bhardwaj | Won | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Actress | Vidya Balan | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Supporting Actor | Arshad Warsi | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Music Director | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzar ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Male Playback Singer | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 23–25 June 2011 | Best Female Playback Singer | Rekha Bhardwaj ("Ab Mujhey Koi") | Nominated | [21] [22] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Album of The Year | Vishal Bhardwaj Gulzar | Nominated | [23] [24] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Music Composer of The Year | Vishal Bhardwaj ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Nominated | [23] [24] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Lyricist of The Year | Gulzar ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [23] [24] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Raag-Inspired Song of the Year | "Badi Dheere Jali" | Nominated | [23] [24] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Best Programmer & Arranger of the Year | Hitesh Sonik and Clinton Cerejo ("Dil To Bachcha Hai") | Nominated | [23] [24] |
| Mirchi Music Awards | 27 January 2011 | Best Song Recording | Salman Khan Afridi and Farhad K Dadyburjor ("Dil To Bachcha Hai") | Won | [23] [24] |
| National Film Awards | 9 September 2011 | Best Music Direction | Vishal Bhardwaj | Won | [25] [26] |
| National Film Awards | 9 September 2011 | Best Female Playback Singer | Rekha Bhardwaj ("Badi Dheere Jali") | Won | [25] [26] |
| National Film Awards | 9 September 2011 | Best Audiography (Location Sound Recordist) | Kaamod Kharade | Won | [25] [26] |
| National Film Awards | 9 September 2011 | Best Audiography (Re-recordist of the Final Mixed Track) | Debajit Changmai | Won | [25] [26] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Film | Raman Maroo and Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Story | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Screenplay | Abhishek Chaubey Sabrina Dhawan Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Vidya Balan | Won | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Naseeruddin Shah | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Music Director | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzar ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [27] [28] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 11 January 2011 | Best Male Playback Singer | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Most Promising Debut Director | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Actor | Naseeruddin Shah | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Actress | Vidya Balan | Won | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Supporting Actor | Arshad Warsi | Won | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Music Director | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Background Music | Vishal Bhardwaj | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzar ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzar ("Ibn-e-batuta") | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Male Playback Singer | Rahat Fateh Ali Khan ("Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Female Playback | Rekha Bhardwaj ("Ab Mujhe Koi" and "Badi Dheere Jali") | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Editing | Namrata Rao | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Screen Awards | 6 January 2011 | Best Sound Design | Shajith Koyeri | Nominated | [29] [30] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Hottest New Director | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Best Director – Thriller or Action | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Best Film – Thriller or Action | Ishqiya | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Best Actor in a Thriller or Action | Naseeruddin Shah | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Best Actor in a Thriller or Action | Arshad Warsi | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Best Actress in a Thriller or Action | Vidya Balan | Won | [31] [32] |
| Stardust Awards | 6 February 2011 | Star of the Year – Female | Vidya Balan | Nominated | [31] [32] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Most Promising Debut Director | Abhishek Chaubey | Nominated | [33] [34] [35] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Best Actor – Female | Vidya Balan | Won | [33] [34] [35] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Critics Award for Best Actor – Female | Vidya Balan | Won | [33] [34] [35] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male | Naseeruddin Shah | Nominated | [33] [34] [35] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Best Lyricist | Gulzaar ("Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji") | Won | [33] [34] [35] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 14 January 2011 | Best Track of the Year | "Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji" | Nominated | [33] [34] [35] |

## Sequel

* Main article: Dedh Ishqiya
At a private party, the producers of Ishqiya, Shemaroo and Vishal Bhardwaj, announced the sequel, Dedh Ishqiya, with the same cast and crew. In April 2012, Madhuri Dixit signed on for the sequel of Ishqiya, her first film after moving back to the country in November 2011 to play a grey character called Shahi Begum. The two male leads Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi were retained from the original. The role of supporting actress first was offered to Asin Thottumkal but, she refused to work in a supporting role in Dedh Ishqiya and in one interview she said that she thought that her role is not very attractive so, she left the project. Kangana Ranaut then signed Dedh Ishqiya and said she was going to start shooting soon. But in December 2012 she opted out due to date issues. Huma Qureshi replaced Kangna Ranaut. Arshad Warsi stated that he was paired with Huma and Madhuri was paired opposite Naseeruddin Shah.
The shooting was initially to start in September and was shifted to November later, but it was postponed even further. The shooting of Dedh Ishqiya began on 27 February 2013. The Mahmudabad palace near Barabanki was spruced up for the shoot. Madhuri Dixit performed mujra to a song titled Apne Karar Mein. Pandit Birju Maharaj choreographed the dance sequence for Madhuri Dixit for the film. First look of the film was released on 25 October 2013, trailer got released on 8 November, and the film has released worldwide on 10 January 2014, with 1200 screens in India.