In the 16 years since his directorial debut with A Wednesday (2008), Neeraj Pandey has carved a niche for himself as a master of thrillers. With Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, Pandey leaves his oft-treaded path to tell a love story spanning two decades, with Ajay Devgn and Tabu in the lead.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha opens in 2001, with young Krishna (Shantanu Maheshwari) and Vasudha (Saiee Manjrekar) dreaming of a future together. Fast forward to the present day: Krishna (Ajay Devgn) is now a convict serving a 25-year sentence at Arthur Road Jail for a double murder.
When Krishna is set free for his good behaviour, he plans to leave the country, having no family to return to. He goes to his old home one last time, seeking solace in memories, where Vasudha (Tabu), who’s been married to Abhijeet (Jimmy Sheirgill) for 12 years, comes to meet him. What follows is a series of flashbacks that shows how an incident on a random night altered the trajectory of their relationship and the course of their lives.
The initial setup is intriguing; Krishna and Vasudha’s journeys mirror a changing Mumbai captured by cinematographer Sudheer Palsane. But the screenplay gets bogged down with excessive flashbacks that disrupt the pace and hinder the emotional connection with the lead characters.
The film’s first half is a laborious exercise in establishing the characters and their past. The turning point comes in the second half when Krishna meets Abhijeet and it piques your interest only momentarily because the revelation about what actually happened on that fateful night is the kind of damper you weren’t ready for.
Despite the flaws in the screenplay, Devgn and Tabu’s chemistry is palpable. They elevate the film as best as they can, especially in the scenes without dialogue with an understated handling of complex emotions. And Jimmy Sheirgill, though always competent, is cast in a character that is one-tone.
Shantanu Maheshwari and Saiee Manjrekar are convincing as a young couple whose love has the capacity to burn intensely in their mature years. Jay Upadhyay as Krishna’s friend Jignesh adds some comic relief from the otherwise sombre narrative.
PS: The soundtrack of Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, composed by Oscar-winner M.M. Keeravani with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir, fails to make a mark.
