Film: Tere Ishq Mein
Cast: Dhanush, Kriti Sanon, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Prakash Raj
Director: Anand L. Rai
Rating: 2 Moons
storyline
The story centers around Shankar Gurukkal (Dhanush), the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president, who is known for his violent and domineering nature. Mukthi (Kriti Sanon), a research scholar who wants to prove that even violent people can change, makes Shankar her thesis subject. Shankar gradually falls in love with her, but Mukthi doesn't give him the same respect he expected. After her PhD, the story moves forward seven years, where the film's grip and emotion completely falter.
Acting
The film's biggest weakness is its acting. Dhanush seems to be caught between overacting and a lack of expression, and his accent gets worse and worse. Emotional scenes are irritating most of the time. Kriti Sanon does a decent job, while the supporting cast outshines the lead in many instances.
Direction
Anand L. Rai's direction completely misses the mark this time. The film feels like it was shot without any planning. There's no vision, no grip, and no modern sensibility. Presenting an old-fashioned obsessive love story in 2025 makes the film cumbersome and outdated. Many serious scenes feel unintentionally funny, and the story wanders, causing the film to become entangled in its own themes.
Dialogues
The film's dialogues are over-dramatic and, in places, so outdated and cringe-worthy that even serious scenes feel trite. Many of the dialogues are so problematic that they have the potential to send the wrong message, especially in today's times where similar toxic lines are glorified.
Music
The film's real salvation is its music. The songs are listenable, and some tracks provide relief amid the story's weaknesses. The background score also maintains the mood at times.
Overall
‘Tere Ishq Mein’ feels like a test of patience. The intense love story the title promises is shattered within half an hour. If you like obsessive stories like ‘Animal’ or ‘Kabir Singh’, you'll enjoy the film: otherwise, it's not necessary for audiences in 2025.
