Ishaqzaade

Woven with shades of Romeo and Juliet, there's something eerie and unsettling in this tale of enemies to lovers. The cinematography, devoid of over the top CGI enhancement, felt raw and real, bringing in a weight of truth to the story.

The characters came absolutely alive, full of malice, anger, hate, interest, and rage. I love ghat neither was wholly good, wholly bad. Also, their chemistry was off the charts - superbly played by the actors.

The second half and the path to forgiveness felt slightly rushed. But their decent into madness and idealism, hoping their love meant something, had some impact on their families, left my chest hollow. The ending, albeit abrupt and cruel, felt perfect. It was realistic.

And so the hate between different religions and cultures persists, unless us, the viewers, decide to reflect and stop the cycle.