Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: A SWOC analysis

Saw Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. And some of my friends asked me to write a review. Now that’s not just mushkil but beyond my capabilities. Still reeling from the film’s after effects. But let me try a SWOC analysis of ADHM (these acronyms!!!) instead.

STRENGTHS
1. Full marks to both Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma for the spontaneity of their acting. They do justice to whatever task was given to them completely.
2. Arijit Singh’s rendering of the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil title song- lingers on for a long time
3. Lisa Haydon who plays a bimbette in two scenes but does a convincing job

WEAKNESSES
1. Karan Johar’s story writing skills and multiple muddled messages. Tried to analyze it throughout the movie and am still trying to figure out exasperatedly…. what the hell was he trying to say?!
2. Karan should refrain from writing shayarana dialogues in Urdu. As Ranbir remarks in the film- Aap log aise hi bolte hain ki yeh lines yaad karke aate hain!! Who speaks in Mughal-e-Azam style these days?

OPPORTUNITIES
1. If they simply dropped the Aishwarya Rai, SRK and Fawad Khan angle the film would have at least made some sense. BTW what was Fawad Khan doing in the entire movie? I think he got one scene with some dialogue (or was it two?). Got a feeling that some last minute editing was forced. Can’t believe he signed the movie for this bit role.
2. If Karan Johar changed his perspective on how relationships work or don’t – maybe this will work somewhat. The relationships he weaves are like spider webs! Also Aishwarya Rai’s character comes across as really contorted. Can’t believe every woman just jumps into bed at first encounter. Idiotic premise.

CHALLENGES 
1. For the audience: Sitting through the latter half of the movie wondering who is running towards whom and why is painful. The first 25 minutes are fun and have some refreshing irreverent dialogues. But once Fawad enters as the third angle the movie is all downhill
2. For KJo’s actors: Trying to look good while Karan downloads his entire childhood memory of cheap/whacky/legendary Bollywood songs and dialogues onto his audience. Both Farah and Karan need to leave their baggage of spoofing old Bollywood scenes- too repetitive.

Still wondering about the point KJo was trying to make? Dosti or pyaar? Can they coexist or not? Confusing, complicated and cringe inducing cinema.