This year's Bollywood biggie for Diwali is Ae Dil Hai Mushkil directed by Karan Johar starring Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Anushka Sharma in the lead. Sitting down for the movie highly expectant of sizzling performance from the team and a star cameo by Shah Rukh Khan, here's how the film played out: 

What is it about?

It is pretty much everything the trailer and teaser revealed it to be. A 'there is peace in friendship, pain in love' type of relationship that inevitably turns into something serious. A quick, painful end that follows. And then another chance! But what happens then? That's, of course as expected, is the central theme. But should one give this love story a chance?

What makes up the film?
The entire first half is made up of carefully picked elements that narrate realistic chemistry between Ranbir ( Ayan) and Anushka (Alizeh) . And the second half a rather templated selection of elements describing the hook between Ranbir and Aishwarya (Saba). To finalise, the film is made up of humour, romance, some inevitable templated elements, and some interesting cameos. Parties and philosophies are plenty.

What works?

Cast and characterisation does the special magic for the film. Ranbir - defining how a guy can get to be called cute; Anushka - confident, carefree and captivating and Aishwarya- alluring, passionate and poetic. Enthusiastic performance is evident and is contagious. Screenplay, dialogues and music prove to be splendid.

What doesn't work?

So much has already been talked on this subject that no matter which angle you choose to look at this film, resemblances are a plenty. Some of such sequences stills the engagement while we wait for something to save the speed and engagement. Somehow the storytelling aspect of the film seems outdated. Screenplay suddenly disengages at times. Predictability plays spoilsport frequently.

Well?

Overall, ADHM is a tug of war between the above mentioned positives and negatives. But finally the contest seems to slack to the left. But a definite Diwali delight nonetheless.