Exploring Love and Blindness in 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan'

A Unique Encounter on the Train

On a train journey to Mussoorie, Saba (played by Shanaya Kapoor) meets Jahaan (Vikrant Massey). Saba is immersing herself in her role by pretending to be blind, embodying a method acting approach reminiscent of Konstantin Stanislavski. Her commitment to the role is so intense that she keeps her blindfold on throughout, unaware that Jahaan is genuinely blind.

Jahaan plays along with Saba's charade, guiding her to enhance her auditory perception. Saba proves to be an eager learner, applying her method acting skills to everything from cooking to intimate moments, even dancing with a cane at one point.

A Blossoming Romance

As their relationship deepens, a romantic connection forms between the aspiring actress and the singer-songwriter. However, just as Saba is ready to remove her blindfold, Jahaan mysteriously vanishes.

Santosh Singh’s film, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, draws inspiration from Ruskin Bond's short stories and initially teases intriguing metaphorical themes. The concept of lovers blinded by their own expectations holds potential, as does the idea that acting often involves a level of deception.

Screenplay Shortcomings

Unfortunately, the screenplay, crafted by Singh, Mansi Bagla, and Niranjan Iyengar, tends to be overly literal, leading to a dull experience. The film adheres to the 'love is blind' theme throughout, transitioning from a classic 1960s drama with Vishal Mishra’s emotive music to an unintentional comedy filled with lackluster dialogue and absurd situations.

The contrast between Jahaan’s exaggerated poetic demeanor and Saba’s anxious behavior is striking. Jahaan, who resists being labeled as 'specially abled', grapples with his self-image, while Saba’s confusion over Jahaan’s desire for distance is perplexing.

A Stage-Like Experience

The film predominantly revolves around the dynamics of these two mismatched characters. Zain Khan Durrani makes a brief appearance as a director guiding Saba, contributing to some of the film's more laughable moments.

Overall, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan feels akin to a theatrical performance or, more accurately, a radio play. Much of the film can be appreciated through listening rather than watching, suggesting that audiences might benefit from following Saba’s lead and blindfolding themselves to the uninspiring visuals while enjoying the couple's earnest dialogues.

Performances and Visuals

Vikrant Massey appears weary in certain scenes, seemingly struggling under the weight of Jahaan’s sorrow. Shanaya Kapoor delivers a decent debut performance, though Saba’s lack of agency and intelligence can be off-putting.

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