Main Vaapas Aaunga – External Reviews

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by Subhash K Jha,

Bolly Spice

…Main Vaapas Aaunga is not a breezy experience. It commands our attention and respect for constructing a compelling case for peace and empathy at a time when movies are going all-out to propagate hatred and enmity. What Imtiaz Ali asks us in this precious film about love and amity is this: could the enemy be within us?…

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by Pranati A S,

Deccan Herald

…Among the many ironies of the two countries is how we can’t go there and they can’t come here, but a British citizen telling us how identical Delhi and Lahore are. Imtiaz uses it subtly to show reality’s bitter contradiction. The film also highlights the convenient politics of the British that shaped the harsh political and social landscape of the two countries….

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by Simran Singh,

DNA

…Barring a few hiccups, I find Main Vaapas Aaunga Imtiaz Ali’s best work. Yes, more than Jab We Met, Rockstar, and Tamasha. This film will truly make you start believing in love again. For me, this is the best love story in the last 20 years after Veer-Zaara (2004). Don’t miss Main Vaapas Aaunga at any cost, and go with your grandparents….

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by Aakash Kumar,

Filmi Beat

…Overall, Main Vaapas Aaunga is not without flaws. The slow and somewhat underwhelming first half prevents it from reaching greatness. However, its emotionally rewarding second half, impactful performances and heartfelt storytelling make it a worthwhile watch….

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by Lachmi Deb Roy,

FirstPost

…Not just cinematically, the film shines in every possible way, but it is an urgent watch because of its connection to present-day situations. To connect with every scene, you better stay glued to the big screen!…

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by Ria Sharma,

Free Press Journal

…Yes, the film could have been slightly shorter, especially in the first half. But that’s just a small complaint in an otherwise beautiful cinematic experience. Main Vaapas Aaunga is packed with love, loss, longing and hope. It is emotional and heartbreaking. This is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll….

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by Rishabh Suri,

Hindustan Times

…Main Vaapas Aaunga delivers something far rarer: a deeply human story. It may stumble occasionally, but when it soars, it reaches the kind of emotional heights few filmmakers today can access. By the time the credits roll, you are left with moist eyes, and the lingering ache of a story that refuses to leave you long after you have left the theatre….

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by Sakshi Verma,

India TV

…As far as music is concerned, the background score by AR Rahman plays a very subtle role in conveying different emotions to the audience. At the same time, the songs add to the emotional aspect of Imtiaz Ali’s movie. Together, the music and visuals create a sensory experience that elevates scenes beyond what is written on the page. Main Vaapas Aaunga album is special and should be celebrated….

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by Shubhra Gupta,

indian express

…For me, the film’s weaker portions are papered over by the ones that hold us, re-uniting us with a filmmaker unafraid of drama, telling us a story about memory and loss, and the power of home-coming….

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by Rajiv Vijayakar,

koimoi

…A.R. Rahman, as in most cases, does a great job of the background score, but one cannot say the same about his songs. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics, however, are between pithy (mostly) and a shade abstruse, but the song, Kya kamaal hai, sung by Diljit, is a lyrical masterpiece that grips also with its unique and brilliant visuals. Mascara is catchy, but only in the mukhda!…

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by Radhika Sharma,

NDTV

…Imtiaz Ali has famously said he hates that his films “work” only years after release, with Laila Majnu being a case in point. Here’s hoping he gets that real-time recognition with Main Vaapas Aaunga….

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by Shachi Chaturvedi,

News18.com

…While promoted as a Vedang Raina and Sharvari starrer, the film has Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah as the heroes who remain the film’s strongest pillars throughout. Diljit, as Nirvair, holds the entire story together, and it feels like he makes us live both timelines of Keenu’s life through Naseeruddin Shah’s eyes. His punches land well, while we all feel something when he speaks about the desire to be loved like Keenu and Jiya….

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by Aishani Biswas,

Outlook India

…Visually, Main Vaapas Aaunga is stunning. The cinematography captures both the beauty and fragility of memory. The recreation of old Punjab feels immersive without appearing artificial. Every frame appears carefully designed to evoke a world that exists partly in reality and partly in recollection….

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by Gayatri Nirmal,

Pinkvilla

…After a long dry spell, Hindi cinema finally delivers a profound love story that will leave your heart racing and your eyes moist long after you step out of the theater. True to the Imtiaz Ali universe, the iconic tradition of a lead character eating in isolation makes a poetic return….

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by Sreeju Sudhakaran,

Rediff

…Kya Kamaal Hai encapsulates exactly why Imtiaz Ali made this film. It is his mercy letter to a burning world that continues to look away while millions are killed, displaced or rendered homeless across the globe….

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by Nandini Ramnath,

Scroll.in

…The story’s radical edge is waiting to be unsheathed. In Kya Kamaal Hai, sung by Diljit Dosanjh and placed in the middle of the end credits, Ali dazzlingly links Partition not only to present-day conflicts around the world but also to the tendency of Indians to ignore uncomfortable realities and insist that everything is wonderful….

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by Anuj Kumar,

The Hindu

…Rahman is shifting his musical axis, fusing his global, synth-heavy soundscape with the raw, untamed heartbeat of Punjab. It is not an easy marriage and at times gives a sense of desperation to fit in, but the friction between Rahman’s clinical precision and Punjab’s bleeding heart is precisely where the magic happens….

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by Anas Arif,

the new Indian Express

…Yet, for all the familiar trademarks, Main Vaapas Aaunga may also be Ali’s most evolved film. For perhaps the first time, he is less interested in leaving home than in returning to it. He is less interested in escape than in embrace….

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by Shubhangi Shah,

The Week

…Performance-wise, the film is anchored by an exceptional cast. Vedang Raina is excellent the younger Ishar, while Sharvari lends innocence to Afsana that reminds you of a bygone, simpler time. Dosanjhserves as the film’s emotional bridge between past and present, grounding it exceptionally well….

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by Dhaval Roy,

Times of India

…Imtiaz Ali’s signature poetic and deeply emotional storytelling, along with the powerful performances, make this a must-watch. The film’s bittersweet ache stays with you long after the credits roll….

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So-So
by Rachit Gupta,

Filmfare

…And yet. For anyone who has ever read Rumi on a sleepless night or found themselves undone by an Amrita Pritam poem, Main Vaapas Aaunga has a soulfulness that quietly gets under your skin and into the rhythm of your heart beats. The love at its core is real, rare, and worth returning for….

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by Nitin Jain,

Glamsham.com

…For those willing to invest in its world, however, Main Vaapas Aaunga offers a sincere and moving experience. It is an unusual interfaith romance that uses the tragedy of Partition to tell a deeply human story about love, longing and the connections that survive even when time, distance and history stand in the way….

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by Uday Bhatia,

Live Mint

…Ali seems especially moved by the plight of refugees. The film opens with news of a devastating earthquake. The end credits have Dosanjh singing over footage of various humanitarian crises. It’s heartfelt, and a little cheesy—like everything that’s come before. There’s a small, key moment when an old man hesitates to share his Partition memories, saying they’ll be misunderstood and turned into hate. Main Vaapas Aaunga understands that the past is only worth dredging up if it can heal the present….

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So-So

MiD DAY

…The performances are undoubtedly one of the film’s biggest strengths. Naseeruddin Shah effortlessly carries the emotional weight of the narrative on his shoulders, delivering a deeply moving portrayal of a man burdened by fading memories and unfulfilled love. Diljit Dosanjh, meanwhile, lights up the screen with his natural charm and warmth, providing the film with some of its most heartfelt moments. Vedang Raina leaves a strong impression as the young Keenu, capturing both the innocence and vulnerability. Sharvari Wagh is equally stunning, bringing grace, spirit, and emotional depth to Jiya, making her presence felt despite the limited screen time….

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by Vineeta Kumar,

india today

…Main Vaapas Aaunga wants to be a conversation between generations – between those who lived through Partition and those who inherited its memories. It wants to explore grief, belonging, identity and reconciliation. These are worthy ambitions. But ambition alone cannot sustain a film….

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