‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’ movie review: Ajay Devgn, Tabu’s tiring symphony makes for a rewarding experience

Throughout its 140-minute runtime, the film predominantly comes across as a mainstream romance that feels awkwardly out of place and mismatched in tone.

Neeraj Pandey’s *Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha* has a unique and captivating charm. It truly transforms into an epic only during the final act. At times, the narrative feels like a frustrating jumble of awkwardly edited scenes accompanied by an overbearing background score. The film lacks subtlety and any pretense of realism. Instead, it combines classic Hindi film aesthetics with the intricacies of a non-linear storyline. For much of its 140-minute duration, it seems like a mainstream romance that doesn’t quite fit. However, everything comes together beautifully in a melodramatic musical finale. What initially feels overly sentimental shifts to something sublime, and what seems like random chatter evolves into poetry. The exhausting flair fades away, leaving behind a haunting, sorrowful essence. The filmmaking continuously redefines the concept of time. Spanning an impressive 25 years, we frequently revisit the past to gain insight into the present. Memories are gradually revealed, helping us understand the relationship between Krishna (Ajay Devgn) and Vasudha (Tabu), two star-crossed lovers whose lives are irrevocably changed on one fateful night. Krishna is sentenced to twenty-five years in prison for the murder of two men, leaving Vasudha in shock. While he is trapped within four walls, she feels confined in an open world. Love, after all, carries its own set of tremors and consequences. The past serves as a crucial key to deciphering the present. The scenes unfold like fragments of memory, revealing the deep sorrow that enveloped the lives of the two lovers. Everything is deliciously exaggerated at times, lacking resolution in certain moments. The storytelling rarely feels straightforward.

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha is a challenging film that could easily be dismissed as a bland and overly complex work if not for its unique approach to storytelling. Neeraj Pandey’s courageous decision to stretch moments and reexamine them from different angles throughout the plot may feel cumbersome at times. However, the emotional depth it encapsulates is too poignant to ignore. What initially appeared exhausting gains new significance through the themes that Neeraj emphasizes.

Moreover, the film features the signature ‘Neeraj Pandey Twist’ that truly captivates. The melodrama culminates in a powerful emotional release during the final 15 minutes, delivering a beautifully crafted conclusion. The film’s exploration of love’s sacrificial nature and how it surpasses superficial promises and even the constraints of time bestows it with a lyrical, almost mythical quality. It certainly requires patience to appreciate fully. I found myself restless in my seat for much of the viewing, but I emerged from the theater with a profound sense of fulfillment. It truly is a unique experience.

Directed by: Neeraj Pandey

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Saiee Manjrekar, Jimmy Sheirgill, and Jay Upadhyay

Rating: 3/5 stars