Gustaakh Ishq Review: Naseeruddin Shah Elevates an Overly Sweet Old-School Romance

Gustaakh Ishq arrives as a deliberate throwback to the era of handwritten letters, stolen glances and slow-blooming affection. Director Vibhu Puri builds a world soaked in nostalgia — from Old Delhi’s narrow lanes to cups of steaming tea shared on creaking balconies — but the film’s charm often dissolves under the weight of its own sugary earnestness.

At its heart lies the story of Nawabuddin (Vijay Varma), a young poet determined to protect his father’s fading printing press. Yet the narrative slowly shifts into an emotionally overripe love story between Nawabuddin and Fatima (Fatima Sana Shaikh), guided constantly by the presence of their poetic mentor, Aziz Baig — played with towering brilliance by Naseeruddin Shah.

Performances Anchor the Film — Especially Naseeruddin Shah

Vijay Varma embraces a romantic lead avatar rarely seen in his filmography. He plays the hesitant, soft-spoken lover with sincerity and warmth, while Fatima Sana Shaikh matches him with restraint and radiance. Their slow-burn chemistry is genuine, even poetic at times.

But Naseeruddin Shah is unquestionably the film’s backbone. As Aziz Baig, he brings gravitas, humour, sorrow and nostalgia with effortless command. In one standout bathtub sequence, Shah’s expressions convey more history than the film’s entire screenplay. Every line he delivers feels like a miniature masterclass in performance. Without him, Gustaakh Ishq would lose half its emotional weight.

Sharib Hashmi, in a brief but powerful turn as Attachie, delivers one of the film’s most affecting moments with his final dialogue at the station — the kind of emotional clarity the film often struggles to maintain.

A Romance That Sometimes Feels Too Sweet to Swallow

Despite its tenderness, Gustaakh Ishq leans so hard into old-school romance that it occasionally becomes self-indulgent. The yellow-tinted frames, the languid pacing, the endless pauses — after a point, the nostalgia becomes repetitive rather than immersive.

The central conflict barely registers, offering little dramatic tension. The narrative remains predictable to the point where the ending is visible long before it arrives.

Even the 90s-era setting feels visually inconsistent: the costumes, tones and production design look far older than the period referenced in the dialogues.

Music: Beautiful, But Missing the Magic

Vishal Bhardwaj’s compositions paired with Gulzar’s lyrics should have been the film’s emotional backbone. While the songs blend beautifully with the film’s aesthetic, most of them fade quickly from memory — except “Ul Jalool Ishq”, hauntingly performed by Shilpa Rao and Papon.

For a romance driven by atmosphere, the soundtrack needed to resonate more deeply.

Final Verdict

Gustaakh Ishq is crafted for audiences who still believe in the charm of vintage romance. It is heartfelt, warm and undeniably beautiful to look at — but also predictable, over-sweetened and at times emotionally stagnant.

Naseeruddin Shah’s magnetic performance elevates the film every time he appears, but the rest of the narrative struggles to match his brilliance.

A nostalgic ode to love — gentle, sincere, but too sugary too soon.