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Gustaakh Ishq Review: Urdu Poetry, Old Delhi Charm, and Naseeruddin Shah Steal the Spotlight

Gustaakh Ishq is a soulful romantic drama celebrating Urdu poetry, Old Delhi nostalgia, and heartfelt performances, though some critics find its first half slow and predictable.Here is the initial review based on social media audience remarks.

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Gustaakh Ishq, which was directed by Vibhu Puri and produced by Manish and Dinesh Malhotra, and is released on November 28, 2025, with the intention of providing viewers with a kind, contemplative, and tradition-based love tale.

Gustaakh Ishq is a story that revolves around Nawabuddin Saifuddin Rahman, played by Vijay Varma, a young poet trying to save his father’s printing press in the side streets of Old Delhi. During his journey, he meets retired poet Aziz, who is played by Naseeruddin Shah. He stumbles upon the impressive literary works of Aziz and starts to think that if he publishes them, then his fortunes would be turned around. 

But when he finds out the poet never meant to do so, he makes up his mind to go and see Aziz and convince him. But later Aziz becomes both a guide and a moral hurdle when Rahman falls in love with Aziz’s daughter Mannat, who is played by Fatima Sana Shaikh. The love story is depicted very slowly, adorned with Urdu poetry and a nostalgic setting that takes the audience back to a different period. The movie digs deep into the connection between art and love, thus questioning the nature of artistic creation when it exists only for itself and not for fame or profit.

What Works: Poetry, Music, and Performances

Based on social media reviews, Gustaakh Ishq’s first half is indulgent, time-taking, and leisurely in its establishment of the characters. The dialogue is delivered in Urdu essence, which is so rich that it might thoroughly immerse some viewers and slowly or even overwhelm others. The second half of the film gets the audience deeper into the subject matter, the connection of art and its creator. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s character Aziz very perfectly sums up the movie’s message with the quote, “voh shayar hi kya jise mashoor hone ke liye bazaar ke mohar ki zaroorat ho,” thereby pointing out the power of art that is beyond commercial use and thus exists for itself. Vishal Bhardwaj’s music, especially the title song Ul Jalool Ishq, gives a fitting and poetic aura to the narrative, and the corresponding musicality heightens that aspect. Vijay Varma plays his part amazingly, with his performance in the climax being particularly powerful, while Fatima Sana Shaikh offers a strong and engaging performance.

Naseeruddin Shah holds the film together with his characteristic weightiness, making the story emotional and, at the same time, elevating the storyline a lot. The movie pauses to consider what art looks like when it exists solely for itself in a time when everything needs monetization.

Social Media Buzz

Gustaakh Ishq has received the greatest praise on social media, especially X, for its nostalgic portrayal of Old Delhi, Urdu dialogues, and poetic storytelling. The great on-screen chemistry of Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh has been pointed out by the fans, while the performance of Naseeruddin Shah has been broadly appreciated for bringing the story to life. Music has also been mentioned before as one of the major reasons for the positive audience feelings, with the viewers stating that it stays with them long after the movie is over. All in all, for those who appreciate light-hearted and contemplative romances, Gustaakh Ishq presents a different type of movie, not a typical romance, which is pleasing and also captivating in terms of visuals and emotions as well.

Critical Reception

The hype on social media mostly had a positive note, but some critics brought up the point that the first part of the film could appear to be excessive and slow. The rich dialogues, even though they are lovely, can at times be the one to cause the slowing down of the narrative, and the plot can be somewhat foreseen in some of the segments. Still, the latter part of the movie does not disappoint; rather, it shows the director’s skill in tackling issues of art, love, and mentoring. The film, though not innovative on the narrative side, is still recognized by critics as not only great but also a charming experience due to the wonderful performances of the actors, the nostalgic setting, and the overall presence of poetry.

Worth the watch?

Gustaakh Ishq got a varied reaction. The feedback from social media shows the movie touches the people who are looking for a nostalgic, poetic romance and also like the performances, music, and setting. On the contrary, the critics are warning that the slow pace and lack of surprises might restrict its appeal to a wider audience. The film, however, is not going to be a huge commercial success, but it can still attract a group of people who like love tales with rich cultural and artistic elements. With the film running in cinemas now, online reviews are revealing that the audiences, who enjoy romance embedded in culture, poetry, and nostalgia, think it’s definitely worth a watch.

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