Sometime around 2000, the quality of Indian movies improved significantly. Instead of producing MORE films than any other nation, the emphasis came to be more and more on make AS GOOD or BETTER films than the rest of the world. As a result, the acting became less broad, sound and music quality improved, and the films became something the Indians could be proud to have made. Now I am NOT saying films prior to this were bad...but the newer films are, in general, more appealing to western audiences. I mention this because although "Ishq" is a good film, it has a few problems you'd expect in a film made during this era...particularly very broad acting (at times, overacting) and poor music quality. If you accept this and expect it, you're more likely to enjoy the picture.
When the film begins, you see various situations where the very rich Harbans as well as Ranjit are loathsome men who are friends. Both have contempt for the poor and treat their underlings like dogs...at best. So imagine how they feel when BOTH men have the same problem...their grown children have fallen in love with working class slobs! Not surprisingly, they don't give the couples their blessings and both work hard to break up these relationships.
So is it any good? Well, for me, not really....mostly because the acting isn't exactly subtle...in fact, it's way over the top. Again, it was more the style of movies from 1997...so I don't so much fault this film. But there is no subtlety and the characters are pretty annoying at times....even Aamir Khan, who is my favorite Indian actor. But Indian audiences loved it...and my complaints are more about personal taste.
When the film begins, you see various situations where the very rich Harbans as well as Ranjit are loathsome men who are friends. Both have contempt for the poor and treat their underlings like dogs...at best. So imagine how they feel when BOTH men have the same problem...their grown children have fallen in love with working class slobs! Not surprisingly, they don't give the couples their blessings and both work hard to break up these relationships.
So is it any good? Well, for me, not really....mostly because the acting isn't exactly subtle...in fact, it's way over the top. Again, it was more the style of movies from 1997...so I don't so much fault this film. But there is no subtlety and the characters are pretty annoying at times....even Aamir Khan, who is my favorite Indian actor. But Indian audiences loved it...and my complaints are more about personal taste.