Tere Ishk Mein Review : A powerful love story that scorches the heart even as it stumbles.
 

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Aanand L. Rai returns to the space he knows best - intense, small-town love steeped in turmoil and Tere Ishk Mein feels like a spiritual successor to his 2013 classic Raanjhanaa. Only this time, the emotions are darker, the consequences more brutal, and the love story far more twisted.

A Love Story Born in Violence

The film follows Shankar (Dhanush), a law student and fiery youth leader whose first instinct is violence, and Mukti (Kriti Sanon), a PhD scholar researching whether violence can be “removed” from human behavior. When Mukti chooses Shankar as her case study, their worlds collide in ways neither expects. What begins as an unusual academic interest slowly transforms into affection… until circumstances tear them apart, unleashing a chain reaction of destruction, guilt, anger, and painful evolution.
 

An Emotionally Charged Narrative

Tere Ishk Mein blends love, innocence, rage, and trust with an unrelenting intensity. Writers Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav craft a world that feels familiar to Hindi love sagas but push it toward unexpectedly violent and tragic turns. Mukti emerges as one of the most complex female characters in mainstream cinema - torn between ambition and emotion, logic and vulnerability.

The film explores how love can elevate, shatter, and ultimately transform people. The father–son and father–daughter dynamics add rich emotional layers, grounding the story in real, aching human conflicts.
 

Technical Brilliance

Aanand L. Rai uses A.R. Rahman’s brooding background score and Tushar Kanti Ray–Vishal Sinha’s evocative cinematography to mirror the psychological chaos of the protagonists. As the plot thickens, the visuals grow more frenzied—reflecting Shankar’s volatility and Mukti’s spiraling fear and confusion.

However, the film’s final stretch falters. The last 25–30 minutes feel indulgent and uneven, briefly threatening to undo the film’s powerful buildup. Some scenes lack conviction, though the narrative regains balance just in time.

Performances

Dhanush is phenomenal. His shift from naive but violent youth leader to a disciplined Flight Lieutenant is seamless and riveting. This is one of his finest performances after Asuran and Karnan.

Kriti Sanon delivers what is arguably her toughest and most layered role to date. She brings depth, vulnerability, and a striking emotional presence.

• Prakash Raj is superb as Shankar’s father, adding gravitas.
• Tota Roy Chowdhury shines as Mukti’s father.
• Vineet Kumar Singh leaves a strong impact in a brief but memorable role.
• Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub’s cameo is sharp and effective.
   

Final Verdict

Tere Ishk Mein is intense, ambitious, and deeply emotional -  a film that examines love at its purest and most destructive. Despite its uneven finale, it stands tall on the strength of its performances and its unflinching portrayal of passion spiraling into chaos.

If Raanjhanaa was about the ache of unrequited love, Tere Ishk Mein feels like Raanjhanaa 2 but angrier, darker, and far more aggressive.

A powerful love story that scorches the heart even as it stumbles.