A well-adapted Romeo- Juliet works almost every time and that’s why Ishaqzaade works, at least for most of the time. Through his earlier works (Band Baaja Baraat and Do Dooni Chaar), writer-director Habib Faisal has already shown that he very well understands and presents the Hindi hinterland’s culture, lingo and psyche. In this latest YRF movie, he once again relies on that strength and creates a relatable, contemporary love-story of star-crossed lovers from the warring clans.

In a small fictional town from Uttar Pradesh, two politically strong families have been at each other’s throats for years. Their religious differences have only further embittered them against each other. So when a smart, firebrand girl, the apple of her family’s eye (Parineeti Chopra), encounters an uncouth, headstrong boy (Arjun Kapoor) from the opposite clan, they begin as expected- with firearms and abuses. But then the unthinkable happens and a romance blooms. But will it stand any chance to succeed in the surrounding hatred, violence and politicking?

As a writer-director, Faisal once again shows an eye for detail in presenting the typically rugged North Indian small town ethos, where the rich and the powerful are law unto themselves. The fights, the item numbers and the romance- everything clicks in the film’s first half, which races on with some engaging sequences and ends with a surprising turn at the stroke of intermission. But in the second half, the film’s energy, pace and narrative ideas all fail to keep up with the initial momentum and the rather tepid end doesn’t help the cause.

Arjun Kapoor fits his debut role of an all-brawn-no-brain hulk to perfection. It will remain to be seen how he handles more demanding roles in future. But Parineeti Chopra leaves no such doubts. The spirited lass had worked wonders in her debut role in Ladies Versus Ricky Behl and here, she enhances her reputation as a natural actress with spunk, sparkle and sweet looks. She is the life of this film and literally carries the film on her shoulders.

It may not have turned into a modern-day classic in Shakespearean tradition, but Ishaqzaade still has a lot going for it. Well worth a watch!