In this review, Anupama Chopra examines Tere Ishk Mein, the romantic drama directed by Aanand L. Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma and Neeraj Yadav. The film stars Dhanush as Shankar, an angry law student from humble beginnings with severe anger management issues, and Kriti Sanon as Mukti, a privileged PhD student who makes him her thesis project to prove that violence can be reformed out of anyone. Anupama acknowledges that both Dhanush and Kriti commit fiercely to their roles, running the gamut from love to rage to self-destruction, but finds their strenuous efforts undermined by a far-fetched, convoluted script.
Marketed as being from the world of Raanjhanaa, Aanand's 2013 film also starring Dhanush, Anupama notes that Tere Ishk Mein lacks the sparkle and sincerity of its predecessor. The plot veers from bewildering to outrageous, incorporating everything from UPSC exam preparation to a war with Pakistan and China, petrol bomb attacks, and a female Devdas arc. While she highlights A.R. Rahman's songs with lyrics by Irshad Kamil and Prakash Raj's moving performance as Shankar's long-suffering father as redeeming factors, Anupama ultimately concludes that Tere Ishk Mein is inanity disguised as profundity.
