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There have been countless stories about Partition, but rarely has the tragedy been seen through the eyes of lovers. That is precisely what Imtiaz Ali achieves in Main Vaapas Aaunga. Beyond the hatred,
beyond the conflict, the film tells the story of people who longed only for love, peace and a place to call home.
Plot
Main Vaapas Aaunga follows Keenu, a college-going student from a Sikh family, who falls in love with a Muslim girl, Jiya. While the two were enjoying their growing closeness and budding romance, India was going through a tough time. As they were planning to get married, the Partition of India and Pakistan was announced. The movie follows multiple timelines and shows how Keenu, even after 78 years, longs to meet his Jiya, and on his deathbed he wishes to say a final goodbye to her. Will Nirvair (Diljit Dosanjh) be able to help his grandfather fulfil his last wish? Sharvari plays Jiya, Vedang Raina plays young Keenu, while Naseeruddin Shah stars as the older Keenu in the Imtiaz Ali’s directorial.
Review
The movie starts with Naseeruddin Shah’s Keenu struggling with dementia, trying to reason between reality and his thoughts. While Main Vaapas Aunga lives in two timelines, you will have to sit through the first half to be rewarded by the second. The first half of the movie, which mainly focuses on setting the tone and introducing and establishing its characters, felt a little overstretched. While the audience tries to connect with the characters, their story and their pain, it is only the second half that shifts something from within.
A man on a quest, longing and trying his best to fix everything — the typical Imtiaz Ali hero. But the difference? This time the story is not relatable; it is the reality that many must have faced during the hardest historical decision of the India-Pakistan divide. What begins as a grandfather’s stubbornness to revisit his old city soon turns into a grandson’s mission to uncover.
Often, we have seen films on Partition where we witness riots and families leaving their homes, but this time we see separation through the eyes of lovers. Two youngsters, planning their dream life, unaware that Partition could separate them forever, end up waiting an entire lifetime to meet again.
Like much of Imtiaz Ali’s work, Main Vaapas Aunga treats love almost as a spiritual experience. Keenu’s longing for Jiya often feels less like romance and more like devotion, echoing the emotional intensity seen in Laila Majnu.
The shots of what happened to those left behind, the shots of Keenu’s constant struggle to come back to his love and the ending will make you teary-eyed. The emotional payoff is so powerful that it almost makes you forgive the sluggish first half.
Performance
While promoted as a Vedang Raina and Sharvari starrer, the film has Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah as the heroes who remain the film’s strongest pillars throughout. Diljit, as Nirvair, holds the entire story together, and it feels like he makes us live both timelines of Keenu’s life through Naseeruddin Shah’s eyes. His punches land well, while we all feel something when he speaks about the desire to be loved like Keenu and Jiya.
Vedang Raina continues to make smart choices with his films and Main Vaapas Aaunga is another solid step forward. He got the chance to work with Imtiaz Ali as the younger male lead, and he delivers for the most part. There are a few moments where his acting feels a little forced, as if he is trying too hard, but those are minor bumps in an otherwise good performance. We cried when he cried, smiled when he smiled and laughed when he laughed and that’s a good sign.
Sharvari brings a natural warmth to Jiya, making every scene she appears in linger long after it ends. While she has fewer scenes than expected in the film, she does justice to every frame.
Music
When A.R. Rahman is in form, magic happens. Main Vaapas Aaunga boasts an album packed with songs you’ll want to play on repeat long after the film ends.
The film reunites the celebrated trio of Imtiaz Ali, A.R. Rahman, and lyricist Irshad Kamil, who have previously collaborated on films such as Rockstar, Highway, and Tamasha. The first two songs, Ishq Mastana and Maskara, arrive in the first half when you are still settling into the story. While both tracks are soulful, they don’t feel fully utilised and could have been woven into the narrative more effectively. Woh Nahin and Kya Kamaal Hai, on the other hand, leave you with goosebumps.
Another beautiful detail in the film is that every time Keenu and Jiya meet, a familiar tune plays in the background. If you wonder which one, it’s Hum Tere Pyaar Mein Sara Aalam, and it perfectly captures the essence of the film and everything it tries to say.
Main Vaapas Aunga isn’t flawless, nor is it relatable because many of us haven’t lived through that era, but the beauty of the film lies in how it manages to make us feel what many went through. While the first half is like a bumpy road, the second half of the film more than makes up for it. The movie ultimately teaches that even after all the fights, the only thing one remembers during their final moments is love and nothing else.
Final Verdict
Main Vaapas Aunga sees Partition through the eyes of lovers who don’t care about politics, religion, or what others believe. It is about what Partition stole from ordinary people. Imtiaz Ali reminds us that history may remember borders, but those who lived through it remembered the people they lost. The film makes you yearn for a love like Keenu and Jiya’s, but never for the pain of waiting a lifetime to reunite.
