'Tu Meri Poori Kahaani' movie review: Mahesh Bhatt's new creation is a heartfelt ode to love, fame, failure, and emotions

Cast: Hirranya Ojha, Arhaan Pateel, Shammi Duhan, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Juhi Babbar, Avtar Gill, Uday Chandra

Director: Suhrita Das 

Language: Hindi

Tu Meri Poori Kahaani begins with debutant Hirranya Ojha auditioning for a potential role and gives it her all until she realizes the people taking the auditions are more interested in eating Upma and Poha. Right from the time when we see her (she plays the character of Anicka), we buy into her confidence, conflicts and demons. After all, this is a film that has been created by Mahesh Bhatt. This veteran filmmaker has woven stories around fragile and broken characters who make movies and music their melancholy and madness. The soundtrack of his 1993 Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi still continues to haunt and heal.

And just like his own 1998 classic Zakhm, the central character’s father is a filmmaker and there’s palpable conflict due to infidelity. And even after 27 years, the sight of a broken or perhaps a shaken home sends shivers. But given we are in 2025, Ojha has to be and become a Gen-Z. So she finds solace in an aspiring musician and then begins a soothing and searing love story that Hindi cinema seems to be backing in quick succession off late. And the debutant actress gets the nuances of the conflicted character right. For Arhaan Pateel, his restrained turned as a man struggling to get his voice heard hits the right notes. He never lets his inner demons take charge and offers a smile even in the harshest of circumstances. This becomes all the more evident when we see his home and his aging father.

Director Suhrita Das and Bhatt himself collaborate nicely to tell a vintage stories packaged in modern telling. One of the lines that hits home is this- Aap zindagi mein do nashe ek saath nahin kar sakte. Hindi cinema has always created immortal love stories out of imperfect and incomplete characters. And what better way to unite an aspiring actor and singer. The lightweight chemistry between the leads is a reminder of Rahul Roy and Deepak Tijori’s bond in Aashiqui, particularly in one scene where Anicka says how she owns Rs 15,300 to the man she seems to have fallen in love with.

What also works in Tu Meri Poori Kahaani is how Bhatt brings back his favourite Avtar Gill back on celluloid after ages. And how it talks about the highs and horrors of fame. It begins with the struggle to achieve stardom and then the struggle to sustain it. But no love story is perfect and the conflict of the story here is Shammi Duhan, the antagonist whose obsession for an overnight starlet begins to lose control and shake his sanity. Each character has been written with depth, and the cast though filled with newcomers handles their parts like seasoned performers.

Suhrita Das makes a confident directorial debut. The first time filmmaker manages to capture the rawness of relationships while maintaining a restrained appeal. The film also recalls the spirit of Saiyaara — a poignant love story that had moments of haunting music and heartfelt performances. Just as Mohit Suri burst onto the scene with Saiyaara , Suhrita too displays the same promise and sensitivity in her storytelling. If Suri was Bhatt’s golden find a decade ago, Suhrita feels like the new torchbearer of his legacy. Much like Saiyaara introduced a new emotional rhythm to Bollywood, this film too has the power to shape the voice of a new generation, provided it gets the release it deserves. Which brings us to the soundtrack by Anu Malik, who delivered his best in Phir Teri Kahaani Yaad Aayi. The composer’s tunes blend smoothly to the roller-coaster story.

Love vs. Fame

The central question the film raises — what would you choose: love or fame? — is handled with grace. Through Anicka’s choices, the audience sees both the allure and the emptiness of success without love. The climax, where she finds the courage to stand up against Raj (Shammi Duhan), is empowering and deeply moving.

The only drawback for Tu Meri Poori Kahani is the timing of its release. The current box office climate isn’t particularly friendly for films without the backing of big studios or established stars. However, it can grow well if the word of mouth clicks.

Yet, much like Saiyaara and Aashiqui 2 that found their audiences through sheer storytelling and music, this film too has the potential to shine if given proper word-of-mouth.

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Tu Meri Poori Kahaani is now playing in cinemas