Hamari Adhuri Kahani is one gigantic sob story. Mohit Suri is known for constructing relentlessly melodramatic affairs in the past but this time he has spent Mumbai Water Supplies’ year’s quota of to aid Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi and upto some extent Rajkumar Rao to construct a film so heavy that it will leave you dizzy by the time the end credits roll. There is not one genuine light moment in the film. Even the scene where Vasudha (Balan) and Arav (Hashmi) finally make their way to the bed(which could have been avoided) after a horrendously atrocious chain of sequences which could not even be justified by Stephen Hawkins, the viewer can’t help but think that this moment is not going to stay for long. That’s exactly what happens.
The film starts off with Rajkumar Rao’s Hari an aged man suffering from mental trauma making way with Vasudha’s ashes. He leaves behind a diary for her son to 
read wherein he has written Vasudha’s whole story. This is the first hiccup for the film because during Vasudha’s courtship with Arav, Hari was nowhere in the picture and in no way he could have known what he was relating. Moving right along, Vasudha is a single mother of a 6 year old with her husband missing for five years. Things get worse for her as her husband is suspected of being a terrorist. This is also the time when she meets Arav and he instantly falls in love with her. He offers her a job in his Dubai Hotel as a florist and she back her bags for the destination.
As the two warm up to each other, the “mangalsutra” comes in between and it is at this point that we have the interval. Post interval, Arav is able to extract the true emotions of Vasudha and after a rendezvous with his mother at Shimla, the two consummate and profess their undying love for each other. Arav wants to make his presence official in her life and so asks her to proceed with a legal divorce however that very day, Hari jumps back into Vasudha’s life. What happens next/ will she go back to him or will Arav get her divorce the man? That’s what is left to be seen in the next hour or so.
The primary problem with the film is the fact that it doesn’t make any sense and quickly manipulates situations to make up
for lack of logic. The climax is the biggest bore. I can’t give it up here spoiling the fun for those who are about to see it but I assure you, you will not have seen a more convenient end (just to match the story and Indian aesthetics) like this before. The narrative is heavy and there are loads of sob moments which at many junctures get to your nerves. The only relief are the wonderful songs which have enthralled listener and is bound to give you a moment of bliss in the mid of the drudgery that this film is. The “Humnava” track by Papon instantly gets to you and stays with you throughout. Even the title track keeps coming back to you.
The film is watchable primarily because of Vidya Balan-Emraan Hashmi essay. Their chemistry works big time and the moments that they share in 
Dubai complimented by the songs make for a lovely watch. Emraan does a lot to control his histrionics and keep his flamboyant style at check. He is really coming of age. Vidya is a superlative actress and she proves it yet again. The role suits her and even though she is horribly undone by poor writing, she does her best to rise above the mediocre character portrait that the director has to offer. Rajkumar Rao makes an impact. His Hari is real and it’s astonishing to see how such a meager screen time can be as effective as is shown by this man. The rest of the cast are apt.
Overall, Hamari Adhuri Kahani is one big letdown. Coming from the man who couldn’t go wrong over the years, it’s even a bigger let down as the expectations were soaring high. Sans the music and the performances, the film is empty and hollow. Watch it only if you have nothing else to do.
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