Movie Review- Ikko-Mikke: Soul stirring, quite literally!

Gurnaaz Kaur

It’s Satinder Sartaj’s second outing in acting. After the much-acclaimed The Black Prince in Hollywood, the Punjabi Sufi sensation decided to focus on poetry and singing. The story of Ikko-Mikke (The Soulmates) prodded him to get back to acting, thus it marks his debut in the Punjabi films.

This tale of lovers-turned-life partners is sure to move many a heart. Nihaal (Satinder Sartaj) is a sculptor and Dimple (Aditi Sharma) is a theatre artiste. The two meet at college, spend time and fall in love. They look very sweet together and their show of love is simple and endearing. Both of them have high aspirations. They dream to make successful careers in their respective fields. And, in between these desires comes their love, which is not accepted by their families. Young blood, freshly in love, they resolve to elope, not knowing what married life has in store. Soon begin minor adjustments that further turn into compromises. Brooding, unhappiness follows. The two are aware of the differences but are full of ego to address the issues. Saying sorry is one of the biggest among other things.

So, it is first fighting the world to be together and then fighting all the time when they are together. The struggles at work (a job he takes up to meet his responsibilities as a husband) for Nihaal and the same for Dimple at a new household. The plot, therefore, is quite relatable. It is the story of every other couple. Be it the fights or when they fail to understand each other, most people in the audience can relate to the situations. Nihaal and Dimple reach a point where they reconsider their decision of being together and opt for a divorce. On the face of it, nothing is so majorly wrong but it’s the bottled emotions and the perpetual differences that become the reason for the big move.

And suddenly, it’s time for a twist. The most unexpected one at that! Their souls get swapped and they find out what it’s like to be in the other person’s shoes. This soul exchange is done by a Baba played by Mahabir Bhullar, who wants them to learn some valuable lessons about life and relationships. What ensues is a complete story, which is worth a watch.

Other things that work as a deciding factor for this flick include the chemistry between Sartaj and Aditi. It is fresh and stirs your soul. There is no drama in their romance, which is a plus. Aditi is very convincing; her experience in the industry reflects. Likewise, Sartaj’s lack of experience is also visible but that doesn’t take away the effort he has put in. He is charming and in times when his character feels helpless, you do sympathise. Their college moments click with the young audience and their post-marriage situations are much like the sweet-bitter tiffs that many couples go through, so that’s a part from the real world too. The sorry that was never said, becomes the turning point in this couple’s life and many others in reality. How ego has the power to make or break a relationship. It is the subtleness and honesty that clings to your heart.

The story is not just about romance, it has many emotions at play. Family life, involvement of parents in a couple’s life, the influence of older siblings and their married lives, all of these factors shape the complete picture. The supporting cast play their roles with sincerity if not perfection; therefore they tug at the heartstrings. Navdeep Kaler as Nihaal’s elder brother and Raj Dhaliwal as his sister-in-law have done a great job. Their screen time is limited, yet the impression they leave is strong.

Although Mahabir Bhullar has a powerful screen presence and he did his part well, but the addition of a Baba and how he exchanges the souls is bizarre. A high-on-emotion tale suddenly gets the other-world touch and it kind of baffles you. But one can support the thought or the philosophy behind the whole fairy-tale bent.

The music is melodious and meaningful as one may expect from Sartaj, he being the singer and lyricist. One more point that deserves a mention and a word of appreciation is how beautifully Chandigarh has been captured. Most scenes make you see the serenity of the city. Be it Panjab University, Government College of Art, Garden of Silence, Sukhna Lake or some eating joints, the expanse brings a magical touch to every shot.

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com