Tigmanshu Dhulia returns to direction, this time with a light-hearted romantic film in Milan Talkies. The movie has been in development for some time, seeing changes in the leads. Milan Talkies was to have Imran Khan in the lead, who walked out of the film with reasons undisclosed. There were also talks that Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra were to be a part of the film. Finally, after years, Dhulia makes Milan Talkies with Mirzapur fame Ali Fazal and Vikram Vedha actress Shraddha Srinath (making her Bollywood debut). Can Tigmanshu Dhulia return to his acclaim earning ways with Milan Talkies? Here's what we feel after watching the first half. Bhoot Police: Saif Ali Khan, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Ali Fazal in Pavan Kirpalani’s Horror-Comedy.

"Set in Allahabad, Milan Talkies is about the love story of Annu Kumar and Mythili. The boy-meets-girl romance has the ingredients of the stuff we see in our regular films. But it is Dhulia's treatment that makes the film so watchable. From the first half at least, we could say that this is Tigmanshu Dhulia's most light-hearted attempt at making a movie. Sure, near the interval point, things do turn a bit serious and bloody. However, till then, Milan Talkies (also the name of the theatre where the hero and his friends hang out) has been a breezy affair with enough light-hearted moments. Not every bit makes you laugh, but it will keep you invested in the proceedings.

Milan Talkies' cast is also the reason why the film manages to get your attention. The veteran stars, including Sanjay Mishra, Ashutosh Rana and Dhulia himself, are a treat to watch. The leads themselves, Fazal and Srinath, have an easy chemistry between them. And even the actors who play their friends are spot on. With the second half promising to take a serious turn, we hope that Milan Talkies doesn't get detailed in the process."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 15, 2019 11:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).