| Laila Majnu | |
| Director: | Sajid Ali |
| Producer: | Ekta Kapoor Shobha Kapoor Preety Ali |
| Screenplay: | Imtiaz Ali Sajid Ali |
| Starring: | Avinash Tiwary Tripti Dimri |
| Music: | Songs: Niladri Kumar Joi Barua Alif Background Score: Hitesh Sonik |
| Cinematography: | Sayak Bhattacharya |
| Studio: | Balaji Motion Pictures PI Pictures |
| Runtime: | 140 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Hindi |
| Gross: | (Initial run) (re-release)[1] |
Laila Majnu (in Hindi pronounced as /lɛːlaː mədʒnuː/) is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film starring Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri. It is directed by Sajid Ali, presented by Imtiaz Ali and co-produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Preety Ali.[2] [3] [4] [5] The film is a contemporary retelling of the story of Layla and Majnun.
Released theatrically on 7 September 2018, the film met with lukewarm response and failed commercially at the box office. But in later years, it received positive reviews for its story and cast performances and soundtrack garnering critical acclaim, following its digital release led to some outlets assigning the film cult status.[6]
The film re-released in theatres in India on 9 August 2024 due to popular demand.[7]
Belonging to a reputed family in town, Laila is a flirt who likes to tease boys who are attracted to her. She meets Qais Bhatt, a boy belonging to a rich family. Despite ongoing legal disputes between their families, the two fall for each other instantly. When Laila's family finds out about their relationship, they fix her marriage with Ibban, her father's political assistant. She is forced to marry him when her father threatens to drink poison is she takes the step to run away with Qais secretly while still waiting for Qais to convince her father.But she witnesses a partial part of their conversation and breaks up with him reluctantly because of her father's threat and assuming he was speaking disrespectfully to her father. Qais tells her that he would not follow her anymore and asks her to find him if she ever needs him.
After four years, Qais returns from London for his father's funeral. He avoids meeting Laila. Laila, who is regularly abused by her drunkard husband, the new MLA, decides to meet Qais. When she sees him, she realises that he was struggling all these years with her memories, making him a different person. Laila stands up to her husband and they decide to get divorced. Laila asks Qais to wait till her divorce. However, before the divorce, her husband dies in a road accident. Laila decides to run away with Qais on the day of the funeral but her father asks her not to and promises her that she can marry him after a few weeks. Laila again asks Qais to wait for her.
Qais who had been waiting for her for years, gets a feeling that he will never get united with her and this thought makes him eccentric. He begins to have hallucinations of Laila, he talks to her and eventually runs off to a mountain. His family, friends and Laila search for him for days but he is still missing. Qais however thinks that Laila is with him and starts a life with her in the mountains. He is caught by some people and is brought back to his house. There he recognises Laila but also says that Laila is not one person but she is everywhere and points to different directions.
Laila realizes that he has reached the ultimate level of love.She realizes that in order for them to be together their souls need to meet. Hence, while holding the note he gave her she faints due to heartattack. The note which said that now if she wants him she has to reach him, indicating again that he is far ahead in love for her and she needs to search for him and reach him. Majnu realizes that Laila is no more and runs to the mountains where he stumbles and hits his head over Laila's grave. While dying he sees Laila calling to him from the mountain top. The film ends with a song where it is shown that their souls are together doing everything that they had decided. The film ends with the line, "They lived happily ever after - which is both ironic and true".
| Laila Majnu | |
| Type: | soundtrack |
| Artist: | Niladri Kumar, Joi Barua and Alif. |
| Released: | 17 August 2018[8] |
| Recorded: | 2018 |
| Genre: | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length: | 42:33 |
| Language: | Hindi |
| Label: | Zee Music Company |
Hitesh Sonik composed the film's background score and Niladri Kumar, Joi Barua and Alif composed the songs. The lyrics were written by Irshad Kamil, Mehmood Gaami and Mohammad Muneem. The first song, "Aahista", was released on 9 August 2018.[9] This was followed by the title track, "O Meri Laila", on 13 August 2018.[10]
| Date of Ceremony | Awards | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 February 2019 | Mirchi Music Awards | Upcoming Music Composer of The Year | Niladri Kumar – "Aahista" | [11] [12] | |
| Lyricist of The Year | Irshad Kamil – "Aahista" | ||||
| 23 March 2019 | 64th Filmfare Awards | Rd Burman Award For Upcoming Talent in Film Music | Niladri Kumar | [13] | |
| Best Playback Singer (Female) | Jonita Gandhi – "Ahista" | [14] |