Why is a film based on dowry and it's ill effects sold on the concept of falling in love over food? Yes the culinary arts influence the lead characters in this film. But not to the extent where food becomes the fabric of love. The reality of Daawat-e-Ishq is that it's a film that highlights the social evil of dowry. The movie even starts with a disclaimer on the issue. "A bride is burnt every hour in our country over dowry". No sign of delectable love, yet. So the story kicks off with a quintessential Hyderbadi family. There's a honest to his last nerve-ending kind of father played by Anupam Kher. There's his very hard working, intelligent and quite beautiful daughter Gulrayz played by Parineeti Chopra. The mother has long passed away and father daughter are quite the inseparable bunch. The most pressing problem in their life is Gulrayz' marriage and the heavy dowry demands it brings.

Set in Hyderabad and Lucknow, Daawat-E-Ishq, is a love story that also talks about a social cause. Written and directed by Habib Faisal, this film revolves around Gulrez aka Gullu (Parineeti Chopra), a young, independent shoe sales girl who plans to go abroad for further studies. But since her father (Anupam Kher) is just an honest clerk in a High Court, all he could afford to do is save Rs15 lakh for her dowry. Gullu and her father are tired of the kind of grooms that their meagre dowry amount attracts. Gullu is not happy as she is looking for an intelligent, English-speaking partner. Her search leads her to a 12th standard passout, the softhearted restaurant owner, Taariq urf Taaru, but by then, her plans have undergone a sea change.

<strong>Parineeti Chopra-Aditya Roy Kapur's daawat is tasteless!</strong><br/> The intention of director Habib Faisal is noble, but the route he has taken is long and boring. What Faisal wants to depict is how a woman makes the best from Section 498A of the Anti-Dowry Act. What I gather he was trying to portray, according to what he has been saying in interviews, is that it is ok if a man dupes woman demanding dowry, but when a woman turns the tables, she becomes a criminal!

<strong>Though it fails to create an impact around its central theme, Daawat-E-Ishq is fairly entertaining. </strong><br/> A beautiful Hyderabadi girl meets a charming Lucknow boy and love blossoms amidst culinary extravaganzas. If that's what you expected from this latest offering from Yash Raj Films you would be quite disappointed. The food and locations seem to just serve as cleverly chosen garnishing to a story that's completely different from what you may anticipate from Daawat E Ishq. And this turns out to the draw as well as the weak-link in the film.

'Daawat-e-Ishq' is a delectable love story. And what I like about this flossy romance is that it manages to pack-in a neat little message for prospective grooms and dowry-seeking parents. Usually I love Parineeti Chopra, who plays the feisty Gulrez Qadir, in this film. Gullu is good but Tariq Haidar (Aditya Roy Kapur) is even better. Our Lucknowi cook Taru, with his surma-lined eyes, unpolishedEnglish and brash manners is a sure charmer.

<strong>The film is unmistakably bland</strong><br/> Texture is everything, and writer-director Habib Faisal is in on that secret. From the car-purchasing ambition of a middle-class school teacher's family in Do Dooni Chaar, to the rapidly expanding business plans of a pair of hardworking Janakpuri entrepreneurs in Band Baaja Baaraat (which Faisal scripted), he understands well that rooting one's characters in a world that feels familiar and relatable is half the battle won.

<strong>Parineeti-Aditya's recipe is worth trying</strong><br/> Gastronomic love stories are rarely served in Bollywood and director Habib Faisal is now one of them adding his story to the list. Donning a chef's hat, the director steps into his kitchen of film making and uses the available ingredients to make out a sumptuous dish and invites us to a fiesta called Daawat-e-Ishq.

Bollywood has, over the years, witnessed many a film, which spoke about and highlighted the age old 'tradition' of the evil dowry system. In the past, films like MEHNDI, GHAR HO TOH AISA etc. have spoken of this social evil. This week's release DAAWAT-E-ISHQ also treads on the same territory, but in a 'delicious' manner (as the title suggests). To start with, the title of the film DAAWAT-E-ISHQ is misleading, as the film is about dowry system and not about food and delicacies as the film's title and promotions indicate. This film highlights the fact that not only are girls from middle class families subjected to this unethical custom of paying dowry during weddings, but also how today's girls can actually con (courtesy, internet) any simple loving boy off his emotions and wealth, using the law.

Filmmaker Habib Faisal managed to get all the right ingredients in Daawat E Ishq. Casting tops that list. Parineeti Chopra, Aditya Roy Kapoor along with Anupam Kher ensure you are glued to the screen and entertained as well. Gulrez (Parineeti Chopra) is an educated shoe-sales girl who lives in Hyderabad along with her father played by Anupam Kher. Fed up of dowry-seeking men Gulrez now wants to make some quick money and move to the US. She thinks of a plan to trap a family that would demand dowry from them, she will record that on a hidden camera and blackmail them as it's against the law under IPC Section 498A and with that money she plans to move to the US.

Story: Wafting flavours of love simmer via the best-known route possible - stomach. The daawat looks good, but will it leave romantics with an unforgettable taste of love? Review: Statutory Warning: Do not watch this film on an empty stomach, lest the growling belly overpowers the sweet of this gastronomic love affair.

What's Good: Habib Faisal's blends well the food undertone with a social message narrating a half decent love story. What's Bad: The film fails to grip. There is zero connect with the characters for most part in the film. Pre interval, the film drastically tumbles down and finds it very hard to rise after that. The chemistry between it's leading pair is not impressive.

<strong>Daawat-E-Ishq's best ingredient is charm!</strong><br/> Even though its not completely the foodie feast the title suggests, Daawat-E-Ishq is a breezy exercise, feels Sukanya Verma. Daawat-E-Ishq is like an exuberant menu of a newly opened restaurant that's eager to please with its spread of scrumptious offerings that balances crowd-favourites with substance.

More masala-heavy bhelpuri than saffron-tinged biryani, Daawat-e-Ishq is a smorgasbord of conflicting genres that do not mix particularly well. The film kicks off in the manner of a social drama, turns into a mild crime caper, then takes on the dimensions of a culture clash comedy, and finally winds up like a love story with a happy ending. Multiple and not always completely logical narrative swerves all unleashed in the course of a runtime of two hours can only open up gaping holes in the plot that are difficult to plug.

<strong>Daawat-e-Ishq is a delicious invite you shouldn't say no to </strong><br/> The scourge of dowry deaths is a reality in our society, and so is the misuse of 498A. Is one the reason behind the other and vice versa? There are spoilers ahead, so you're requested to come back to this article after watching the film. Thanks in case you're proceeding. - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-daawat-e-ishq-is-a-delicious-invite-you-shouldn-t-say-no-to/article1-1266009.aspx#sthash.cUiL1N7X.dpuf

<strong>Daawat-e-Ishq review: Aditya Roy Kapur, Parineeti Chopra's film is so not delicious</strong><br/> First things first. Daawat-e-Ishq is not a new film. You have watched it many, many times. At one time, it was called Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. At another, Bluffmaster. Actually, take a Karan Johar college romance and replace its waxed, designer hero with rusty con man, or con woman. Scrape away its gay jokes and fat boy humour with a fistful of earthy word play. What you get is Daawat-e-Ishq and that's probably the biggest misfortune for a film written and directed by Habib Faisal.

<strong>Daawat-e-Ishq review: Aditya, Parineeti's film is an unpalatable snoozefest</strong><br/> The story of a bright-eyed Hyderabadi 'potti' and a strapping Lucknowi lad (I would use a better alliteration here, but will desist) swilling biryani and kabab and phirni should be, by all rights, popping with flavour. But 'Daawat-e-Ishq' is so depressingly bland that you wonder who cooked this one up, and for whom?