“Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha,” released on August 2, 2024, directed by Neeraj Pandey and starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu, promised a sweeping romantic thriller spanning 23 years, from 2000 to 2023. Backed by NH Studios and Friday Filmworks, with a score by M.M. Keeravani, it aimed to blend love, sacrifice, and suspense into an epic tale.

The story centers on Krishna (Ajay Devgn) and Vasudha (Tabu), lovers torn apart in 2001 after Krishna is jailed for 25 years for a double murder. Shantanu Maheshwari and Saiee Manjrekar play their younger selves, depicting a chawl romance derailed by a predictable tragedy. Fast-forward to 2024: Krishna’s released early for good behavior, only to reunite with a married Vasudha, now tied to Abhijeet (Jimmy Sheirgill). What unfolds is a plodding mess of flashbacks and forced twists that fail to stir the soul or quicken the pulse. At 144 minutes, it’s an endurance test masquerading as a love story.

Neeraj Pandey, known for taut thrillers like “A Wednesday” and “Special 26,” flounders here. His attempt at romance feels like a relic from the ’90s—complete with cheesy dialogue, festival songs, and rain-soaked action scenes that scream cliché. The pacing is glacial; the first half stagnates with repetitive melodrama, while the second half drags toward a twist so telegraphed it lands with a thud. The screenplay, co-written with Sudhir Palsane, is a verbose slog, lacking the silences or subtlety that could’ve made this tale resonate. Instead, every emotion is spelled out, leaving no room for nuance or viewer investment.

Ajay Devgn, usually a commanding presence, sleepwalks through Krishna. His brooding intensity feels rote, and the script gives him little to chew on beyond stoic stares and a few teary outbursts. Tabu, a powerhouse in her own right, is equally underserved—her Vasudha reduced to a passive figure caught between past promises and present duty. Their much-touted chemistry, a draw from past collaborations, fizzles here; their scenes together are too sparse and stiff to spark. Shantanu Maheshwari and Saiee Manjrekar fare better as the youthful lovers, but their charm is overshadowed by the film’s clunky structure. Jimmy Sheirgill’s Abhijeet is a thankless role—another good actor wasted in a narrative void.

The production values don’t help. Sudhir Palsane’s cinematography is competent but uninspired, failing to elevate the film’s dreary tone. Keeravani’s score, while occasionally evocative, leans too hard into schmaltz, amplifying the soap-opera vibe. Editing by Kathikuloth Praveen is choppy, with jarring cuts that disrupt even the few moments of potential. The film’s lofty title—meaning “Where Was the Strength in Others”—feels ironic when the story itself lacks any vigor or conviction.

“Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha” is a misstep that squanders its cast and concept. It’s neither romantic enough to swoon nor thrilling enough to grip—just a bloated, dated dud that proves even the best intentions can’t save a film without heart or hustle. Stream it on Amazon Prime Video if you must, but don’t expect to care.

Rating: 2/5

A lifeless slog that’s all dum and no dhamaka—proof that love stories need more than nostalgia to survive.