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The Desire: A Journey of a Woman (2011) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo

Last updated: 8 May 2026

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman (2011) Review

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman (2011) (Hindi drama, musical, romance) — directed by R Sarath. Featuring Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Jaya Prada, Xia Yu. Gautami is an Indian Odissi Dancer whose passion in life is dance. Jai Leang is a rising Chinese painter whose paintings are highly influenced by Chinese culture. Jai is drawn to Gautami because of her grace and charm. She pays no attention to him; she doesn't believe in marriage after her father du... Our Rating: 2/5. Verdict: DISASTER. Released: 22 Aug 2011. Runtime: 1h 21m.

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman
DISASTER

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman(2011)

A Journey of a Woman

Hindi · Drama, Musical, Romance

1h 21m · 22 Aug 2011

Music: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa | DOP: Sajan Kalathil | Writer: R Sarath

DramaMusicRomance

Ratings

IMDbIMDb6.4
LetterboxdLetterboxd0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User0
TMDBTMDB40
IMDbIMDb6.8

Our Rating

2

📖 Story

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman is a Hindi drama that explores the emotional and physical journey of a woman seeking fulfillment and self-discovery. The narrative delves into her relationships, aspirations, and the societal challenges she faces as she navigates through love, loss, and personal growth. The story is a blend of intense emotional moments and cultural nuances, portraying the protagonist's quest for identity and desire beyond conventional boundaries.

🔍 Analysis

The Desire offers a poignant exploration of a woman's inner world, with a storyline that attempts to balance emotional depth and cultural context. The screenplay is structured to highlight the protagonist's transformation, though the pacing tends to lag in the first half, affecting engagement. The second half picks up momentum, providing more compelling character developments and resolutions.

The film's music, composed by a team including Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Shankar Mahadevan, adds a soulful layer to the narrative. The songs are thoughtfully placed, complementing the emotional beats without overwhelming the story. The background score effectively underscores the mood shifts, enhancing the cinematic experience.

Cinematography by Sajan Kalathil captures the film's varied settings with sensitivity, adding visual depth to the narrative. However, some sequences could have benefited from tighter editing to improve the overall flow. Despite its ambitious themes, the film occasionally struggles with narrative coherence but remains a sincere attempt at portraying a woman's journey of desire and self-realization.

🎭 Performances

Shilpa Shetty Kundra: Delivers a nuanced portrayal of the protagonist, balancing vulnerability and strength effectively.

Jaya Prada: Provides a dignified and supportive role, adding gravitas to the narrative.

Xia Yu: Offers a subtle yet impactful performance, complementing the lead's journey.

Sheetal Menon: Contributes a strong supporting role with emotional intensity.

💪 Strengths & Weaknesses

✅

Strengths

  • ✓Strong lead performance by Shilpa Shetty Kundra
  • ✓Soulful and well-integrated music and background score
  • ✓Sensitive cinematography capturing emotional nuances
  • ✓Ambitious thematic exploration of a woman's journey
❌

Weaknesses

  • ✕Pacing issues, especially in the first half
  • ✕Occasional narrative incoherence
  • ✕Editing could be tighter for better flow
  • ✕Limited commercial appeal due to niche subject matter

🎬 Direction & Writing

R Sarath directs with a clear vision to portray a woman's emotional and psychological journey. The direction is earnest, focusing on character depth and cultural context, though at times the narrative pacing and coherence suffer, which impacts overall engagement.

📰 Critic Reviews

No critic reviews found yet.

📰 Ratings Sources

SourceRating
IMDbIMDb
6.4
LetterboxdLetterboxd
0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User
0
TMDBTMDB
40
IMDbIMDb
6.8

Our Rating

2/5
★★★★★★★

💰 Box Office Collection

No collection data available yet.

🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards

No centers data available.

No awards data available.

😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics

TypeValue
Positive40%
Neutral30%
Negative30%

Critics

The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising Shilpa Shetty's performance and the music but pointing out pacing and narrative issues. It was appreciated for its thematic ambition but noted for limited mainstream appeal.

Final Box-Office Result

DISASTER

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did The Desire: A Journey of a Woman release in theatres?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman released on 22 August 2011 (2011).

Is The Desire: A Journey of a Woman a hit or flop?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman is declared a DISASTER at the box office.

Where to watch The Desire: A Journey of a Woman online? OTT release date?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman OTT release date not announced yet.

Who directed The Desire: A Journey of a Woman?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman directed by R Sarath.

Who are the main cast members of The Desire: A Journey of a Woman?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman stars Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Jaya Prada, Xia Yu, Sheetal Menon, Nakul Vaid.

What is the Tollybo rating for The Desire: A Journey of a Woman?▾

Tollybo rates The Desire: A Journey of a Woman 2/5. Verdict: DISASTER.

Who composed the music for The Desire: A Journey of a Woman?▾

Music for The Desire: A Journey of a Woman composed by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa.

What is the genre and runtime of The Desire: A Journey of a Woman?▾

The Desire: A Journey of a Woman — Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance, Runtime: 81 minutes, Language: Hindi.

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