22 July 2023, Mumbai: Makers made the right decision to release this on OTT, Audience are already crashing the box office with the Barbenheimer trend. However, despite the anticipation, the film fell short of expectations and failed to deliver a compelling cinematic experience from a director like Nitesh Tiwari.
Plot: Ajay Dikshit (Varun Dhawan), a self-absorbed history teacher in Lucknow, leads a life built on lies and the mantra of “fake it till you make it.” He is married to Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor), a brilliant and intelligent woman, but hides her diseases to protect his image. When Ajay slaps one of his students, Atul Raghuvanshi, little does he know that Atul is the son of influential MLA Vishwas Raghuvanshi. Fearing the consequences, Ajay takes Nisha on a trip to Europe, visiting significant historical sites related to World War II. Along the journey, they confront their marital conflicts and learn valuable life and history lessons that change their perspectives on life and relationships.
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Anjuman Saxena, Mukesh Tiwari.
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Rating: ⭐½
Review:
The movie follows the typical commercial Bollywood formula, beginning with the introduction of the protagonist, a history teacher struggling with societal pressures and an image crisis. Varun Dhawan’s portrayal of the hero and Janhvi Kapoor’s character as his wife, who battles a mysterious illness, fail to leave a lasting impact. The film’s first half moves at a sluggish pace, making it easy for the viewer’s attention to wander to other activities, leading to a lackluster viewing experience. The development of the film on the basis of film’s Plot is so ridiculous that a MILA being so serious because History Teacher who is Ajju (Varun Dhawan) slapped his kid and Ajju literally going Europe to teach history to children for his image.
Performances:
Performance-wise, both Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor deliver below-average portrayals, lacking the charisma and depth that the story demanded. In contrast, the supporting cast shines through with their dedicated performances, setting an example for the lead actors to learn from.
Direction:
Unfortunately, the direction by Nitesh Tiwari fails to meet expectations. While his vision is evident in his previous works, this film falls short of the mark. The attempt to create history parallels in the narrative falters, unlike the successful execution witnessed in films like “Rang de Basanti.” Bawal was a below average film but we didn’t expect this much below average from Nitesh Tiwari.
Music:
Amidst these disappointments, the film’s music emerges as a saving grace. Songs like “Dillon ki doriyaan” and “Tumhe kitna pyaar karte” inject some entertainment into an otherwise dull movie. The soulful track “Dil se Dil Tak” stands out as a highlight of the film’s music.
Overall Review
On the whole, “Bawaal” fails to impress in various aspects, from its screenplay to its cinematography. The film lacks novelty and innovation, missing the opportunity to showcase something new for the current generation of Bollywood viewers. The attempt to incorporate history parallels in the narrative doesn’t resonate as effectively as seen in previous successful films. Talking in a hilarious way then Tees Maar Khan shows better history parallel than this.
If you’re not going to theatres this weekend and just sitting at home then Bawaal is the perfect waste of time for you.