Bawaal Film Review: Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Bawaal’ attempts to explore the transformation of an uncouth braggart who undergoes a change of heart in the presence of a good woman. However, the film falls short of fully realizing its potential, stumbling over its attempts to create a deeper and more significant narrative. The story follows Lucknow-based Ajay, also known as Ajju (played by Varun Dhawan), a man obsessed with maintaining a suave and self-centered persona. Despite working as a history teacher, Ajay lacks knowledge and direction in life, wasting time with his long-suffering parents and best friend. Everything changes when he meets the lovely and sensible Nisha (played by Janhvi Kapoor).
Before the predictable ending unfolds, Ajay and Nisha embark on a journey through various European cities, focused on World War 2, which Ajay intends to teach in his class. His misguided approach to teaching involves creating reels in front of monuments to impress his students, which ultimately lacks the depth and sensitivity required to understand such a significant historical event. Throughout the trip, they encounter problematic moments, including Ajay’s insensitive reaction to Nisha’s epilepsy, which continues until almost the end of the film. Such a depiction in a film made in 2023 is disheartening and lacks understanding and empathy for people living with epilepsy.
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Varun Dhawan delivers a commendable performance, portraying Ajju’s self-esteem issues masked by his boorish behavior. On the other hand, Janhvi Kapoor’s role as Nisha falls victim to typical Bollywood clichés, primarily serving as a means to uplift the male protagonist. The film briefly touches upon sweet moments of the two characters getting to know each other during their tour, which should have been further explored.
Regrettably, the film fails to evoke genuine emotions or a meaningful connection to the plight of those who lost their lives in the concentration camps, despite being shot on location, a rarity in Hindi cinema. The oversimplified portrayals of Hitler and World War 2 contribute little to providing a comprehensive history lesson.
In summary, ‘Bawaal’ misses the mark on several fronts, despite the efforts of its lead actors. It fails to deliver a mature and thought-provoking narrative, leaving the audience with a sense of wasted potential.
Bawaal movie trailer:
Forget about heroes, when will our movies come of age?
Bawaal Film Review
Bawaal movie cast: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Anjuman Saxena, Mukesh Tiwari, Prateek Pachori
Bawaal movie director: Nitesh Tiwari
Bawaal movie rating: 1.5 stars
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