Movie Name: Bawaal
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cast: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Manoj Pasha
Genre: Drama
Available on: Amazon Prime
Even today, the world feels the emotional impact of ‘World War II’ tragic events. The story of this war is a key part of education in schools and universities across the globe. It attracts both history enthusiasts and those who might not initially be interested in the topic. In the movie ‘Bawaal’, the backdrop of ‘World War II’ is used to unite a newly married couple. The film portrays a woman’s determination to nurture love despite facing challenges. It reminds us of the importance of finding joy and valuing our blessings in a fast-changing world.
The story commences in present-day Lucknow, where our main character, Ajay ‘Ajju’ Dixit (played by Varun Dhawan) enters the scene on his bike grabbing everyone’s attention. Clearly showing that Ajju cares a lot about how people see him.
He works as a primary history teacher, but nobody really knows how he got the job. Truth is, he’s not exactly the most responsible guy and has a habit of making up stories. He’s married to Nisha (played by Janhvi Kapoor), an intelligent woman who unfortunately has epileptic fits. She’s been honest about this with Ajju, but he’s too embarrassed to take this. He’s worried about what people might think.
As the story progresses, ‘Bawaal’ takes a unique approach by exploring the quirks of Ajju and the challenges Nisha faces in her marriage. His obsession with appearances becomes a big deal, and the film handles this flaw in a way that’s both funny and thought-provoking. Nisha’s intelligence and her struggle with epilepsy provide an exciting contrast to Ajju’s behaviour. This difference adds a new angle to how the film examines relationships facing unusual problems.
Varun Dhawan’s character of Ajju shows his superficiality and hidden vulnerabilities, while Janhvi Kapoor brings depth to Nisha’s character with her impressive performance. The film manages to mix humour and poignant moments well, especially when it sheds light on how the couple deal with the complexities of their relationship.
Moreover, ‘Bawaal’ takes a bold step away from the typical Bollywood romance by introducing a flawed but likeable lead character, exploring various marital hurdles and mixing in critical historical references. Though it is not impeccable in its execution, the film’s innovative approach deserves credit, pointing toward the changing picture of Indian cinema.
Although the intention of making the movie was good, the execution was not worth it. Therefore, the movie deserves three stars for its lack of good acting and loose direction.