In the vast spectrum of Hindi cinema, one would often encounter movies that set out to be groundbreaking, only to falter somewhere along the way. “Bawaal”, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, appears to be one such ambitious misfire. With a star cast including Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, Bawaal tries to stir a pot full of love, history, and humor, but unfortunately ends up overcooked and under-seasoned.
“Bawaal” sets its eyes on merging the worlds of romance and history, with a backdrop of a European honeymoon. This unconventional narrative attempt marks its ambition, while also paving the path for its undoing.
Varun Dhawan plays the self-absorbed Ajay Dikshit, while Janhvi Kapoor shines as the intelligent and subdued Nisha, his wife. Despite commendable performances, especially from Kapoor, their characters often get lost in a muddled plot that tries to bite off more than it can chew.
Tiwari’s previous endeavors have set high expectations, but sadly, Bawaal fails to reach those heights. The film’s narrative begins in Lucknow, where Ajay, an indulged history teacher, prioritizes his image over the emotional needs of his wife and the educational needs of his students. His character transformation begins when the couple embarks on a whirlwind journey through Europe, attempting to intertwine history lessons with a complex love story.
In its attempt to fuse the personal journey of a married couple with the heavy historical context of World War II, the movie falls short of creating a balance. The weighty issues of war, along with the treatment of Nisha’s medical condition, are handled with disappointing simplicity. While these ambitious narrative choices could have provided depth and layers, they end up feeling forced and underdeveloped.
Varun Dhawan, known for his versatile roles, seems to have missed the mark in “Bawaal”. He plays Ajay, a vain history teacher who is more concerned about his image than his duty as an educator. This is a character with significant depth and complexity, offering Dhawan plenty of room to showcase his range.
Unfortunately, his performance comes across as forced and unconvincing. During emotional sequences, his acting borders on hamming, the tears seem disingenuous, and his representation of a chauvinistic personality lacks the subtle nuances needed to make the character believable.
Despite the actor’s evident capabilities, as seen in films like “October”, his portrayal of Ajay leaves much to be desired.
Janhvi Kapoor, on the other hand, offers a commendable performance, despite the shortcomings of the movie. Her character, Nisha, is a young woman with a medical condition, trying to make sense of her marriage to a narcissistic man.
Janhvi portrays Nisha’s vulnerability, inner strength, and transformation with an understated intensity. Her innocence shines through her character, making her character’s journey engaging and relatable. There’s a quiet assurance in her performance that stands out amidst the chaos of the film’s narrative.
Even though the script does her character a disservice, Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal of Nisha serves as one of the few high points in an otherwise lackluster film.
The movie does, however, offer moments of respite. There is a subtle charm in the dynamic between Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, especially as Nisha evolves from being a timid wife to finding her voice. Janhvi’s portrayal of Nisha’s vulnerability and strength stands out, providing emotional depth to an otherwise confusing narrative. Varun’s transition from a narcissistic chauvinist to a man who learns humility is intriguing but often gets drowned in the narrative disarray.
Visually, Bawaal takes you on a ride through charming European cities, but fails to capitalize on this potential due to a lack of visual finesse. Despite the beauty of the locales, the narrative’s chaotic jumps between genres – from being a slice-of-life romantic drama to a wartime history lesson – leads to an unfortunate cinematic discord.
The film seems to grapple with its own identity. On one hand, it attempts to explore profound themes such as the impact of ego on relationships, the superficiality of appearances, and the importance of history. On the other, it undermines these same themes with its loose narrative and simplistic treatment.
In conclusion, Bawaal is a cinematic paradox. It’s a movie that is packed with potential but suffers from an identity crisis. Despite the commendable performances from the lead actors and Tiwari’s proven capabilities as a director, the film’s ambition outweighs its execution. It tries to wear too many hats and ultimately fails to fit into any of them satisfactorily.
With a more focused narrative and a better understanding of its themes, Bawaal could have been a thought-provoking and moving piece of cinema. Unfortunately, as it stands, it remains a misfire that fails to resonate with its audience, and thus, garners a rating of 2 out of 5.
“Bawaal” is an ambitious endeavor that drowns in its own depth, reminding us that sometimes less is indeed more. It’s a film that will leave you with more questions than answers, a jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces that just don’t fit together.
Cast of Bawaal
- Varun Dhawan as Ajay Dixit
- Janhvi Kapoor as Nisha Dixit
- Manoj Pahwa as Mr. Dixit, Ajay’s father
- Anjuman Saxena as Mrs. Dixit, Ajay’s mother
- Mukesh Tiwari as MLA Vishwas Raghuvanshi
- Prateek Pachori as Bipin
- Vyas Hemang as Kalpesh
- Shashie Vermaa as Principal
- Agrim Mittal as Papon Chatterjee
- Nikhil Chawla as Atul Raghuvanshi, Vishwas’s son
