Nitesh Tiwari is a director who has made very good films like Chillar Party and Bhootnath Returns and has made a Masterpiece like Dangal and a Classic film like Chhichhore. Even as a producer he has produced a classic like Nil Battey Sannata and a good flick like Tarla. He doesn’t have a bad film in his filmography as a director, writer or producer. Bawaal comes as an epic disappointment and it’s hard to digest the fact that Nitesh Tiwari has directed it. This is one film which Nitesh would like to forget from his Bawaal filmography.
The husband-wife duo of Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari are known for making films which have a positive impact on society and their films have changed the perspective of society. Bawaal is a personal story of a teacher who is willing to go to any extent to save his image and reputation. The film doesn’t appeal to you at all, unlike other films of Nitesh.
The script of Bawaal is so badly written that there was no scope of making this into a feature film. The makers of Bawaal are known for making Bawaal films, but in this case instead of title there was nothing Bawaal about the film.
The idea of Bawaal seems to be good, but the story to conceive that idea is bad. The love story set within the backdrop of a war did not just fit perfectly. The script seemed to be off track and did not have any appealing power. Nitesh Tiwari films are known for humor, emotions and powerful messages, but Bawaal lacks them all. The film doesn’t entertain or teach anything. The trademark of Nitesh Tiwari is definitely missing here.
Bawaal is the story of a history teacher named Ajay Dixit (Varun Dhawan) who does not know how to teach. He is married to Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) who is suffering from epilepsy. Ajay doesn’t take her wife out anywhere, in order to save his image and reputation. Their marriage is just for the namesake. One day he slaps a student for doubting his teaching skills. The student who is slapped by Ajay is the son of a legislator and powerful man. After this incident all the Bawaal (fuss) is created. Ajay is suspended for one month and is given a chance to prove his teaching skills. Ajay then decides to go on a Europe trip with his wife where World War 2 happened. He then starts teaching students via social media and tells them about the different locations where World War 2 happened. While discovering the disturbing and shocking facts of World War 2, Ajay realizes the real meaning of life and love. The film ends on a note giving us a message that we should be happy with what we have and should not care for those things which are not in our control.
The biggest drawback of Bawaal is it’s casting. Varun Dhawan does overacting from the very first scene. His transformation in the film is a serious one, but while watching it seems like a funny one. Varun just did not understand the subject properly and went over with his acting in the film. Varun should select a script where he can showcase his talent just like the way he did in Badlapur and October. Janhvi Kapoor still seems like a kid. The jodi of Varun and Janhvi is a complete misfire. Janhvi looks gorgeous but acts ugly. The dialogue delivery of Janhvi is so bad and unbearable. Bad script and on top of that bad actors like Varun and Janhvi have made this film a complete disaster. Manoj Pahwa is a talented actor and does a decent job in his short screen presence. Mukesh Tiwari is real in his role and we wish he would have got a more powerful role. The rest of the cast is strictly average.
There is a dialogue in the film, ‘Maahol Bana Dia’ which is used many times in the film. I would like to say that, ‘Makers ne maahol bigaad dia.’ The makers have literally spoiled the mood and this was totally unexpected from Nitesh Tiwari and his team.
In last 5 to 6 years, Sajid Nadiadwala has produced majority of craps. His 2 to 3 good films were Chhichhore, 83 and Super 30. Even a good director like Nitesh Tiwari went wrong under his production. Bawaal seems like a film made just for the sake of time pass and nothing else. How can someone approve of such a badly written script which doesn’t have anything.
2nd disaster in a row from Amazon Prime Video after Tiku Weds Sheru. Prime Video is like a dustbin where everyone is dumping their garbage.
The film has many flaws and one of the biggest of them is 10 to 12 year students using mobile phones in school. Which school allows students to use mobile phones? Who will allow students to skip main lectures and attend unofficial lectures of a suspended school teacher? Which parents will allow their small kids to have a personal account on social media?
The only thing where Bawaal scores good is it’s music. Dil Se Dil Tak and Tumhe Kitna Pyaar Karte are wonderful tracks. Both the tracks are beautifully shot in wonderful locations of Europe and have mesmerizing music. Dilon Ki Doriyan is a fast paced passable track. Kat Jaayega is very bad and the makers (Makers ne kaat dia viewers kaa) have literally made us fool by making this crap.
Bawaal is shot in many beautiful locations of Europe and they are eye pleasing. Wished that the remaining visuals would have also been eye-pleasing. Bawaal also has many scenes which give us a glimpse of disturbing and shocking events of World War 2 events. These scenes fail to create an everlasting impact both emotionally and mentally.
The film tried to teach us history but the makers forgot that after the release, the film itself is going to be a history. Instead of showing how a person can rediscover themselves, the makers should have rediscovered the script and should have made a decent product. I still can’t understand why the makers titled the film ‘Bawaal’.
Overall Bawaal is a total disappointment. I still can’t believe that Nitesh Tiwari has directed such a terrible film. The film offers nothing to viewers instead of disappointment. The only Bawaal thing makers did is by skipping the theatrical release and opting the OTT route by saving time and money of the audience. Bawaal falls flat in all the departments. Except for the title, there is nothing Bawaal about this film. Skip it.
Rating – 2/5*
