Bawaal Review: Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Film Falls Short of Exploring Love and War

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Release date: 21st July 2023

Rating: 2/5 stars

Alright, here’s the scoop on “Bawaal,” the latest flick on Amazon Prime Video! It’s a romantic film with a touch of comedy, and it stars the dynamic duo Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, paired up for the first time. Directed by the brilliant Nitesh Tiwari of “Dangal” and “Chhichhore” fame, this movie promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions.

So, let’s dig into the juicy details of the film. Varun Dhawan plays Ajay, a dude from Lucknow who’s all about maintaining his cool image, even if it means pretending to be something he’s not. He’s a history teacher who’s not so into the subject but clings onto the job. He marries Janhvi’s character, Nisha Dixit, who seems perfect on the outside but is deemed “defective” by Ajay. Ouch! Guess you’ll have to watch to find out why. Their love story takes a wild turn after they tie the knot, and life gets a bit too chaotic for Ajay.

The story takes a hilarious twist when their love story hits a roadblock on the day of their marriage. From there, Ajay’s professional life goes topsy-turvy when he gets into trouble with an MLA’s son. He comes up with a plan to save his image—traveling to Europe and sharing videos with students from historic World War II locations. And guess what? Nisha joins him on this adventure, and that’s when the real journey of love begins.

Varun Dhawan nails his role as Ajay, bringing his comic timing to the forefront like a boss. The energy he brings to the film adds a whole lot of fun. Nitesh Tiwari masterfully captures the essence of a romantic drama, and the characters feel oh-so-real. And let’s not forget the soulful songs that perfectly complement the emotions of the film!

While the first half is filled with entertainment and laughter, the second half takes a historical turn as Ajay and Nisha explore the realities of World War II. Kudos to the makers for depicting those horrifying incidents with sincerity.

Janhvi Kapoor shines as she tries to be the girl-next-door, but hey, with her glam appeal, she’s a natural fit for any role! However, some might find the film’s connection with the title “Bawaal” a bit lacking—the film could’ve used more “dhoom-dhadaka.”

While the film’s heart is in the right place, it stumbles due to the generic storyline and cliched dialogues portraying the “middle-class mentality.” And let’s be honest, if you want a history lesson on World War II, Hollywood has got you covered with some outstanding features.

The cinematography is decent, but it doesn’t stand out much. Blame it on the story; a strong foundation is key for everything to come together perfectly in a film. The use of black-and-white images remains a mystery, leaving viewers wondering about its significance. The music is okay, with a few tracks that will warm your heart, like “Dil Se Dil Tak” by Laqshay Kapoor and Suvarna Tiwari.

“Bawaal” carries the weight of being more than just a typical romantic drama, and it stumbles a bit in its attempt to balance love and war. But hey, it’s still a decent watch with a heartfelt message about love and life.