Bawaal REVIEW: Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan starrer is heartwarming, Nitesh Tiwari beautifully knits love and war together

Film: Bawaal

Platform: Amazon Prime

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Star cast: Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Anjuman Saxena, Manoj Pahwa

Bollywood Bubble ratings: 3.5/5 stars

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Bawaal movie review

If I have to review Bawaal starring Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in one word, then it is heartwarming. In the movie, one asks Varun what would he pack in a bag if a soldier asked him to pack his entire life in one bag. Well, if someone asks me what I took away from this movie, then I would say, never take life for granted, enjoy the freedom, and value what you’ve got.

After watching the movie, I realised that the trailer was so well-edited that it actually didn’t give away any details. What we saw in the trailer was just the tip of the iceberg and I was quite amused to see that. You have so many things to take away from Bawaal as they leave a lasting impact on you. Yes, Bawaal has some glitches but it is a beautiful film with the backdrop of War.

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Nitesh Tiwari, the director of Bawaal kept the first half light and hysterical. He talks about the life of Ajay Dixit and how Nisha’s character came to life. When I say hysterical, Nitesh didn’t add jokes or punchlines but the situations make it hilarious. And that’s what keeps you entertained throughout the first half of the movie. Bawaal comes across as an intense movie; however, it is quite the opposite as Nitesh keeps everything easy-breezy. After the first half, it is the second half that tells you the fair result.

Speaking about the same, Nitesh Tiwari kept the war elements in the second half, making it look intense and dramatic. I won’t give away much, at one point you will feel that war backdrop is not justified nor it is required. However, Nitesh tries to narrate a story with war as a reference. He tries to convey how people have become in today’s world and how they’re taking life for granted.

Story:

Bawaal is a story about Ajay Dixit (Varun Dhawan) who is living a fake life. He has created a life for himself that he wants to show to others. One day, this small-town man falls in love with the most beautiful girl Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) in town. He wants to marry her so that he can rise up his social position. But things go downhill when he wakes up from a fake life and realises that there are real things that matter. What will happen when he realises it?

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What is best about Bawaal

Storyline: Bawaal is no ordinary love story. It is not about a boy and a girl meeting and falling in love, it has a deep meaning. As I have mentioned, Nitesh tries to narrate a story that can give you some serious life lessons. I liked how the story was not focused on Varun and Janhvi’s love but also on the other aspects of life. It can be heartwarming for some, while for some it can be intriguing and for some, it can be life-altering as well.

War backdrop: When there’s a war backdrop, it always feels like the movie is a period drama. However, Nitesh Tiwari beautifully blends love and war together. I liked how he merged the war part in today’s generation.

Nitesh Tiwari’s direction: After seeing Chhichhore and Dangal, Nitesh Tiwari proved that his way of storytelling is gripping and enchanting. There was a scene where Varun is listening to the war story in his headphones and whenever he puts it on, he feels he is on the battlefield. The direction of the scene was so crisp and well-executed that it gave me goosebumps.

What didn’t work out for Bawaal

Well, it is the second half of the movie where I felt it was dragged a bit. After keeping a good pace in the first half, it gradually fell in the second hour. Though Nitesh Tiwari did a great job in blending love and war together, there was one scene that didn’t make justice to the historical time. I won’t spill the beans but it is the gas chamber scene; the strings didn’t attach well to the current situation.

Star performance:

Varun Dhawan plays Ajay Dixit, a fake schoolteacher who pretends to be a good teacher in front of the school principal. He lives a fake life and is the epitome of male toxicity. Varun completely aces in his role be it comical parts or intense parts. He is quite a natural star when it comes to comedy and he doesn’t really have to work hard on those parts. He is perfect in the role.

Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in Bawaal

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Janhvi Kapoor plays Nisha, a bright girl who becomes the wife of Ajay. She is a good wife and a good daughter-in-law. She looks pretty and charismatic in her aura. However, I’m not really impressed with her performance. There’s something that is lacking in dialogue delivery and expressions which are not up to the mark.

Anjuman Saxena and Manoj Pahwa as parents of Ajay Dixit are too good. They are like every other Indian parent and have absolutely nailed their characters.

Conclusion:

Concluding my review, Bawaal is a heartwarming movie that will connect with you instantly. Considering that it is coming from Nitesh Tiwari, Jahnvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan starrer is a movie that will stay in your heart and mind. The way he has knitted love and war together is simply beautiful. It is worth watching.

Watch the Bawaal trailer after the review

Also read: The Trial REVIEW: Kajol makes a smashing OTT debut but the story lacks impact