This is a Bawaal note. Just like the movie, well-meaning but ends up being a chaotic commotion of interpretations and questions while raising many questionable answers in mind. It is as good on intent as much as the director of Bawaal aspired the movie currently streaming on Amazon Prime to be, but it meanders and seems contrived to push a point of view.
I like movies where the director is concerned more about the movie and the message than the final output and the liking of the audience. It is a farfetched mess which wants but rarely harnesses your complete attention. However, I wish everyone and especially couples, to see the movie. Maybe it would make sense for the client-agency teams to see it together and use it as a platform to raise a few questions that could be debated till the cows come home or the bars close. BAWAAL IS AFTERALL IS A CHAOTIC MOVIE WITH QUESTIONS SEEKING ANSWERS.
It’s a complete Bawaal.
This is director Nitesh Tiwari’s way of making Bawaal in the audience’s mind. And don’t be guided by his performance as a Dangal or Chiller Party director.
There is a failing marriage based on false premises. The image-conscious groom is a history teacher wanting to further control and strengthen his image in society. A far-fetched diversion of the hero to take a tour to repair his folly and again to further structure his image. And then, completely out of the blue, juxtaposition of World War II horrors in a movie that the viewer started watching as a romantic story with a predictable narrative.
The film storyline is unexpected and too far-fetched and maybe always remain a suspension of episodes and never become a smooth solution you could call a story.
Some spoiler alert- half-baked Bawaal story ahead.
It is different that the movie has Varun Kapoor, Ajay Dixit ( Ajju Bhaiya ) as the image-conscious history teacher in Lucknow and Janavi Kapoor as Nisha, the intelligent and most beautiful girl who has a history of epileptic fits delivering one of their best performance. Manoj Pahwa and Anjuman Saxena as Ajju’s parents, Mukesh Tiwari as the local MLA and Prateek Pachori as the best friend, repowers the frames they are in.
Nisha tells Ajju Bhaiya about her problem, but he still marries her as it would further add to his image. However, Nisha has an epileptic fit during the marriage. Now Ajju Bhaiya sees her differently. A liability that could affect his image. So the marriage is in shambles. He won’t even take her anywhere because he is haunted by the question, ‘What if she has a fit’. People may object and point out that Ajju’s reaction to Nisha’s Epileptic fit is shameless and too insensitive; they must realise that real life and the truth are reflected in reel life, and the movie cannot be creatively challenged for being socially correct.
An episode in school leads Ajju Bhaiya on a trip to Europe centred around the sites of World War II – which is what he was teaching to his class! That’s the twist.
The reaction.
I have no grudge against the story not exploring the horrors of the war. It was not meant to do so. Many may hate how the world-war-II horror plots have been forced to narrowcast about life and marriage.
However, the movie often uses the platform and the war scenarios to make the hero turn a leaf. Wow, that was expected and is nothing new, just like the Amitabh Bachchan movie Bagbhan which had no new subject but raised a few questions.
Bawaal is chaotic, and you can’t say that the cast, director or movie name did not warn you beforehand. Don’t look at the context and the related emotions director wants to raise. Just concentrate on the questions.
Questions Raised in Bawaal.
The movie raises many questions. If each of us starts looking inwardly, we may have multiple answers or justifications for our lives. We would individually know what the reality is and what are mere excuses and explanations. And that is where Bawaal scores. These silly micro-moments of delta recognition of the naked truth in our lives. Not that they are new, but they are presented and placed differently.
Questions at an individual level.
Questions that may help you define and strengthen Brand-I.
What would you do if you had only a day more to live?
What would you pack from your life and belongings in your small ( say 5-7 kg) suitcase if you were forced to do so within an hour, knowing that it is all you will ever have?
Why are we never satisfied with what we have? Why are we never happy and make the best use of what we have? Why do we keep looking for more or rather envy what others have?
Reverse Engineering the Questions In Brand Terms.
And once you have done answering these questions on your personal life, try answering these collectively as for the brand.
What would you do if you had total freedom to recreate the brand?
What would you continue to take from the brand’s history and current state if you were forced to do, knowing that it is all the brand will ever have to work with?
What would be the result if you really tried really hard to define the brand purpose and intent in the shortest possible array of words?
Are you using the brand resources and characteristics to their best possible impact, or are you busy looking at the competition’s advantages and using them as an excuse?
Are the agency and the client more of an Ajju Bhaiya before the trip?
What is the ‘Epileptic fit’ of the client-agency relationship?
Is the brand team at the agency and the client more image-conscious ( awards and PR coverage) than really working on the fundamental purpose ( the marriage)?
Bawaal Could Have Done Better.
The director, Nitesh Tiwari, could have done better. And that is always the case. It is well justified in the case of Bawaal the movie.
I love questions and have recently released my first book of poems titled ‘Always Questioning Life’ with Leapfrog publications. It is available on Amazon.
NET NET.
Watch this out-of-a-box movie. Think of the most oversized box you can imagine. It seems to address a niche audience and could not be a commercial success in theatre. However, on OTT, it may do a slow burn, raise some questions, and be part of a few debates.
Don’t get too emotional about context and rationality. Just flow with the director Nitesh Tiwari’s intent and try answering the questions instead of thinking of the classic cheese, caramel popcorn, or what to eat. It may be a good self-cleansing or brand realisation if and only if you watched for the questions and answered them honestly enough.
BAWAAL MOVIE CAST:- Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Manoj Pahwa, Anjuman Saxena, Mukesh Tiwari, Prateek Pachori. DIRECTOR:- Nitesh Tiwari
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