Bawaal Explained
Bawaal is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Earthsky Pictures. It stars Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor as a troubled married couple.[1] [2]
Filming took place in multiple countries from April to August 2022. Initially scheduled for a theatrical release, Bawaal had a streaming release on Amazon Prime Video on 21 July 2023.[3] The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
Ajay Dixit is an image-conscious narcissist, who teaches history at a school in Lucknow. He hates his life of lies, despite the respect he is held in, thanks to his philosophical tendency to "fake it till you make it". He has grounded his beautiful epileptic wife Nisha, who is much more intelligent than him, since he does not want her seizures to ruin his reputation.
Ajay finds himself and his image in jeopardy when he slaps his student, Atul Raghuvanshi, in frustration over a doubt regarding World War II. Atul turns out to be the son of MLA Vishwas Raghuvanshi. Out of despair of wanting to escape the wrath of the MLA, Ajay decides to visit places across Europe he deems were important to World War II (inc. Anne Frank's house and Auschwitz). He takes Nisha along with him as his parents hope it could resolve their marital conflicts. This sets them on a journey that changes their entire perspectives and their views on interpersonal conflicts, as they cover both life and history lessons along the way.
Production
The film title was announced along with its release date and the cast on 30 March 2022.[4]
Filming began in April 2022, and was shot in Mumbai, Kanpur, Lucknow, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Kraków, Warsaw, Auschwitz (present-day Oświęcim) and in parts of Poland.[5] Sajid Nadiadwala announced that the filming completed in August 2022.[6] [7]
Soundtrack
Soundtrack is composed by Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, Akashdeep Sengupta. The lyrics are written by Kausar Munir, Manoj Muntashir, Arafat Mehmood, Shloke Lal.
The first single, "Tumhe Kitna Pyaar Karte" was released on 7 July 2023.[8] The 2nd single titled "Dil Se Dil Tak" was released on 14 July 2023.[9] The third single titled "Dilon Ki Doriyan" was released on 18 July 2023.[10]
Release
The film premiered on 21 July 2023 on Amazon Prime Video.
Reception
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film 1.5 out of 5, writing, "Varun Dhawan-Janhvi Kapoor-starrer promises a lot, but keeps faltering, never quite knowing what to make of a wholly harebrained flourish in the plot."[11] Leaf Arbuthnot of The Guardian gave the film 1 out of 5, calling the premise "serviceable" but the plot "woefully misjudged." She further wrote that "it is just a pity that rest of the film is so lacking in fun, pep, humour and charm that only its spectacularly poor taste stands out."[12]
Amongst positive reviews, Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com gave the film 3 out of 5, writing, "Director Nitesh Tiwari has a knack for creating intriguing characters and scenarios that feel fresh yet familiar at the same time. But the underlying goal behind all their actions -- questionable or inspirational -- is rooted in wisdom."[13]
Several publications criticized the film for "insensitive portrayal" of the Holocaust. Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Jewish human rights organisation Simon Wiesenthal Center asked Amazon to “stop monetising” Bawaal with immediate effect and called the film a “banal trivialisation of the suffering and systematic murder of millions of victims of the Nazi Holocaust.”[14] [15] On 28 July 2023, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi tweeted that "The Israeli embassy is disturbed by the trivialization of the significance of the Holocaust in the recent movie 'Bawaal'."[16] They also criticised the "poor choice in the utilization of some terminology in the movie."[17] [18]
Accolades
Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. |
---|
2023 | Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Actor in a Web Original Film | Varun Dhawan | | [19] |
Best Actress in a Web Original Film | Janhvi Kapoor | |
Best Story (Web Original Film) | Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari | |
Best Original Screenplay (Web Original Film) | Nikhil Mehrotra, Shreyas Jain, Piyush Gupta, Nitesh Tiwari | |
Best Background Music (Web Original Film) | Daniel B. George | |
Best Production Design (Web Original Film) | Aditya Kanwar | |
Best Cinematographer (Web Original Film) | Mitesh Mirchandani | |
Best Editing (Web Original Film) | Charu Shree Roy | |
Best Sound Design (Web Original Film) | Sanjay Maurya, Allwin Rego | | |
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 2022-04-18 . Bawaal: Varun Dhawan's First Look from His Upcoming Film Revealed; See Pics . 2023-01-30 . News 18 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201110333/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/bawaal-varun-dhawans-first-look-from-his-upcoming-film-leaked-see-pics-5005045.html . live .
- Web site: HTML . 2022-07-28 . Janhvi Kapoor shares long thank you note with pics from Bawaal sets with Varun Dhawan, Nitesh Tiwari . 2023-01-09 . Hindustan Times . 9 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109142354/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/janhvi-kapoor-shares-long-thank-you-note-with-pics-from-bawaal-sets-101659012263877.html . live .
- Web site: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor's 'Bawaal' Teaser Unveiled, Prime Video Streaming Date Confirmed (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety . 5 Jul 2023 . 5 Jul 2023 . 5 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705065214/https://variety.com/2023/tv/asia/varun-dhawan-janhvi-kapoor-bawaal-prime-video-streaming-date-1235661175/ . live .
- Web site: HTML . 2022-03-30 . Varun Dhawan & Jahnvi Kapoor to star in director Nitesh Tiwari's next film 'Bawaal' . 2023-01-30 . The Economic Times . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201110333/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/varun-dhawan-jahnvi-kapoor-to-star-in-director-nitesh-tiwaris-next-film-bawaal/articleshow/90536990.cms?from=mdr . live .
- Web site: HTML . 2022-07-28 . Sajid Nadiadwala's Bawaal starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor hits floors today. 2023-01-09 . Firstpost.
- Web site: 2022-08-01 . Varun Dhawan wraps Nitesh Tiwari's Bawaal . 2023-01-09 . The Indian Express . 9 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109142357/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/varun-dhawan-wraps-nitesh-tiwari-bawaal-8063627/ . live .
- Web site: 2022-08-01 . Varun Dhawan wraps up Bawaal shoot in Poland with Janhvi Kapoor, shares BTS video . 2023-01-09 . India Today . 9 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109142354/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/varun-dhawan-wraps-up-bawaal-shoot-in-poland-with-janhvi-kapoor-shares-bts-video-1982363-2022-08-01 . live .
- Web site: Varun Dhawal, Janhvi Kapoor starrer Bawaal's new song Tumhe Kitna Pyar Karte out now . 2023-07-08 . mirchi.in . en . 8 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708015609/https://mirchi.in/stories/music/varun-dhawal-janhvi-kapoor-starrer-bawaals-new-song-tumhe-kitna-pyar-karte-out-now/101569989 . live .
- News: Dil Se Dil Tak: Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan try to rekindle the romance in new Bawaal song . 14 July 2023 . 14 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714163510/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/janhvi-kapoor-varun-dhawan-in-new-bawaal-song-dil-se-dil-tak-101689327932257.html . live .
- News: Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan get romantic in Bawaal's song Dilon Ki Dooriyan . 18 July 2023 . 18 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718140723/https://www.dnaindia.com/hindi/entertainment/bollywood/news-dilon-ki-dooriyan-song-out-from-the-movie-bawaal-janhvi-kapoor-varun-dhawan-in-lead-know-users-reaction-4094923 . live .
- Web site: Gupta. Shubhra. Shubhra Gupta. Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Bawaal review. The Indian Express. 21 July 2023. 12 December 2023. 17 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230917094208/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/bawaal-movie-review-varun-dhawan-janhvi-kapoor-leaves-you-with-a-sense-of-waste-8851849/. live.
- News: Bawaal review – redemption romcom in spectacularly poor taste. Leaf. Arbuthnot. 21 July 2023. The Guardian. 12 December 2023. 22 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230922060809/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/21/bawaal-review-redemption-romcom-in-spectacularly-poor-taste. live.
- Web site: Verma. Sukanya. Sukanya Verma. Bawaal Review: Varun-Janhvi Juggle History And Honeymoon. Rediff. 12 December 2023. 24 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230724160524/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/bawaal-review/20230721.htm. live.
- Web site: Bollywood film 'Bawaal' accused of trivializing Holocaust and demeaning victims. 28 July 2023. CNN. 28 July 2023. 28 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230728102749/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/28/media/india-bollywood-bawaal-movie-holocaust-controversy-intl-hnk/index.html. live.
- Web site: Varun Dhawan-Janhvi Kapoor starrer Bawaal accused of trivialising Holocaust. 28 July 2023. The News Mintue. 28 July 2023. 28 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230728102749/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/varun-dhawan-janhvi-kapoor-starrer-bawaal-accused-trivialising-holocaust-180314. live.
- News: Express News Service . 29 July 2023 . 'Disturbed by trivialisation of Holocaust': Israeli embassy on Bawaal row . The Indian Express . New Delhi . 6 August 2023 . 6 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112918/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/disturbed-by-trivialisation-of-holocaust-israeli-embassy-on-bawaal-row-8865824/ . live .
- Embassy of Israel, New Delhi . IsraelinIndia . 1684878882145513472 . 28 July 2023 . The Israeli embassy is disturbed by the trivialization of the significance of the Holocaust in the recent movie 'Bawaal'. . en . New Delhi . 12 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230730071611/https://twitter.com/IsraelinIndia/status/1684878882145513472 . 30 July 2023.
- Web site: Israeli Embassy Criticises Varun & Janhvi's 'Bawaal' for Trivialising Holocaust. Quint. Entertainment. 28 July 2023. TheQuint. 30 June 2024. 30 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240630164906/https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/celebrities/israeli-embassy-criticises-varun-janhvis-bawaal-for-trivialising-holocaust. live.
- Web site: Nominations for the Filmfare OTT Awards 2023: Full List Out Femina.in . 2024-02-09 . www.femina.in . en . 20 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240120101244/https://www.femina.in/trending/in-the-news/nominations-for-the-filmfare-ott-awards-2023-full-list-out-279050.html . live .