Nitesh Tiwari’s Bawaal presents a chaotic blend of elements, notably its audacious attempt to intertwine the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust with a failing marriage in mainstream Bollywood romance. Hitler is depicted as a metaphor for human greed, while Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp of Nazi Germany, is recreated to symbolize a suffocating Jewish couple sprayed with pesticides. The film’s singular insensitivity is hard to digest, considering its existence in the present day.
The story unfolds in present-day Lucknow, where we meet the protagonist, Ajay ‘Ajju’ Dixit (Varun Dhawan), who values his public image above all else. He works as a history teacher but has a mysterious background in securing the job. Ajju is married to Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor), an intelligent woman with epilepsy, a condition he keeps hidden to preserve his image. When Ajju’s reckless action leads to a suspension, he comes up with a baffling plan to take his students on a trip to Europe to learn about the tragedy of World War II, with the support of his parents.
As the journey progresses, the focus shifts from the horrors of war to Ajju’s coming-of-age as a male chauvinist. His behavior towards Nisha becomes questionable, and their romantic development lacks chemistry. The insensitive portrayal of historical sites, including the Anne Frank House and Auschwitz, as tools for their relationship’s growth is deeply problematic and uncomfortable.
Bawaal’s warped version of romance and self-worth blinds it to the immense human tragedy of the Holocaust, reducing it to a mere metaphor to feed its narrative. While cinema can be a powerful medium to share untold stories, the film’s approach is narcissistic and invalidates the experiences of countless victims. It’s clear that Bawaal is one of the most tone-deaf and insensitive films in recent Hindi cinema, and its historical interpretation is not something anyone should endure.
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