In this vibrant, mystical city of Banaras where love, despair, and a pinch of magic combine, Bhool Chuk Maaf pops up. The charm of Wamiqa Gabbi and the versatility of Rajkumar Rao are both showcased in this Maddock Films dramedy that appears to combine fantasy and comedy. Does it work though? Nope, unfortunately the film feels like it’s stuck in a time loop of blunders. More confusing than entertaining, leaving viewers in the lurch.
Loses Its Way from a Very Promising Plot
Envision the below: a rampant Ranjan Tiwari (Rajkumar Rao) is dying to marry sweetheart Titli Mishra (Wamiqa Gabbi) so much that he is willing to go to extremes to get a government job. And to get access to all of this, he runs into a crooked mddle man, Bhagwan Das (Sanjay Mishra makes a special appearance) who is requesting an eye watering amount as a bribe. Days leading up to the wedding, Ranjan’s life starts taking a turn for the bizarre when he comes across a time loop where he’s stuck reliving the haldi ceremony. The concept definitely has some legs as timeless classics have been built from the ring of time loops, Groundhogs day anyone? Unfortunately Bhool Chuk Maaf misses out on the good utilize the concept with the offer. The result? A script which is as boring as it is myrmidon and predictable.
Where It Falls Apart
The lack of development on a compelling premise is this film’s biggest flaw. We didn’t have any well-thought-out touches or any twists that would evoke feelings; instead, we were served a poorly woven story with inconsistently weak humor. All of the lighthearted and somber moments feel misplaced, at best, disjointed and at worst, confusing. It almost feels like the filmmakers set out to create a genre-bending audacious masterpiece only to scramble everything into a spectacularly messy failure. The script is plagued with issues, wit is non-existent, and the frustrations from the character’s suffering barely elicit empathy. A so-called surprise bachelor party, with bikini-clad performers doing a shiftless item number, barely succeeds in being shockingly misplaced while doing nothing to enhance the joy within viewers.
Shining Moments Amid the Chaos
Still, among the chaotic there lies a certain twinkle of brilliance. I love how Rajkummar Rao has taken the character of Ranjan and turned it upside down as only he can. He brought forth his trademark energy to Ranjan’s character with extreme affection and a hint of exhaustion. Wamiqa Gabbi performed wonderful portraying her role of Titli and also brought in much needed moments of realism. Seema Pahwa and Sanjay Mishra provide claim to the supporting cast as well, fighting for claim with their perfect timing and unmatchable comic delivery. And of course, not to forget, Banaras’ beauty and essence was almost flawless throughout the film due to Sudeep Chatterjee’s cinematography, even though the flawed narrative clings to constant reminders throughout the film.
A Missed Opportunity
Ultimately, Bhool Chuk Maaf is a film that fails to reach its potential. It possesses a picturesque location, a talented cast, and ample creative vision, but somehow manages to let itself down, leaving viewers important resolution “dissaped”. It earned a mere 2 stars and serves as a reminder that even the best performers cannot redeem a narrative in a such a meltdown. To satisfy your curiosity, you can listen to the soundtrack of the movie on JioSaav and delve deeper into the insights shared by the cast in a special feature on NDTV.
