Nitesh Tiwari’s “Bawaal” starts with a few charming scenes but quickly transforms into a heavy-handed moral science class with its ambitious idea of correlating the life of a history teacher in Lucknow to the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, which can be almost frightening.

The story revolves around Ajay, played by Varun Dhawan, a history teacher in Lucknow who tries to maintain the façade of a tough and perfect life. He feels embarrassed about his wife Janvi’s epilepsy and hesitates to take her out. However, during a trip to Europe and visiting World War II sites, Ajay has a change of heart and starts using these historical references to express his love for his wife and understand the essence of life.

Unfortunately, the film suffers from several shortcomings. Firstly, the script lacks proper knowledge about epilepsy, as it fails to acknowledge the different types and the fact that it can’t be cured but can be controlled. Instead, it resorts to stereotypical exaggerations of neurological disorders.

Secondly, the character development in the plot feels rushed and poorly executed. In well-crafted stories, characters mature and evolve through life situations, learning from their mistakes. However, in “Bawaal,” the transformation appears artificial and unconvincing, akin to spoon-feeding by others.

Moreover, the film forgets its primary purpose, which is to entertain, not to bore with history and moral lessons. The poor screenplay and weak storyline contribute to the movie’s lackluster impact.

Lastly, the film makes an inappropriate comparison between the atrocities and pain of World War I/II and the struggles of contemporary daily life. Such a comparison is insensitive and fails to recognize the true gravity of historical events. Even a line in the movie stating, “Every relationship has its own Auschwitz,” cannot justify this comparison.

In conclusion, “Bawaal” stands out as one of the most excruciatingly pathetic movies of recent times, failing to deliver on its ambitious premise and leaving the audience disappointed.