Baar Baar Dekho

Debutante Nitya Mehra juxtaposes elements that are generally associated with science fiction, fantasy, and romance, and carves out a story that looks and feels very familiar to the audience at large.

Jai (Sidharth Malhotra) is a Mathematics professor who is in a ridiculously long and maintained relationship with Diya (Katrina Kaif), a modern art painter who is never shown using a paintbrush, even once. Jai wants to continue the relationship with his childhood sweetheart, but considers his career more important. Since he is also slightly unorthodox and possibly agnostic, he kicks up a storm with the pandit (priest) regarding the "saath phere" ("seven rounds around the holy fire which generally bonds marriages in Hindusim"). And we are told that this might be the cause why he dozes off after a life-changing tiff with Diya later that day and ends up waking up on his honeymoon, ten days later.

Baar Baar Dekho is essentially NOT a time travel flick. Rather, it is a partly science fictional and fantasy narrative involving a man who is partially cursed by a Hindu priest to teach him a lesson why the "saath phere" is important and why he should also focus on the small things in life. Jai flip-flops between his life, specifically touching the years 2023, 2034, and 2047, which makes him realize what he's been missing out and how his life would turn out to be if he continues to "not focus on the small things in life." Science fiction kicks in in terms of swanky, modular cars, sleek architectures, and good-looking technology. Having said that, it is also a romantic drama in part where Jai and Diya romance, and engage in matrimony, also unsuccessfully trying to embrace realism.

The film starts off very jubilantly, with a ballad-like, tuneful song serenading the audience to the lives of the protagonists as they grow up to be the bearers of the story. It is a delight to watch Malhotra and Kaif maneuver their characters effortlessly, supported by well-directed co-stars whose primary attribute is an all-smiles, if not exaggerated, faces. Ms. Mehra writes the romance well, but falters in the second part when Jai has to learn lessons and apply them in his life to make things right. While the story is definitely inspired by Frank Coraci's Click (2006) and Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day (1993), one wonders if it reaches any of the levels broken by those two classics. Conclusively, the story is neither novel nor awe-inspiring.

Malhotra is clueless throughout the film despite being a Mathematician who was last seen watching Ron Howard's A Beautiful Mind (2001). His character is half-baked, while Kaif gets into a type of character that she is evidently very comfortable in. She is charming in the first half. Ram Kapoor and Sarika both are pleasing. Shout out to Rohan Joshi for debuting, and Sayani Gupta for laddering up.

The film, if at all, teaches one to consider the small things in life and take merry in them, rather than working toward the big things, which may be too elusive and unworthy. Family is important than one's job as our Jai finds out the hard way, even though he knows how much 546 multiplied by 48 is. I know, that's what Mathematicians in Cambridge do, right!? Multiplication!

All in all, Baar Baar Dekho will work for an Indian viewer because there is enough dance and romance to get him through the first half. Even if he understands the concept, the second half is slightly boring and formulaic, with no importance given to his patience level, who may be forced to think why he didn't go for Sohail Khan's Freaky Ali (2016) instead.

BOTTOM LINE: Nitya Mehra's Baar Baar Dekho is a film about a man's fantasy which is caused by his ignorance to make him understand what life is. But, you know, one man's fantasy is other man's... Wait for DVD, and then rent it.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

A good attempt to present an out of Bollywood league love story which majorly covers the after marriage part. A guy travels to future and able to see the crisis those could happen and realizes the things need to be correct in present to stop disasters to happen. you will love the colorful outfits and exquisite locations. Also the screenplay is quite satisfying. Sidharth cozily played his character at various ages with tight grip. Katrina looks stunning and force you to keep your eyes on her charming face and well shaped bally. Movie lags in dialogues and fails to pull out the emotions from your heart. Ram Kappor seems to act over-enthaustic that hardly fits in story line. Music is pleasant and songs are placed at right moments. Nitya Mehra accomplished to present a nice, colorful screenplay. If you like off the road romance then this movie fits well in your one time watch list.

I can't boast of writing many movie reviews in my lifetime, but the IMDb average rating of Baar Baar Dekho as 5.5/10 shocked me, to say the least.

That this movie got such a low rating in spite of having a new concept and beautiful presentation, is what's absolutely WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY (and the star reviewers who have no idea of good movies)!

This movie was relatable, and didn't have boring double-meaning poor comedic dialogues. This movie didn't have MASALA and this irked many Star Reviewers who only felt "kala chasma" was the best part of the movie (which explains their poor taste).

I watched this movie with zero expectations, as I never felt Katrina could act well. But, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new side of katrina. She blended in well with the character and there was no overacting, which other bollywood melodramatic crap movies have.

An amazing light-hearted movie with such a good and novel concept, is quite comparable to good Hollywood movies.

We can't always expect an Inception-like movie, but what Bollywood offered in this movie was wonderful.

well well Bollywood is not familiar with such kinda story. but i must say this is a very good attempt, although it is not so much entertaining but you will definitely see a very different type of story with a strong message about life, like your what is more important to you in life. Simply you don't know when your life is over..ENJOY THE EACH MOMENT..Katrina play good role , Siddhartha feel like lost in this movie, do not just see the movie feel it,live it and know, what the director want us to see.overall i will say to you its a one time watch at-least. Songs are good its flows as per the story and there are lots of week points in the movie. Over ALL it is good for one time watch.

the movie baar baar dekho is doing good in the theatres ...after watching the movie i can say Mr karan Johar has directed in an spectacular. Something to the public of India . Though the concept is kinda unreal of skipping time ...but the way it is been portrayed throughout that is really justified for the viewers to get wat the movie has conveyed. Romantic movie lovers would love it and the songs are awesome and in a nut shell something different and unique is here which should be appreciated.