Bhool Chuk Maaf

A small town romantic comedy from the hit making production house of Dinesh Vijan, starring an in form Rajkummar Rao, a hot and happening Wamiqa Gabbi along with a cast of great character actors like Sanjay Mishra, Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, Zakhir Hussain and Ishtiyak Khan is a great recipe for success especially when you add a sprinkle of time loop anomaly to freshen up the traditional rom com story telling format. On the whole the movie delivers but it certainly had much more potential to raise the entertainment to a whole another level.

The time loop anomaly concept is still relatively new in Bollywood and hasnt been used to the level of some of the finest international time loop movies of all time. Karan Sharma still manages to make it fun and entertaining for most of the loops in his directorial debut for the silver screen. Rao is likable for most of the movie but starts feels a bit tired and irritating in some loops. Wamiqa is eye candy for most of the movie but does a good job in her happy go lucky "Titli" character. The remaining cast is impeccable and do a great job however feel a bit underutilized.

The ending for time loop anomaly movies is the tricky part and can make or break the movie. The social message based ending is good but not great and doesnt pack a really solid punch in the end. The journey to that end via the multiple time loops is fun and that is the main objective of the movie....to keep it fun and entertaining. Some of the loops are truly hilarious while some manage to be borderline funny. Overall it was a fun time pass movie. 7/10.

Bhool Chook Maaf is a Drama - Comedy that'll give you laughs and that is the important things. It's similar to the movies - Bareilly kee Barfi or I can Ayushman Khurana movies. It's the portrayal of small town people that gives the movie a special vibe. Seema Pahwa absolutely nailed this character and it's a no brainer that no one can portray the role of anxious mother like her. Rajkumar is Rajkumar Rao in this movie, but I felt like he was acting - acting rather than a natural performer. I still feel Ayushman Khurana has this desi small town vibes and the role would be better suited to him. Where this movie shines is the character dynamics and the laughs that the conversation between these characters happen. A family movie where you can just relax, and have a fun couple of hours.

I think it's safe to say some movies are just not worth going to cinema halls, but are good enough to watch on OTT apps at our convenience, and "Bhool Chuk Maaf" is one of those movies.

Though the movie could have had a better story, I appreciate that Bollywood is trying some different ideas. I know there are movies with similar plots or ideas already made, but again, the idea feels fresh, and I am glad that filmmakers are trying something different.

Many shots in the film are amazing and capture the city of Varanasi really well.

The star cast is great, and all have done their jobs well. Rajkummar is again playing a similar kind of role, and he nails it as expected. Wamiqa has done justice to her role, too.

As someone who was stuck in government exam struggles for a long time, I could relate to the movie better. The problem they have addressed is a genuinely huge problem in India.

The story, however, could have been better, as we can easily predict it as the movie picks up pace. The movie's pace doesn't feel right. I think, with an idea rarely touched upon in Bollywood, the movie doesn't do wonders with it.

The biggest disappointment is the songs! All are either directly taken from other old movies or copied from international hits.

I think it is high time Bollywood realized that not every movie needs four or five songs, and it's okay if they don't add them, but it's absolutely not okay to be lazy.

TLDR-A fun concept, good acting, the story could have been better, terrible songs, and definitely a one-time watch.

The trailer was an absolute masterclass in misdirection, essentially serving as a "best of" compilation that front-loaded all the genuinely funny scenes. This created an expectation for a vibrant, laugh-out-loud comedy, which the actual film tragically failed to deliver. Instead, the movie felt drawn out, like a joke with a punchline that never arrived because it was already revealed in the preview.

While the storyline and acting itself had potentia, the presentation was a significant letdown. It was as if the director struggled to weave those strong elements into a cohesive, engaging narrative. The pacing was sluggish, and the lack of fresh comedic moments made the entire experience feel like a deflated balloon after the initial excitement of the trailer. It's a prime example of how clever marketing can inadvertently spoil the product it's meant to promote.

Karan Sharma-directed Bhool Chuk Maaf follows the familiar template of a typical small-town comedy-drama that Bollywood has popularized over the past decade, only with a time-loop twist. The film is shot in Varanasi, and the cinematography speaks for itself. It features a fair share of gags that work in its favor, offering moments of laughter but some falls flat. However, the humor may not work for everyone. The biggest drawbacks of the film are its unnecessarily high number of songs and a stretched screenplay, which makes even a two-hour runtime feel long.

While the time-loop element isn't explored as deeply as it could have been, it still manages to keep the audience engaged with the drama. The third-act drama, though predictable, is actually well executed.

Rajkummar Rao once again shines as a small-town boy. His dialogue delivery and body language are perfectly in sync with the character. Wamiqa does a good job as the "irritating papa ki pari." Their chemistry is reminiscent of your TikTok feed, accurately reflecting their personalities. The supporting cast also performs well, with Sanjay Mishra and Ishtiyak Khan standing out. The songs are mostly forgettable. Overall, the film is an above-average, time-pass comedy-drama with occasional comic relief and well-executed emotional moments.!

OVERALL 6/10.