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

Despite the fact "Baar Baar Dekho" is the remake of Hollywood blockbuster movie Groundhog day but a brave move by the movie maker to put such an experimental movie in Indian cinema. "Baar Baar Dekho" is a twisted movie and very well scripted but for the Indian box office it will fade out because the audience is still not ready for such "Hollywood" standards movies. Indian cinema still works on commercial movies like Dilwale, Rowdy Rathore, Dabang or movies which are full of unrealistic stories with unnecessary songs. So do watch it for a movie that could be much more better in terms of acting and direction but a nice movie for those families which not spend value-able time with each other.

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.

Truth be said I was nowhere interested to see this movie after watching the trailer because this concept has been done many times and there is nothing new to it. Then came the video song for "Tere Khair Mangdi" and Siddharth Malhotra's expressions hooked me in and I was interested to see whether he has done something different. So I just went it with very low expectations but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Now when I came to rate this movie I was shocked to see such a low rating so I think I should give in my input for people who haven't seen it yet. Story wise the movie is what you are expecting if you have seen Hollywood movies where a love-story is mixed with time travel. The highlight of the movie is Siddharth Malhotra. He gives a surprisingly emotional and soulful performance depicting each age in the time-line. The cinematography is brilliant. Every bit of the chaos called marriage is shown brilliantly and the confusion which Sid's character, Jai is having is shown articulately. Now with such amazing direction and camera-work the one who fails and had so much room to work is Katrina Kaif. She is still short on how to emote and she is absolutely not at par with Siddharth. Ram Kapoor and Sarika stroll through their roles. Rohan Joshi gets his Bolly debut. Though a bit stiff, he does his best. My honest suggestion is to give it a watch because it is a refreshing change to the already beaten down formula of Bollywood's take on romance and love.