Fun, Heartwarming, & Unique Love Story. Review on Bhool Chuk Maaf

I recently watched the latest Bollywood release Bhool Chuk Maaf, directed and written by Karan Sharma. I love romantic/comedy dramas and Rajkummar Rao is definitely my favorite actor in this genre. It is a fantasy romantic comedy set in the vibrant city of Varanasi, revolving around a small-town love story with a unique twist. A proper family movie, I couldnt miss this in the theatres. Along with Rajkummar Rao, theres Wamiqa Gabbi and a solid support cast of Seema Pahwa, Sanjay Mishra, and Zakir Hussain.

The story follows Ranjan, a hopeless romantic who wants to marry his girlfriend Titli. However, Titli's father insists that Ranjan must secure a government job before the wedding can happen. Ranjan struggles to get the job and ends up seeking help from a fixer named Bhagwan Das(Sanjay Mishra). Just when the wedding preparations begin, Ranjan finds himself stuck in a bizarre time loop where the day of his Haldi ceremony keeps repeating endlessly, while Titli remains unaware of this. The film explores Ranjan's attempts to break free from this loop and the lessons he learns along the way about life.

I found the plot to be very unique. Even though it is fantasy, the story doesnt go off the tracks. Karan Sharmas direction is ambitious, attempting to blend romance, comedy, and fantasy. Rajkummar Raos acting is natural as always. You wouldnt even believe this is a fantasy film unless youre told so. The initial half feels like a typical small-town romance with colorful characters and family dynamics. I really enjoyed it. The second half was a bit stretched and the story felt less authentic. The screenplay by Haider Rizvi tries to tackle many issues such as unemployment and communal harmony, but the execution falls short. However, everything makes sense at the climax.

If you are watching it in the theatres, make sure to know this is a fantasy movie and some parts might feel unnatural. Speaking of performances, Rajkummar Rao once again proves why he is one of the most reliable actors in Bollywood. Wamiqa Gabbi as Titli is charming and cheerful, a perfect partner to Raos character. The supporting cast, including Seema Pahwa as Ranjans mother and Sanjay Mishra as the fixer Bhagwan, add flavor to the film with their natural performances. The overall small-town vibes of the movie are great. The music and dialogues do not feel forced. Overall, it is a pleasant movie.

Bhool Chuk Maaf comes with a good heart and a meaningful message. The first half is relatively light and entertaining, but the story takes a long time to find its footing. It tries to preach more than entertain. It needed some subtlety. Despite that, I enjoyed the 1970s small-town feel. It was nostalgic. It has moments of charm and warmth, especially in its characters. The love story is nice and unique. Rajkummars acting is top-notch. All the supporting actors play their part well. It is definitely a one-time watch if you are looking for a decent family movie.