Badrinath Ki Dulhania Movie Review: Total Paisa Vasool

The fact that Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt make a great pair was discovered in Student Of The Year and reiterated in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, which is why, Badrinath Ki Dulhania was one of the most anticipated films this year. But does the film work? Read on…

Badrinath Bansal (Varun Dhawan), the scion of a patriarchal and feudal family, falls for Vaidehi Tripathi (Alia Bhatt), a girl with a mind of her own. In order to woo her, Badri promises to help her find a suitable groom for her sister and Vaidehi too gets pressurized to marry her because he comes from a renowned family and has helped her sister find her Mr. Right.

However, Vaidehi wants to follow her dreams and this sets the stage for heartbreak and tragedy. How the two manage to cope with this, forms the rest of the plot.

Varun Dhawan is simply delightful as the bratty Badri, who wears his heart on his sleeve and manages to win your with his ‘boy-next-door’ charm. What works for Varun is the honesty with which he has portrayed his character, be it funny scenes or intense ones and the lad, who has mostly played urbane roles, simply wows you with his rustic avatar.

On her part, Alia is feisty and vulnerable in equal measures as and when the situation demands it and the chemistry between the two is one of the highlights of the film. Special mention must be made of Sahil Vaid, who essays the role of Badri’s loyal sidekick Somdev. This actor, who had also played Varun’s pal in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, has got some of the best lines in the film and the bantering bromance between Badri and Somdev, is another reason to watch this film.

As for the film itself, Badrinath Ki Dulhania stars off rather breezily and with dollops of humour that is sure to make you guffaw appreciatively. However, towards the interval point, you start to realize that there is more to the plot than a fluffy love story. The second half of the film, though lengthy, strives to strike a blow for women empowerment and against patriarchy. Shashank Khaitan deserves a pat on his back for putting across his point without making the film too preachy or heavy.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania sends across a message effectively that in the absence of respect, love cannot survive and there are moments in the film, which will make you cheer the makers. Though some scenes may come across as contrived, the makers have their hearts in the right place and so, the film does manage to touch your heart.

Another element that works for the film is its music, which is foot-tapping and fun, be it Tamma Tamma or the title track. All in all, Badrinath Ki Dulhania is a fun watch with a noble message…