Kaalidhar Laapata review: Abhishek Bachchan gets lost at Kumbh Mela, and the film in the script

Kaalidhar Laapata story:

The heartbreaking reality is overheard by Kaalidhar (Abhishek Bachchan), a middle-aged man suffering from short-term memory loss: his brothers intend to leave him at the Maha Kumbh Mela. In that instant, everything shifts. In his journey to find himself again, he also tries to get away from his family. He meets Ballu (Daivik Baghela), an eight-year-old orphan who is brave and smart. An adult learns life lessons from this young survivor. What follows is a celestial adventure filled with warmth, laughter, and discovery, not your average road trip. The two add flying kites, eating mangoes in the rain, and laughing at local fairs to an old, forgotten bucket list. Their every experience is genuine, unfettered, and unforgettable. As the film progresses, the tone changes from melancholy to joy, demonstrating how the most unlikely people can forge the strongest bonds. What matters are the fleeting, tender moments, not grandiose deeds. They learn more about each other as their time together grows longer. It's about having someone stand by your side no matter what and about receiving acknowledgement and understanding.

Kaalidhar Laapata review:

We are in an era where Abhishek Bachchan is going on a deep curve in his career while choosing roles that he has never done before. Over the past few years, Abhishek Bachchan has embraced roles with emotional depth and, candidly, has begun to explore more fatherly roles, starting with Breathe: Into the Shadows and Ludo in 2020. Now, after five years, his exploration of diverse roles hasn't stopped, and the scripts he is receiving reflect this. 

This year, Bachchan is returning with a small film from the heartland, Kaalidhar Laapata, following Shoojit Sircar's I Want to Talk and the forgettable Housefull 5. Based on the trailer, it's clear that Madhumita's 2019 Tamil film K.D. served as the inspiration for this film. When I saw the first glimpse, I thought, How is it possible for Bachchan to play the role originally portrayed by Mu Ramaswamy, an 80-year-old man? His father, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, could have perfectly embodied the role. But that's how cinematic liberty works in the world.

ALSO READ: Kaalidhar Laapata OTT release date: Here's when and where you can stream Abhishek Bachchan's dramedy film 

Kaalidhar Laapata begins with Bachchan experiencing hallucinations and frequently falling ill, which creates a burden for his family. The middle brother's wife easily manipulates his two younger brothers into getting rid of him so that they do not have to take care of him at all. They somehow put his thumb impression on the property papers and try to kill him, but somehow that doesn't happen. Thus, they come up with an idea of leaving him at Kumbh Mela, as it's easy for him to get lost in the crowd while dealing with early-onset dementia.

The film then shows how the family's plan succeeds and how Kaalidhar decides to not bother his family for whom he has been living his whole life. Then comes Ballu, who teases Kaalidhar every now and then, but they somehow create a bond that becomes unbreakable in no time. This story parallels Anand, where a lively person teaches another who has lived his life without focusing on himself. 

On paper and in the original version, we know that it is a heartwarming story, centring around self-discovery as a key theme. However, Kaalidhar Laapata falls short of the impact it aimed to make with its straightforward narrative. The film's overly simplistic approach likely makes it feel mundane and fails to offer anything new.

In a scene where Ballu persistently questions Kaalidhar about the name he keeps repeating, "Meera", it becomes evident where the film is headed. The film suffers from this predictability, as it simplifies the narrative, ultimately portraying a long-lost love story through the lens of self-discovery. 

No, the intention is not to draw comparisons, as love stories are a popular genre and rarely do filmmakers succeed without incorporating a romantic element. However, in Kaalidhar Laapata, the film shapes itself in a way that necessitates a romantic angle to encapsulate the story and illustrate the protagonist's ultimate self-discovery. 

Yes, the film attempts to incorporate numerous emotional angles that aim to evoke tears, but it fails so miserably that nothing truly tugs at your heartstrings. First of all, this was the perfect opportunity to portray Kaalidhar as being the same age as Bachchan in real life or slightly older. I am still not understanding how a 40-year-old man is shown as an ageing person. What was the point here, even?

The song Dil Banjaara depicts Kaalidhar as he fulfils his bucket list, which consists of simple things he has not accomplished despite living for more than four decades. Yes, that's quite heartwarming to watch, but once again, the search for something extraordinary in an ordinary situation feels so forced that it doesn't hit the way it aspires to.

When it comes to performances, Bachchan truly delivers, and he owns the role, making him watchable to the core. The actor understands the pulse of a character while shedding vanity and actually offering more than the film deserves. The emotional depth of the film is driven only by the presence of Bachchan, and his chemistry with young Baghela is palpable and a treat to watch. 

The child actor shows more maturity than his age and becomes an easy catalyst for someone to live life to the fullest without them realising it. There are moments when Baghela shines on his own, and he captures your attention whenever he is on screen. The main strengths of Kaalidhar Laapata are Bachchan and Baghela, whose effortless camaraderie captivates the audience.

The film does want to soar badly but never quite breaks free from the ground beneath its feet. Well, the self-discovery journey I went through while watching Kaalidhar Laapata was that even an hour and 50 minutes of film can seem long when it has nothing to offer to gauge your attention.

Kaalidhar Laapata verdict:

Despite a tender bond at its core and two strong performances by Abhishek Bachchan and Daivik Baghela trying to hold the fort, Kaalidhar Laapata often loses its way like its protagonist at the Kumbh Mela.