When Bollywood writes a letter about self-love and acceptance, it's difficult to not take a note. It's heartening to see that Bollywood is becoming more experimental with stories they want to tell and the credit goes to people who conceive the idea and are ready to take that risk.
'Bald' is beautiful is not just a phrase but for Ayushmann Khurrana's 'Bala', the movie tries to navigate its characters into the realities of society only to make them realise that only validation that should matter is the one that comes from within.
Maddock Films
Bala is a honest film that doesn't sugar coat the realities and mindset of Indian society that is 'obsessed' with the idea of perfection. It experiments with the way we have molded our lives only for a perfect picture, likes, comments and how we thrive to get attention from people who don't even matter.
Maddock Films
As a film, the performances are perfect and flawless. The cast boasts of power-packed performers including Yami Gautam, Bhumi Pednekar, Saurabh Shukla, Seema Pahwa, Javed Jaffrey and Abhishek Banerjee. Every role in the film has a lot of heart and even though their intent isn't wrong, they end up giving up to the idea of 'looking perfect'.?
Vijay Raaz gives a compelling voice-over as he gives voice to Bala's 'hair'. While everyone takes time to come to idea of acceptance and self-love, the film takes twists and turns in a way that it becomes a journey you wouldn't regret taking.
SPOILER ALERT: In case, you haven't seen the film then don't proceed further!
In first part of the film, it highlights how our society is more welcoming towards people who 'look good'. Obsessing with the idea of fair is unfair and the movie deals with it at its own pace. Yami Gautam who plays a Tick Tok influencer in the film is shallow and she doesn't shy away from admitting that she belongs to an industry where how you look is of utmost importance. She ends her marriage with her husband as soon as she gets to know that he is bald and even though she loves him, she admits that she always desired a husband who looks as good as her.?
However, in the end, the film has a message that is important-no matter if you look fat, thin, fair, dark, short or bald, it's all about self-acceptance.
The punchlines of the film are so hilarious that you will end up laughing at Bala's misery. His life is in shambles because of his baldness and his friends try to 'fix' his life only to collectively realise that what's the point of changing when you can love yourself and be more accepting?
The movie ends with a very important monologue by Ayushmann and this one-liner sums up the intent of the film perfectly. What's there to change?
As humans, we magnify our flaw and equate it with self-worth and that's what is problematic. As an individual, Bala has everything to be happy and content but for him, it's the end of the world because everyone he falls in love with ends up leaving him for his lack of hair.
Even when Bala's life is a tragedy, his love for Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan unveils his funnier side. The film manages to highlight that there's so much more to a person that how they look.?
To assure that their love is real and everlasting, Bala uses funny one-liners that remain one of the high points of the film! Kudos to the writer for penning down rib-tickling one-liners that keep the movie on a lighter side.
As Latika, Bhumi Pednekar is a character that is aspiring for reasons more than one. Even when her entire life has gone in listening to taunts for being 'dark-skinned', she never frowns or dwells in self-pity. Rather, she is upfront and inspiring as a person.
Latika teaches you a very important lesson in life: Don't let anyone else take charge of your life who thinks that changing yourself is the only solution to being more acceptable and loved. With a country obsessed with 'good looks', Latika's character comes as a breath of fresh air.
Abhishek Banerjee who plays Ayushmann's friend and hair-dresser in the movie keeps the movie on a lighter note with some great one-liners! Even if you're looking for a film that offers you a good laughter, Bala is a film that has humor and much more to offer.
What could be touted as one of the most powerful scenes from the film, the courtroom scene where Latika fight against Pari (Yami Gautam) for Bala is worth standing and clapping for! As a disappointed wife who finds it hard to accept her husband because he's bald, she tries to justifies her stand by pointing out at Bala that if he can't accept his own flaws, no one else could be expected to do that either.?
From classmates to society neighbors, Bala and Latika are childhood foes who eventually end up standing up for each other. One of the initial scenes from the film establishes their animosity in the most hilarious way possible!
Unlike a typical romantic film where the heroine leaves her arranged-marriage set up for someone she used to love, Latika chooses to stand by her decision. Even though Bala and she, they share a hateful relation with each other, she stands by him in the time of need. Finally, when Bala realises that there is much more to her than her skin-color, it's too late and Latika is seen moving on with someone who chose her, despite how she looks.
Ayushmann is ecstatic with the response to his film. "With 'Bala', we are sending out some really strong and powerful social messages in the most entertaining manner possible and I'm delighted that the film has instantly connected with audiences on day one. I only hope that the film entertains the whole of India because only this way we will be able to communicate everything that 'Bala' is trying to say and spark a thought shift.", said Ayushmann in a statement.
Ayushmann accepted that Bala is one of his "most precious" scripts to date. "I'm humbled with the response and delighted that I have again backed a film that has its heart at the right place," he added.?