Let’s just say our previous outings with the superhero genre in Bollywood haven’t been great. So, it was with some weariness that we went ahead and watched this movie. But, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero left us surprised, to say the least. It is probably the first right step in the direction of a successful Indian superhero film. It manages to keep you hooked and not make a caricature of the characters in the story.
The film revolves around a bar table discussion that three friends have on how the fight for a better society begins with them. Priyanshu Painyuli and Harshvardhan Kapoor play two idealistic youth, Bhavesh Joshi and Sikander Khanna who take to the streets to bring justice to people around them no matter how small the issue is. What starts as an impulsive decision to bring Mumbaikars to justice by recording their fight against evil and uploading them on a digital platform called Insaaf TV, soon takes a darker turn once Bhavesh stumbles upon a much larger issue- the water crisis in Mumbai. This sets in motion a series of events that changes their lives forever. Among goons, water shortage, ugly politics, and uglier politicians, a superhero is born.
While the frames may give you dark DC undertones, the story gives you a good mix of humour, action, drama, and thrill. From the red tinge of the dimly lit bachelor pads of Mumbai to the greyish gloom of the dingy streets, the movie is well directed. The action sequences and bike chases are high-strung and will leave you hooked to the screen.
While Harshvardhan may play the lead, the movie belongs to each and every actor in the film. The back and forth between the three friends throughout the movie is what grounds the film and makes it so relatable. With the third friend in the group, Rajat (Ashish Verma) playing the role of a spectator, you are left feeling just as helpless as him throughout the movie. But the bad guys almost seem a little too real and too close to home. Even then, the hero is just as average as you and I and that’s why it’s so cool. It does not give hard-hitting speeches on social evils but puts forward smaller more real-world problems. Moreover, the movie holds well on its own without the help of any star power or exaggerated CGI sequences.
The collaboration of Vikramaditya Motwane and Amit Trivedi have once again proved to be a success because the background score of the film is haunting and is primarily what gives it the true superhero feel.
All that said, at the end of the day, the bad guy ends up delivering dialogues that are a little too OTT for his character. While the script is taut in the first half, the ending of the movie did seem a little dragged out.
But a definite special mention to Piyush and Ashish for their sincere performances. With his first film not performing up to expectations, Harshvardhan had a lot resting on this flick. The good news is, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief. While he does look a little lost in a few scenes, as the pace of the movie picks up, so does Harshvardhan. His dialogue delivery as the carefree college graduate and as the vigilante is on point. Plus, we’re spared the usual superhero beef up in a gym as well. Harshvardhan, take a bow, you are officially B-Town’s superhero.
With no creatures from outer space, larger than life villains or superhero suits made of vibranium, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero still manages to leave you on the edge of your seat.
PS: Take a leaf out of a Marvel fans book and stay a while after the credit starts rolling.
Another friendly neighbourhood note: If you were one of those people who cringed at the Chavanprash song, don’t worry.
In case you want to know more about B-Town’s new superhero, check out our exclusive interview with Harshvardhan.
Cast: Harshvardhan Kapoor, Priyanshu Painyuli, Nishikant Kamat
Director: Vikramaditya Motwane
Rating: 4/5