Bandaa Singh Chaudhary Review: Arshad Warsi is a fantastic actor. Recently, he made waves with his comment that Prabhas's character in Kalki reminded him of a joker. While watching Bandaa Singh Chaudhary, someone mentioned that comment to me during the interval, but I don't quite agree. Even joker is entertaining, whereas this film falls flat. Interestingly, the film concludes by noting that Bandaa Singh Chaudhary's name never made the news, but if he saw this film, he'd probably prefer his name never being in the headlines if it means avoiding association with a subpar movie like this.
Bandaa Singh Chaudhary storyline
Set against the backdrop of 1980s Punjab, a period marked by severe unrest and militancy, the film narrates the tale of Banda Singh Chaudhary, who relocates from Bihar to Punjab and marries a Sikh woman. As tensions escalate, the community pressures Banda to leave his village, but he resolves to confront the militants head-on. Who stands by him, and does he succeed? Well, that's not really a question, since if a film is made, it's obvious he must have succeeded. But how? That's the story this film tells.
How is Bandaa Singh Chaudhary
This film feels fake, like Munna Bhai's fake doctor persona. Arshad Warsi seems miscast in the lead role, and the villagers come across as caricatures, reminiscent of Munna Bhai's circuit. The first half drags, failing to address its central issues. You hold onto hope for the second half, but it's met with disappointment. Not a single scene leaves an impact, and the film sorely lacks emotional depth. Banda's character, munching on mathri while awaiting terrorists with a gun, comes across as comical. The terrorists' roles lack convincing actors, failing to evoke fear.
Although we have seen various narratives of individual revolutions, this one fails to engage the audience. While Diljit Dosanjh embodied Amar Singh Chamkila with depth, this film does not evoke similar feelings. The production quality appears subpar, with Arshad’s bloodstained shirt looking more like cheap tomato sauce. Ultimately, the only redeeming aspect of this film is that it informs viewers about Banda Singh Chaudhary.
Performances
Arshad Warsi is an exceptional actor, but he doesn't fit this character. Watching him, it's unclear whether he's playing Circuit, himself, or someone else. Questions arise: Why does he dress like that? Why does he wear glasses? Why doesn't he blend in with the villagers? Granted, his ancestors came from Bihar, but he's from here, so why does he stand out? The film fails to adequately explain these inconsistencies.
Mehr Vij shines, delivering a strong performance. Jeeva Ahluwalia also impresses, convincingly portraying a Punjabi character. The child actress playing Arshad Warsi's daughter does a great job as well. Unfortunately, no other characters leave a lasting impression."
Direction
Abhishek Saxena’s direction leaves much to be desired. He should have conducted more research before attempting to portray such a figure. The film required more emotional depth; the scenes where Banda battles the militants come off as childish. Even street fights seem more convincing than what’s depicted in the film. Saxena squandered a solid subject and capable actors.
If you want to learn about Banda Singh Chaudhary, you’d be better off reading about him online or waiting for the film’s OTT release. The final decision, however, is yours to make.