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Bholaa Reviews

Trishul in hand, his forehead smeared in sacred ash, Ajay Devgn looks menacing in Bholaa, but otherwise struggles to convey the mythic qualities of his character.

Full Review | Sep 12, 2023

So overwhelming is the film’s commitment to be fan service that the urgency embedded in the premise gets diluted swiftly and then all at once.

Full Review | Jul 20, 2023

To be clear, Bholaa isn’t a good film. But when the movie stops in its tracks (quite literally, as it turns out) and unleashes an action sequence, it’s undeniably glorious.

Full Review | Jun 3, 2023

The screenplay (there are a number of writing credits) is confusing and chaotic with choppy timelines.

Full Review | Jun 1, 2023

All you have at the end of Bholaa is an audience that’s bored and, thanks to the film’s terrible sound design, hard of hearing.

Full Review | Apr 3, 2023

Instead of a taut thriller, we get a listless action ballad that manages to invisibilise Tabu.

Bholaa packs in quite a punch with his strength, grit and charisma.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 3, 2023

Ajay Devgn delivers a no-holds-barred, bang-for-your-buck actioner.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 3, 2023

Bholaa is Kaithi on steroids.

Full Review | Mar 31, 2023

Bholaa takes all the worst elements of bloated action flicks and puts them into this overly long, messy, and idiotic film. The police in this movie are so stupid, they leave their police station unlocked and unstaffed while prisoners are inside.

Full Review | Mar 30, 2023

Ajay Devgn’s remake of the Tamil hit retains the original’s life or death urgency but revises its raw, massy momentum for a freakish tone that works wonders for Bholaa as long as it lasts.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 30, 2023

Diana is among a handful of pleasant surprises in the area of diversity and cultural heterogeneity that Bholaa throws up. Having done some things so right, (Ajay) Devgn and his crew get so much else so wrong that they completely wreck the film.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 30, 2023

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Bholaa Review: Ajay Devgn shines bright in gripping remake of Kaithi

Bholaa, starring and directed by ajay devgn, is a well-packaged actioner that caters to the mass audience. the film features a good mix of elevation sequences and emotional scenes..

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Bholaa is directed by Ajay Devgn.
It is a remake of Karthi’s Kaithi.
Bholaa features Ajay Devgn and Tabu in the lead.

Cast & Crew

Release Date: 30 Mar, 2023

Bholaa, this week’s only major Hindi release, is a well-executed actioner that hits the right notes because of Ajay Devgn’s intense performance and grand vision.

The movie, a remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil blockbuster Kaithi, revolves around an ex-convict who is roped by IPS Diana Joseph (Tabu) to carry out a task for cops during a major crisis. He reluctantly agrees to assist them after she promises to help him meet his daughter, who is in an orphanage.

The protagonist soon finds himself in the middle of a war between the police and a drug trafficking mafia. The rest of the narrative revolves around his attempts at fighting off menacing foes to unite with his child.

Bholaa stays faithful to Kaithi as far as the core storyline is concerned. The difference between these films, however, lies in the execution. Lokesh Kanagaraj took his time to build Kaithi's world. Moreover, its action scenes felt realistic.

Ajay Devgn, by contrast, treats Bholaa as a star vehicle. Each scene builds an aura around the lead character. This sets the stage for several whistle-worthy moments. Moreover, the action scenes feel grand and stylish. The decision to cast Tabu in the role originally played by Narain too proves to be a smart one as it changes the dynamics at play.

Tabu’s sequences with the Shivaay actor too are a highlight of Bholaa. The ace performers complement each other quite well. In a touching scene, they talk about their sad pasts.

The track involving Devgn and his reel daughter adds a touch of tenderness to the inherently violent and dark film.

A crucial sequence set in a police station too works reasonably well and gives us a proper look at the menacing Nithari (Vineet Kumar)

The action scenes are Bholaa’s backbone. They do a good job of taking the narrative forward. The Paan Dukaniya number too has been integrated into the plot quite intelligently.

On the flip side, the flashback portions fail to add much to Bholaa. They feel rushed and predictable. This is quite unfortunate as they had the potential to add another layer to the film. Similarly, a few characters feel half-baked as they don’t get enough scope. The makers could also have tried to examine Tabu’s tragic backstory.

Ajay Devgn’s performance is the heart and soul of Bholaa. He excels in the action scenes, the way he had in the Singham series. The actor is equally good in the emotional scenes as he uses his eyes to express the character’s anguish. Watch out for his heartwrenching expression in a scene where he hears his daughter’s voice for the first time.

Tabu is good in a role that requires her to be tough and vulnerable in equal measure. She also makes a decent impact in a couple of action scenes.

Deepak Dobriyal shines in some of Bholaa’s most unnerving scenes. He, however, deserved a meatier role.

Vineet is at his wildest best in a disturbing scene where threatens to eliminate a policeman. He too deserved more screen time.

Sanjay Mishra proves to be the surprise package of Bholaa. The actor, who has often been burdened with one-dimensional comedy roles, received praise for his work in Vadh. This too is a fine outing for him. The actor delivers a natural and subdued performance. This makes it easier for one to relate to his character,

The rest of the cast serves its purpose.

Bholaa features dialogues such as ‘pandav bhi paanch the’ and ‘shakal dekh kar chargsheet banane lagi hai police’, which cater to the masses. The music, sadly, is not up to the mark. None of the songs, barring the soulful Nazar Lag Jayegi, make any impact. This is quite surprising given the fact that the tunes are composed by Ravi Basur, who rose to fame with his work in KGF.

To conclude, Bholaa is a treat for Ajay Devgn’s fans. It has everything, right from action scenes to punch dialogues, that one would expect from a big-screen spectacle meant for the mass audience.

We are going with 3 stars out of 5 for Bholaa. Published By: Grace Cyril Published On: Mar 30, 2023 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | After Drishyam 2, will Ajay Devgn spread magic on screens with Bholaa? Trade experts talk

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Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn's BHOLAA is a massappealing film with scale, grandeur, breathtaking action.

Bholaa is a mass-appealing film with scale, grandeur, breathtaking action., bholaa review {3.5/5} & review rating.

BHOLAA is the story of one crazy night involving drugs, gangsters and a father dying to meet his daughter. ACP Diana ( Tabu ) fights a gang of thieves and confiscates 900 kgs of drugs from them, worth Rs. 1,000 crores. She hides the drugs in the basement of the sprawling Lalganj Police Station. At night, she attends the retirement party of I G Jayant Malik (Kiran Kumar). In a strange turn of events, all the 50 cops at the party faint one by one after drinking the spiked drink. Diana, who was injured, didn’t consume alcohol and she’s the only one on her feet. Her undercover cop Bhoora (Arpit Ranka) informs her that Ashwathama aka Ashu ( Deepak Dobriyal ), whose drugs she has confiscated, is determined to finish off the cops. He’s also all set to take back his drugs consignment. Diana has only one choice – ask Bholaa ( Ajay Devgn ) to help her ferry the unconscious cops to the hospital before they die. Bholaa has just got released from jail after 10 years. He is all set to go to an orphanage to meet his daughter Jyoti (Hirva Trivedi) whom he has never seen before. Diana, however, spoils his plan as she asks him for help. Bholaa agrees when she promises to secure Jyoti’s future in return for his services. The truck journey begins. Sadly, Ashu and his gang put several roadblocks in the 80-kilometer-long journey. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

BHOLAA is the official remake of KAITHI [2019]. Lokesh Kanagaraj's story is promising and has all the trappings of a full-on commercial entertainer. Ankush Singh, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Sriidhar Rajyash Dubey and Sandeep Kewlani's screenplay could have been more impactful. A few scenes, however, are well thought of. Ankush Singh, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Sriidhar Rajyash Dubey and Sandeep Kewlani's dialogues are meant to induce claps and whistles.

Ajay Devgn's direction is praiseworthy. He has handled the grandeur well. A few action scenes will take your breath away. It’s also heartening to see that the focus is not just on him and the supporting characters also get a chance to shine. He has also put the effort in making the villains seem menacing while also providing them ample screentime to create an impact on the viewer.

On the flipside, the film is visually quite dark for the commercial audiences. The emotional angle is a bit weak and it hampers the impact to some extent. Also, the narrative involves Bholaa being confronted by various gangs. It leads to predictability as you know that once he finishes off a gang, he'll soon be attacked by the next.

Bholaa: Official Trailer | Ajay Devgn | Tabu

Speaking of performances, Ajay Devgn is in great form. He looks very dashing and scores in the action scenes. His entry is a bit late though. Tabu gives her best and her introduction scene is rocking. Amala Paul has a fine screen presence but is hardly there in the film. Deepak Dobriyal is quite nice as the hysterical antagonist. Vineet Kumar (Nithari) is passable. Gajraj Rao (Devraj) is disappointing as it’s not properly established who exactly he is. Sanjay Mishra (Angad Yadav) is likeable. Lokesh Mittal (Corrupt cop) leaves a mark while Arpit Ranka, Amir Khan (Kadchi), Chetan Sharma (Chashmish), Deepali Gautam (Naina) are decent. Kiran Kumar is fair. Raai Laxmi looks sizzling in the item song.

Ravi Basrur's music is alright. 'Nazar Lag Jayegi' is catchy. 'Aadha Main Aadhi Vo' fails to entice. 'Paan Dukaniya' is well choreographed. The title song is nicely tuned. Ravi Basrur's score is massy and enhances the impact.

Aseem Bajaj's cinematography is breathtaking. Ramazan Bulut and R P Yadav's action is one of the high points. A few shots, however, are too violent. Navin Shetty, Radhika Mehra and Divyak D’souza's costumes are realistic. NY VFXWaala's VFX is rich. Dharmendra Sharma's editing could have been sharper as the film is quite lengthy.

On the whole, BHOLAA is a mass-appealing film with scale, grandeur, breathtaking action, and Ajay Devgn and Tabu's mind-blowing performances as its USP.

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Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn-Tabu Return To Action With Guns Blazing; Add Soul To The Gripping Thriller

Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn-Tabu return to action with guns blazing; add soul to the gripping thriller

Bholaa movie review: ajay devgn's bollywood movie is crafted for the masses and perfectly blends high-octane action, thriller and soul in the first half and ends with a surprising climax where a 'bollywood actor' cameo is waiting..

Movie Name: Bholaa
Critics Rating: 3.5 / 5
Release Date: March 30, 2023
Director: Ajay Devgn
Genre: Action-thriller

Bholaa Movie Review: With his earnest eyes and grim demeanor, Ajay Devgn once again gave a performance to remember. The actor plays the role of a convict who is out of prison and on his way to meet his daughter in the action-thriller movie Bholaa. From the film's beginning, the tone is set that Bholaa is a larger-than-life man who cannot be messed with. He is not only dangerous but can fight like a warrior. The first half hour of the movie works to set the stage for what is going to happen during the course of two and a half hours. While it is quite evident where the film is going, every frame and every scene is worth watching.

A racy action thriller is expected from the start where the high-octane action sequences are meant to steal the limelight. And that's what happens in the entire movie! The way other prisoners describe Ajay Devgn aka Bholaa and his beefed-up look justify how he fights the drug mafia and throws hundreds of goons away like pebbles in his way. Even an animal as fierce as a leopard is scared to fight Bholaa when he has ash on his forehead. While the storyline is predictable, Bholaa's character has not been defined completely in the film.

Through one long flashback, we are told why Bholaa has never met his 10-year-old daughter yet and what happened to his wife but there is no recollection of who he really is. How he started his journey? Looks like we have to wait for the sequel to reach that part of the story.

Other than Ajay Devgn, all the other characters, big or small, contribute to carve a world that gets intriguing with every scene. Ashwathama played by Deepak Dobriyal deserves special mention as he gets into the skin of his character of a heartless villain and still looks appealing. He effortlessly shifts from his image of a comedian onscreen to a ruthless bad guy. Tabu's onscreen presence again impresses and her chemistry with Ajay Devgn appears natural. This is the first time she has tried her hands at hard-core action and she nailed it by fighting several goons singlehandedly. Other supporting characters are also executed to perfection and help understand the plot more deeply. The side characters not only add meaning to the plot but frequently bring comic relief amid bone-breaking fights, high-speed bike chases and rip-roaring gunfire.

The only area where Bholaa falls short is not focusing more on the emotional side of the lead character's relationship with his daughter Jyoti. In the first half, the heartwarming father-daughter bond manages to tug at the heartstrings but feels missing or nearly forgotten in the second half. Eventually, when they meet, it appears sudden and breaks the mood.

To conclude, Bholaa is crafted for the masses and perfectly blends high-octane action, thriller and soul in the first half and ends with a surprising climax where a 'Bollywood actor' cameo is waiting. An exciting watch for the weekend!

Bholaa Trailer:

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'Bholaa' movie review: Well-crafted action set pieces in the garb of a narrative

Bholaa is a crazy film. No, that’s not it. Bholaa is a bats*** crazy film. Nada. Bholaa has two Sikhs, in a jungle, in the middle of the night, doing wheelies on tractors as they try to rein in a truck. That’s more like it. Now, I am all for going berserk.

Action sequences don’t necessarily have to be plausible. Gun down a chopper; eject from a car falling off a cliff while you grab your lover mid-air and superhero-land without even a hairline fracture; or unleash some feral animals at a British high official’s party. I am game. But an action scene in a film is the payoff, not the narrative. Although Bholaa has some cleverly crafted set pieces, at times it feels like a video game jumping from a boss fight to a boss fight, without any cutscenes.

A remake of the 2019 Lokesh Kanagaraj film Kaithi, Bholaa takes the logline from the Tamil original. In the course of one night, a recently-released convict, teams up with an injured cop to transport a shipment of drugged-out policemen in a truck, while there is a bounty on them.

Parallelly, there is a deranged gangster Ashwattama (Deepak Dobriyal) trying to enter (or demolish) a police station and retrieve his drug overhaul. Now, Bholaa takes some creative liberties. The film opens with a chase sequence during the day, and we get a deservedly heroic introduction of Tabu as IPS Diana Joseph.

It is a bang-on start but leaves no scope for any build-up. Bholaa has an incessant urge to give instant gratification to its viewers. Its dialogue resorts to rhyme to seek attention (‘Ye vardi ki jo hanak dikha rahe hain nikaalte hain inki sanak’, ‘Rakt ke bhakt hain hum’), its action comes like a barrage of bullets, balancing somewhere between being mindless and meticulous and its emotional foundation constantly trembles.

Coming back to heroic introductions, Bholaa has a certain affinity for verbosity. We meet the titular character in jail while he is reading the Bhagavad Gita. As he exits the prison, a prisoner (Makarand Deshpande), as if on cue, starts giving a voiceover. “The less you know about him, the better…those who did, didn’t survive… he is like the sea, calm on the surface but holding storms inside him…” I guess we know more than enough. In Kaithi, Karthi’s Dilli has a subtler, more enigmatic introduction in which he sits in a police car, just another guy, picked up because he seemed suspicious. While Kaithi constantly lets the story settle before shaking things up, Bholaa is too impatient. It will throw everything at the audience to elicit a response.

Although initially enjoyable, the action becomes almost lunatic as the film proceeds. There is a masked biker gang that looks like it was probably on its way to a talent show, there is a CGIed leopard (which, sadly, runs away), a kachcha gang uncharacteristically beefed up, and many moustached men battle-crying with bazookas atop jeeps. Once you know Bholaa is invincible (and if you don’t yet, Makarand Deshpande will remind you) there is no sense of threat left in the action. The film, however, needs to be applauded for not shying away from the gore. There are close-ups of bones breaking, teeth flying after a slap, and a man’s chest being pierced by a fist. It’s something novel for a Hindi film but that’s it.

Bholaa can’t stand any lulls in the narrative, lest you spot its flaws. Kaithi, in its heart, was a story of a father meeting his daughter for the first time. Bholaa weaves its emotional bits around its action and not in its centre. Ajay seems stony in showing sentiment. The scenes involving his daughter fail to provide fuel for the action that ensues. In the approach of being broody, he ends up being one-note. By the time Bholaa has sliced goons with a trident, broken innumerable necks and tattered them with a gatling gun, I am thinking the title Rudra would have been better suited for the film. Oh well.

Film: Bholaa Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra, Gajraj Rao, Vineet Kumar Directed by: Ajay Devgn Rating: 2.5/5

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Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn, Tabu Excel In Action Extravaganza Despite Weak Script

Updated Mar 30, 2023, 10:11 IST

Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn, Tabu film is an excellent action-entertainer

Bholaa Movie Director: Ajay Devgn
Bholaa Movie Actors: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra
Bholaa Movie Rating: 3.5/5

Bholaa: The Premise

Bholaa: a review, bholaa: acting, bholaa: in conclusion.

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Bholaa REVIEW: Ajay Devgn amazes you with its high octane action scenes but Deepak Dobriyal steals the show

Saheli Maity

March 30, 2023

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Ajay Devgn starrer Bholaa is intense and gritty and will send chills down your spine with its brutal action sequences. Read the review here.

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Bholaa REVIEW: Ajay Devgn amaz ...

ajay devgn bholaa review, bholaa movie review, tabu,

Film: Bholaa

Director: Ajay Devgn

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Gajraj Rao, Deepak Dobriyal, Amala Paul, Sanjay Mishra,

Platform: Theatres

Bollywood Bubble ratings: 3/5 stars

Bholaa Movie REVIEW:

Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Deepak Dobriyal starrer Bholaa is an official remake of the Telugu movie Kaithi. I won’t be comparing Bholaa with the original one in this review, so, I’ll stick to the Hindi version of it. Ajay tries to bring a new flavour to Bholaa and it is intense, gritty and somewhat even horrifying, all thanks to the gruesome action scenes. That’s right! In some scenes, i was like ‘eww’ that’s quite gruesome.

I’m someone who enjoys action more than romance and hence, i was actually blown away by the action sequences which were well choreographed. It actually demanded my attention. Yes, i can also see some anti-gravity action scenes where physics and logic take a serious hit but the makers seems to have the cinematic liberty here. Well, I’m not complaining. Since I enjoy such action sequences in the South movies, then I shouldn’t judge when Bollywood is trying to create something similar.

I won’t say that the story was a strong point here but the action will surely amaze you. But speaking about the story of Bholaa, it is about a man getting stuck at the wrong time and at the wrong place. A prisoner who is released after serving 10 years in jail but again gets arrested due to some other reasons. He was brought to the police station when he gets into a different situation when he had to help the police officers from danger. Bholaa helps Diana (Tabu) and other police officers but little does he know that there’s a bigger problem than just saving the police officers.

Bholaa, a prisoner, is finally going home after 10 years of imprisonment to meet his young daughter at an orphanage home. His journey gets difficult when he is arrested mid-way. At first, he is not aware of the grave situation he has got himself into but after a crazy incident takes place, he must travel a pathway full of crazy obstacles with death lurking around every corner. Will he get to meet his daughter?

Star Performances:

Ajay Devgn plays the titular role of Bholaa in the movie. He is a silent killer who doesn’t think twice about smashing you with his bare hands. He has immense power in his hands when he puts bashma (ashes) on his forehead. The moments he applies it, you know that death is here and there’s no turning back for the person who is standing against him. He is a silent demeanour and minds his own business but will destroy you the moment you become an issue in his life.

Ajay Devgn as Bholaa is brutal, demanding, intense and gritty. His droopy eyes, silent gaze, and brooding looks will surely give you all the chills. Ajay is the heart of the film and pumps quite hard in the movie. The actor is just mind-blowing with his action. In fact, he automatically reminded me of his Singham avatar whenever he just slaps people with his bare hands. He demands attention for all the right reasons.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn)

If Ajay is the heart, Tabu is surely the soul of the film. She essays the role of the sub-inspector Diana in the movie. She is tough and powerful that you can’t mess up with. Even though her one hand is fractured in the movie, she has all the potential to carry the world single-handedly, quite literally. Tabu’s calmness and strong nature just leave me inspired, she is fantastic in her role. However, I wish I could have see have seen more of her in the second part.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tabu (@tabutiful)

Who says Deepak Dobriyal can only do comedy movies? Who says he is only good with his comic timing? Well, then you seriously need to watch him in Bholaa. He essays the role of Ashwathama aka Ashu bhaiya who runs a huge illegal business of narcotics in the country. He is a maniac and kills people with utmost fun and pleasure. He kills people like it is his hobby and that he would like to continue for the rest of his life.

Deepak is a surprise package in the movie. I was quite amazed with his performance and proved that he is indeed a versatile actor. He lives his character and does full justice to his role.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by दीपक डोबरियाल (@deepakdobriyal1)

Direction/ Screenplay:

Ajay Devgn once again takes up the director’s seat for Bholaa. However, his direction was quite similar to his Shivaay movie. From VFX to crazy action sequences, Bholaa does remind me of Shivaay. I mean it is but obvious as this is directed by Ajay himself. Nevertheless, we got to see too much of close up shots this time which was quite uncomfortable. I mean i can literally see people’s viens in their eyes. It was overdone. Nevertheless, the action sequences were well choreographed and well put, adding all the South flavour into this one. From long shots to the slow motion shots, Bholaa is a thrilling ride.

Conclusion:

Overall, Ajay Devgn starrer Bholaa is intense and gritty and will send chills down your spine with its brutal action sequences. Though the story was not that engaging, it is Ajay’s presence that makes it worth watching. Moreover, Deepak’s par excellence performance only makes this quite interesting. Bholaa is high on action and if you’re a sucker of this genre, you’ll definitely enjoy it.

Watch the Bholaa trailer after the review:

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Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn’s action-packed film is a much-needed clutter breaker

Bholaa movie review: bholaa, starring and directed by ajay devgn, is a well-packaged action film that caters to the mass audience. bholaa is a good mix of action, comedy, and emotional scenes..

Bholaa, Bholaa review, Bholaa movie review, Bholaa ajay Devgn, Ajay Devgn. Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, film review, eshita bhargava

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Sanjay Mishra, Amala Paul, Kiran Kumar, Laxmi Rai, Makrand Deshpande, Vineet Kumar, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao, Kiran Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and others

Director: Ajay Devgn

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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___________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are the ingredients of a hit film? Strong star cast, gripping plot, solid direction, crisp dialogues, action, comedy, emotions… Well, Bholaa has it all. Directed and produced by Ajay Devgn, the film revolves around the life of a prisoner (Bholaa played by Ajay Devgn) who is finally going to meet his daughter after 10 years of imprisonment. His journey gets difficult when he is arrested mid-way. At first, he is not aware of what he is signing up for, but eventually realises it and follows the right path and helps the police (Diana Joseph played by Tabu) fight deadly drug mafias.

So, that was the plot but what makes the film unique and a clutter breaker is a fact that Ajay Devgn has ensured it’s not just an illogical action drama.

Makrand Deshpande’s narration makes the film intriguing for the audience. Bholaa begins with an intense chase scene where Diana is shown as a braveheart who refuses to give up despite being injured. The focus moves to Bholaa and his character is introduced with the most gripping dialogues that establish him as someone who is not scared of anyone. Honestly, Ajay Devgn can emote a lot without any dialogue.

As soon as Sanjay Mishra comes on screen, there’s much-needed comic relief. That was unexpected. But Sanjay Mishra has his way of adding layers to a simple role. who plays a caterer called ‘Karchi’ is another star element. His impeccable comic timing will force you to burst out of laughter.

Deepak Dobriyal is a treat to watch – He plays the character of Ashwathama aka Ashu, a deadly and merciless drug mafia. What an actor! Vaibhav Vaishant deserves a special mention for the on-point casting.

Tabu’s encounter with Bholaa is another scene that sets the tone of the film. In fact, in another scene, we get to see the tender side of both characters. There’s enough emotional quotient to touch the hearts of the audience. It adds a touch of tenderness to the violent and gory action scenes. Of course, the action sequences that are directed extremely well are the backbone of the film.

What did I miss? Well, backstories of a few characters like Tabu. It deserved more screen time. Also, the flashback scenes looked rushed and forced. It could have been better.

Ajay Devgn’s performance and tested chemistry with Tabu are the highlights of Bholaa. The cinematography by Aseem Bajaj and the dialogues by Ankush Singh deserves a mention. The 3D effect adds to the film.

Bholaa, starring and directed by Ajay Devgn, is a well-packaged action film that caters to the mass audience. Bholaa is a good mix of action, comedy, and emotional scenes.

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Bholaa Review: Slapdash Rehash That Rides Solely On Ajay Devgn's Star Power

Bholaa review: tabu, of course, makes the most of the footage that she gets but still has to settle for second-fiddle treatment..

Ajay Devgn in Bholaa . (courtesy: ajaydevgn )

Cast : Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Raai Laxmi, Amala Paul, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra

Directo r: Ajay Devgn

Rating : 2 stars (out of 5)

A remake that makes exceedingly heavy weather of an old formula. Bholaa , produced and directed by lead actor Ajay Devgn, is unlikely to have you shouting bumm bumm bhole in joy. The film is a bummer. Loud, prone to excess and wilting under its own weight, its creaks and croaks its way to a climax that issues a threat - there is more on the way.

Bholaa , official remake of the Tamil hit Kaithi (of which, too, there is a sequel in the works), sucks out whatever air there was in Lokesh Kanagaraj's film and delivers a stale, slapdash rehash that rides solely on Devgn's star power. He gives it his all, but that is hardly enough to paper over the massive creases.

The screenplay by a quartet of writers (Aamil Keeyan Khan, Ankush Singh, Sandeep Kewlani and Shriidhar Dubey) puts the actor front and centre. That is all there is to the film apart from the visual veneer that Aseem Bajaj's cinematography imparts to it.

Bholaa deviates from the Kaithi script in significant ways. But barring the replacement of a male Indian Police Service officer with a tough woman in uniform, the tweaks do not count for much. Worse, they damage the film's chances of being passed off as a middling thriller.

One key respect in which Bholaa differs from Kaithi is in the way the hero is projected. In the original screenplay, he was a tough guy who never lost his corporeal qualities. He felt hunger, was wracked by doubts and experienced physical pain while going about his job.

In Bholaa , the just-freed prisoner is sought to be raised to the level of an all-powerful deity - to the status of Shiva the Destroyer and the Protector, no less. He is a man of few words but when he speaks, he delivers stuffy homilies rather than take recourse to the believable language of a man desperate for a fresh shot at life.

The emotional quotient of the story - a convicted father who has never seen his daughter is granted a remission of his life sentence and is on his way to meet the girl who lives in a Lucknow orphanage - is severely undermined by the projection of Bholaa as an invincible larger-than-life figure endowed with the power to return at will from the jaws of death any number of times.

He is just the sort of superhuman that superintendent of police Diana Joseph (Tabu) is looking for as the force faces double trouble. One, nine hundred kilos of cocaine seized in a major drug bust and kept in a secret bunker is in danger of being taken back by a vicious gang led by a coke-snorting sadist Ashwathama alias Ashu (Deepak Dobriyal). He is the younger brother of an elusive drug kingpin (Vineet Kumar) nobody has ever spotted in public.

Two, 40 policemen, knocked out cold by alcohol spiked with Rohypnol, are being ferried to a medical facility 80 km away. The angry criminals are out to waylay the rundown lorry and kill the five cops who intercepted their truck and seized their contraband consignment. Diana enlists Bholaa's support to save the cocaine and the cops. The action unfolds in the course of one night that sees a series of explosive action set pieces on the road, in a forest and inside a police station.

In the police station, an ageing havildar, Angad Yadav (Sanjay Mishra), finds himself in the thick of the action. Stranded with three students who have been arrested for drunken behaviour and a girl who is love with one of the boys, the policeman is charged with keeping Ashu and his murderous men at bay until Diana, Bholaa and Kadchi, a biryani caterer roped in to guide the cops out of the woods.

With Bholaa firmly on her side, Diana has nothing to fear. The guy is more than a handful for the armies of menacing men deployed to stop him in his tracks. He can fight them off with his bare hands, cleavers and daggers with the same ease with which he wields a trishul and a rapid-firing multiple-barrel gun.

The trident, which had no place in Kaithi , is brought in for the purpose of endowing the hero with a divine aura that instantly dwarfs the bad guys. But no matter what he does to establish his insuperability, the dance of death that Bholaa unleashes across several action sequences is monotonous and laboured.

With Devgn towering over everything else (and that includes the screenplay) characters who mattered in Kaithi are reduced to complete nonentities. Among the worst sufferers are an undercover cop who infiltrates the gang of drug peddlers and a compromised police officer (Gajraj Rao), who strikes a deal with the drug dealers. They languish on the fringes of the plot.

No different is the fate of Kiran Kumar, playing an inspector-general of police whose retirement bash is where his subordinates consume the poisoned potion that leaves them sedated and dangling between life and death, and Makarand Deshpande in the guise of a jail inmate who tells everyone within earshot stories of Bholaa 's legendary exploits. He is no ordinary bloke, the raconteur insists. Jab yeh bhashm lagata hai pata nahin kitno ko bhashm kar deta hai (when he applies holy ash to his forehead there is no count of how many he sends to their doom).

The secondary and tertiary characters are given no space at all to develop because Bholaa , which is precisely the same length as Kaithi , is focussed squarely on ensuring that the lead actor does not cede any ground to the others in the cast. Tabu, of course, makes the most of the footage that she gets but still has to settle for second-fiddle treatment. Only two other actors are allowed their moments - Deepak Dobriyal (oozing menace) and Sanjay Mishra (exuding simmering doggedness).

Amala Paul, in a non-speaking part, makes a fleeting appearance in a flashback meant to explain why Bholaa 's life has turned out the way it has. It is a gratuitous addition that only slows down the film and does no justice to the actress.

Kaithi was a songless film with a near-perfect background score by Sam C.S., who factored sounds emanating from within the frames into the film's musical spine and created ample room for evocative variations in pitching and decibel levels to accentuate the action sequences.

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Bholaa has its share of songs, including an item number performed by Raai Laxmi. But the background music, obstreperous and overwrought, does not take a backseat. Composer Ravi Basrur gives Bholaa the KGF treatment and rustles up what amounts to an assault on the eardrums.

The relentless cacophony is, of course, of a piece with what Bholaa is out to achieve. It is a film that goes the whole nine yards and loses its way.

Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Raai Laxmi, Amala Paul, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra

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Bholaa review: Ajay Devgn brings some slick but mindless action in this 'dark' thriller

Bholaa movie review: ajay devgn directs and stars in this less than impressive kaithi remake high on vfx and adrenaline..

Remember the iconic scene from Ajay Devgn's debut Phool Aur Kaante (1991) when he did that iconic split on top of two bikes? Cut to 2023, bikes are back but instead of balancing on them, he is flipping them in the air, setting them on fire, beating bikers left, right and centre and serving some high-octane action. Bholaa is undoubtedly an exhilarating watch. Slick action with the hero single-handedly beating 100 bad guys, Bholaa is nothing short of a full-on mass entertainer that turns a theatre into stadium with the public cheering and clapping each time the hero shows a gravity-defying move. Is that all realistic? No. Do you enjoy watching it? It depends on whether you're a fan of well-choreographed stunts. (Also read: Maidaan teaser: Ajay Devgn 'Lassos' in the golden era of Indian football to big screen in impressive first look )

Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn plays an ex-convict in the film.

Bholaa will give you adrenaline rush, but if you also look for an equally meaningful story or at least a narrative that brings some value, Bholaa will disappoint you at many levels. A Hindi adaptation of Tamil film Kaithi (2019), Bholaa tries to recreate the same magic albeit with its share of flaws. And there are many! Once again wearing the director's hat, Ajay Devgn ensures he brings larger-than-life action on screen which is not seen before, or at least not on this level. But in the process, the story is so side-lined that you actually wait for something to make sense. After a point, it's literally a montage of one brilliant action sequence after the other, but the mindless stunts can impress you only till they last.

Bholaa chronicles the tale of a night when a just-released prisoner, ex-conman Devgn (Bholaa) is waiting to meet his daughter for the first time in 10 years. But his journey turns out to be a rather difficult course when IPS Diana Joseph (Tabu) asks him to drive a truck full of 40 unconscious police officers who fell prey to a conspiracy at a farewell party of a senior officer (Kiran Kumar in a cameo). Parallelly, there is a drug mafia being run by Sika Gang - Ashwathama aka Ashu (Deepak Dobriyal) and his elder brother Nithari, who would go to any extremes to get their cocaine back that Diana has seized and kept in a jail. They send out multiple gangs to kill the cops in the truck and capture Diana, but Bholaa turns into an undefeatable force and fights them all. That's basically the plot, which keeps you busy, if not hooked, for some 2.5 hours.

Amid all this, several questions remain unanswered and very little is shown, told or revealed about Bholaa's past. Who is Bholaa? How did he become this strong? Why was he sentenced in the first place? There's a blink-and-miss kind of love angle between Bholaa and Amala Paul, but that's about it. How that love blossoms and becomes the catalyst for a lot of things is never touched upon. That somehow put me off. Of course, the cliff-hanger in the climax gets you super curious and the film ends on a 'to be continued' note, but this is a bit much of a tease for audiences to wait for the truth to be revealed. Yes, it's like pulling off a Baahubali kind of craze and hype. Not sure if the sequel would come back with all the answers or would again focus on just the adrenaline factor.

Bholaa is so fast-paced that one actually needs time to sink in an action sequence unfold onscreen before the next one comes up. Here, an engaging screenplay by Aamil Keeyan Khan, Ankush Singh, Sandeep Kewlani and Shriidhar Dubey does the trick. The action scenes one after the other don't look like disjointed pieces of a puzzle but cleverly placed to keep up the excitement high. Lokesh Kanagaraj, who has also written the original, is strong with an intriguing plot, but if you haven't seen Kaithi, then Bholaa ends up looking like a cat-and-mouse-chase between this truck being driven on endless roads across the state, and criminals lurking every few kilometres only to be evaded by Bholaa's might. Aseem Bajaj's cinematography has a lot to do. Given that the film is entirely shot at night and is mostly dark, highlighting the imagery and graphics isn't an easy feat in this case, so it does get a bit messy there.

Devgn as the actor is in top form and when he rolls up his sleeves and perform stunts, you can expect the unexpected. I mean, come on, isn't it very 70s' to watch the hero beating 100 men and continue to stand up and fight with the same stamina every single time? Yes, he channelises his inner Shiva in the best possible way, but it's all far from reality. I wanted to see more of him talk and even the emotional bits which just come and go should have stayed for a bit longer. Tabu seems to be becoming a pro at playing a cop. After two parts of Drishyam, Kuttey and now Bholaa, she looks confident and convincing in uniform more than any other female actor. Though in Bholaa, we hardly see her in the police uniform as most of the time she is made to disappear as Devgn takes spotlight while fighting the bad guys. Dobriyal in a completely psychotic and menacing role is unbelievably brilliant. For once, I thought it was choreographer Terrence Lewis making his acting debut, but when you look closer to find Dobriyal, and he just bowls you over with his performance. Yadav ji (Sanjay Mishra) and corrupt home minister (Gajraj Rao) in lend able support to the story and impress with their acting chops.

The heavyweight dialogues in Bholaa are so passable that you wonder why were they there in the first place. Sample some of these: Bandook ki naukri ki hai, goli toh khani padegi. Hum dikhe hote toh tum nahi dikhte. Yeh dharti banjar hokar bhi budzil paida nahi karti. Ladaiyan honslon se jeeti jaati hain sankhya, bal aur hathiyaron se nahi. They sound so cliched and stylised that when characters actually say these onscreen, you just yawn and say, 'Ok, next, please!'

Bholaa can sure be touted to be that typical mass entertainer with action that is totally paisa vasool, but again, we need to see something beyond just the heroic deeds.

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Bholaa Shankar

While attempting to build a life in Kolkata with his sister, a taxi driver must confront his dark past as he faces off against the city's underworld. While attempting to build a life in Kolkata with his sister, a taxi driver must confront his dark past as he faces off against the city's underworld. While attempting to build a life in Kolkata with his sister, a taxi driver must confront his dark past as he faces off against the city's underworld.

Meher Ramesh
Adi Narayana
Mamidala Thirupathi
Chiranjeevi
Tamannaah Bhatia
Keerthy Suresh
14 User reviews
2 Critic reviews

Bhola Shankar

Bhola Shankar's adopted sister

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Trivia Chiranjeevi's voice in the dubbed Hindi version is dubbed by Jackie Shroff.
Connections Remake of Vedalam (2015)
Soundtracks Bholaa Mania Composed by Mahati Swara Sagar Lyrics by Ramajogayya Sastry Performed by Mahati Swara Sagar , L.V. Revanth Duration: 3:55

User reviews 14

Aug 11, 2023
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Record at THE STUDIO by Rolling Stone India at Creatorland Mumbai

‘Bholaa’ Review: A Super-Boring Film Whose Plot Twist Involves Antibiotics and 40 Unconscious Cops

The Ajay Devgn-directed Bollywood film is innocent of even a hint of intelligence, wit, logic or originality

Ajay Devgn in a still from 'Bholaa.' Photo: Courtesy of Ajay Devgn Films

Cast : Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao, Sanjay Mishra, Vineet Kumar, Kiran Kumar, Makrand Deshpande

Direction : Ajay Devgn

Showing in theaters

Bholaa is a film innocent of even a hint of intelligence, wit, logic or originality.

A Hindi remake of the 2019 Tamil film, Kaithi (Prisoner), Bholaa falls in that special category of exceptionally stupid films. Bholaa , is in fact so stupid that it keeps the most exciting thing about itself as a blink-and-miss reveal at the absolute end, promising after an excruciatingly boring 144 minutes, that the sequel will be interesting.

That’s a bit like getting invited to a dinner where last weekend’s dry, congealed leftovers are served. And just as we are making our escape, we are shown photos of the exciting dishes that will be served at the next dinner. It’s the classic trap of toxic relationships and we seem to be caught in one with Bollywood.

Bholaa , produced and directed by Ajay Devgn, opens in Uttar Pradesh with a hectic, urgent action sequence. As several police vans are chasing a truck, bullets are going thain-thain in all directions, our focus is on a female cop, SP Diana (Tabu). Even as cars are crashing and she’s taken a hit, Diana pulls off some super stunts and detains the truck and the men inside it.

It’s a massive drug haul involving one Sikka Gang. Diana and her boss are pretty sure that they will try and take it back and free their men. So, the arrested men are locked up in the secure Lalgunj Thana and drugs are hidden in its basement.

All is well and the film could have ended here. But since Bholaa is an expensive enterprise in the service of keeping alive the stardom of Devgn, the plot must twist to bring him in. But not in a million years could I have imagined the items that demand his presence — antibiotics and 40 comatose cops.

We meet Bholaa in a jail where he is reading the Bhagwat Gita. We don’t know who he is, but as Bholaa walks out of jail, we hear a mildly unhinged prisoner talk about him being a killing machine who may have some superpowers.

Meanwhile, an entire party of cops — 40 of them, including the IG Police — are drugged and they all fall unconscious.

Diana, the only one standing, treats this incident with the calm of someone who has been dealing with this annual irritating affair for a while.

She loads them onto a truck but since her arm is in a cast, she requests Bholaa, who just happens to be there, to drive them to a hospital. He is reluctant, but after eating many large pieces of tandoori chicken, he agrees.

But as they take off with one small man, Kadchi (Amir Khan), squished between them, the No. 2 of the Sikka Gang, Ashwathama aka Ashu (Deepak Dobriyal), announces to his resident lumpen elements: Whoever gets hold of the truck with the unconscious cops and Diana will get ₹10 crore. They all record this on their phones, and like good colony uncles, share the video on their many WhatsApp groups.

Ashu himself sets off to secure the release of his bade bhaiyya , who is lodged in Lalgunj Thana which is being guarded by one aged cop — Angad Yadav (Sanjay Mishra) — and four bored youngsters.

Meanwhile, a little girl in an orphanage, Jyoti, is waiting with nervous excitement because she has been told that someone is coming to see her in the morning.

This needlessly convoluted story is made even more torturous by a large number of moles and their many phone calls.

In fact, so disinterested is Bholaa in its own story and characters that though it wants us to believe that Diana and Ashu are smart, none realize who the mole is, even as the moles pretty much dance in front of them screaming, “ Main hoon mole, main hoon mole …”

I watched Bholaa in 3D and apart from a few teeth and a bullet that came flying at me, the effect only enhanced my ordeal and headache.

The film is plotted like a video game where Bholaa is repeatedly confronted by all sorts of men and weapons, including a gang of burly men wearing baseball shorts, their bare torsos oiled and man-boobs proudly pert.

Some of these dhishoom-dhishoom scenes are so juvenile — like a fight scene where men are being slashed and killed but the song that plays in the background is “Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai” — it would have made me laugh uncontrollably were the film not so damn dull and annoying.

Bholaa has a lot of Hindu religious iconography. Symbols and chanting are used to embellish Bholaa as the avatar of Hindu god Shivji, and all the bad guys are bearded.

There is a flashback to explain Bholaa and his past, but the film’s interest is really in his superpower that he carries in a small plastic pouch, similar to the cocaine pouch that Ashu carries and snorts from.

Imagine Superman or Batman wearing a cross around their necks and every time they need to save the world or Gotham city, they rush to a church to gobble up a wafer dipped in wine to acquire superpowers. That’s how ludicrous Bholaa’s character and his superpower is.

Action is Ajay Devgn’s thing. Always had been. And he can project rage, anger, bachchu-tu-toh-gaya emotions in a second. But so can those small action figures, with muscles and one set-for-life expression.

Devgn seems to believe that is enough and throughout the film, he keeps a quarter of his face hidden behind a hair flick and all we get is a frown, much like the one we’ve been seeing on a widely-used car sticker for years.

There’s a lot of CGI action in Bholaa and all of it is soporific except the one involving Deepak Dobariyal. With Tabu reduced to making and taking phone calls while going “aah-aah” as she clutches her bleeding shoulder, he is the only interesting thing in the film.

Do you recall what Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan said at the end of Pathaan ? Something to the effect that, “ Inse na ho payega. Hamein hi karna padena. Desh ka sawal hai, bhai .”

Well, it seems now they may have seen the rushes of Bholaa and were talking about Ajay Devgn, among others.

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Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn's Kaithi remake is slower and louder than the original

Bholaa has consciously corrected the marginalisation of women in Kaithi and made other interesting tweaks. Sadly, this is not enough to overshadow the noise, the gore and the laughable sight of a wild beast cowering in the presence of Ajay Devgn.

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao, Sanjay Mishra, Amir Khan, Vineet Kumar, Cameo: Amala Paul

Director: Ajay Devgn

Language: Hindi

As the Hindi film industry has struggled with a bankruptcy of imagination during the pandemic, it has resorted to remaking southern Indian hits for salvation. Directors, writers and producers have messed up even on this front, by either mindlessly cloning the originals (e.g. Vikram Vedha ) or, what’s worse, diluting their politics for fear of angering the establishment (e.g. Milli ). One film stands out from this crowd as an intelligent adaptation, not a Xerox: Abhishek Pathak’s Drishyam 2 starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu. Since the new Hindi film in theatres this week – Bholaa , a revisitation of writer-director Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil blockbuster Kaithi – stars and is directed by Devgn, it is natural to be hopeful. The happy news is that Devgn and the writers of the adapted screenplay (Ankush Singh, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Shriidhar Rajyash Dubey and Sandeep Kewlani) have indeed made some interesting changes in their version of Kaithi . The unfortunate news is that it’s just not enough.

The story remains the same, transposed to north India. In Bholaa , the UP Police capture a huge cache of cocaine and thus become the target of dangerous gangsters. Soon after, all the police personnel present at a party, except SP Diana Joseph (Tabu), consume alcohol. As the men are knocked out one by one, Diana realises their drinks contained a drug. She is injured from an encounter with criminals and therefore needs help to get her colleagues to a hospital in addition to protecting the distant police station where she had hidden the seized contraband. For this she turns to a recently released convict who is on the premises, the mysterious Bholaa (Ajay Devgn). He agrees, after some bullying and emotional blackmail, to drive a truck carrying the unconscious men through the night, navigated by a chap called Kadchi (Amir Khan).

All we know about Bholaa at that point is that the first thing he intended to do with his freedom was visit his little daughter who has been living in an orphanage. Diana and Bholaa’s truck is intercepted along the way by several raging outlaws who have been alerted by Ashwathama a.k.a. Ashu (Deepak Dobriyal), a leader of the gang whose cocaine was taken by the police.

The most noticeable revision wrought by Team Bholaa in their take on Kaithi is the inclusion of Diana. Kaithi was suspenseful when it was focused purely on the primary characters and their allies fighting off ruthless crooks, but it took the marginalisation of women to a shocking extreme by featuring not a single primary or even secondary female character in its storyline. Diana in that film was a man called Bejoy. By consciously correcting this aspect of the script, the writers of Bholaa reveal themselves to be more thoughtful than the entirety of the film might suggest. The fact that this woman has a Christian name, and her religious identity is normalised instead of being underlined, is also noteworthy in a Hindi film industry that has for long scored poorly in the matter of minority representation.

Bholaa comes in the post-2014 era when a steady stream of Hindi films have sought to villainise Muslims, while the Christian minority, largely ignored for decades by Hindi cinema after earlier decades of stereotyping, has been unexpectedly revived in a trickle of recent films, perhaps most prominently in the person of a terrorist (Jim from Pathaan ) and a sexually promiscuous blackmailer (Monica from Monica, O My Darling ). Diana is among a handful of pleasant surprises in the area of diversity and cultural heterogeneity that Bholaa throws up.

Having done some things so right, Devgn and his crew get so much else so wrong that they completely wreck the film.

Kaithi was OTT to the extent that commercial cinema, especially mainstream Indian cinema, tends to be when it serves up an omnipotent hero, but its main plot nevertheless stayed engaging till the end. Bholaa is so over-the-top, its volume so high and music so manipulative, that by the second half its loudness becomes unbearable. Kaithi ’s portrayal of the protagonist’s longing for his daughter was maudlin, Bholaa stretches the heartstrings to breaking point.

The death knell for this film’s appeal though is the slowing down of the pace in comparison with Kaithi , particularly in the first half, and the use of 3D, which is a distraction rather than elevating the experience. Even where the visuals are impressive, they are drowned out by the deafening, overwhelming sound post-interval.

Initially, Bholaa rolls along quite well as it establishes its characters. This is largely because of a high-adrenaline guns-and-speeding-vehicles sequence of the sort that is usually reserved for major male stars in India, this one toplined by Tabu looking so cool in action mode that my new fantasy is to see a gangsta drama in which she is part of a criminal squad comprising Taapsee Pannu and Deepika Padukone, led by Vidya Balan as their evil mastermind.

The space given to Tabu’s Diana in Bholaa is quickly offset though by the crude choreography during a song and dance segment in Ashu’s den in which a sparsely clad woman moves rhythmically with a lascivious partner. Please note that a certain kind of Indian film will still not show actual sex on screen, but has no qualms about persisting with what is called an “item number”, which, in the case of Paan dukaniya in Bholaa involves a woman inside a horizontally placed drum thrusting the lower half of her body in and out of the container, swinging herself back and forth as a lecherous Ashu holds her by the calf and creepily stares up her legs, his own body placed between them just so. It’s laughable and crass rolled in one.

This intrusion aside, the actual downhill slide in Bholaa begins later when a group of villains bar Diana and Bholaa’s road trip. One set of men in this horde wear only shorts on their muscular, oiled-up bodies, while the other is accompanied by a leopard that cowers and then flees at the sight of Bholaa. I am serious. To this film must go the credit of coming up with a scene that closely rivals Sunny Deol’s handpump-uprooting stunt in Gadar and Pakistan’s security forces running away on hearing him roar. Next in Bholaa , a snarling goonda is forced to give his shirt to Bholaa and he whimpers while covering his nipples in shame.

From here on, everything gradually becomes a blur. A lone policeman called Angad Yadav (Sanjay Mishra) and a group of students struggle to protect the police station that Diana is so desperate to reach, but their efforts do not generate the tension that Lokesh Kanagaraj built up in the same scenario in Kaithi . Ashu has a brother called Nithari whose name floats around like so many others whose significance I didn’t feel inclined to decipher. Among them is a Machiavellian background figure called Devraj Subramaniam played by Gajraj Rao doing his interpretation of a Tamilian accent that is, thankfully, not caricaturish as we have seen in Hindi films of an era gone by. Devraj and sundry antagonists wander in and out of the plot.

When Nithari is finally unveiled after much talk about how lethal he is, his personality turns out to be a whisper in comparison with the hype. This for me was Kaithi ’s undoing too, along with the hero’s background that was as much of a damp squib in the original as it is in Bholaa .

The hero’s name in this film is obviously an invocation of Bholenath, Lord Shiva, the most fascinating deity in the Hindu pantheon. There is no depth in the Shiva reference though, it is simply slapped on because because. Lest we miss the point, Bholaa repeatedly smears ash on his forehead, a giant statue of Shiva is visible for a considerable length of time near him, and in the film’s most gruesome scene, he takes up a trishul.

That was the last straw for me. I have a high tolerance level for violence on screen, but seeing men being impaled on or stabbed with a trident from all angles for endless minutes, and a shot of a man’s face being pierced with this weapon is more than I can take.

Kaithi had something to offer even a viewer who prefers noiseless, understated cinema, but Bholaa kills that potential by taking the pace of the Tamil film down by several notches and revving up the noise. I don’t have the heart to write off this team though. Not after the unanticipated pleasure of hearing the phrase Aaraaro aariraaro – so familiar from lullabies in southern India – woven into this soundtrack. It is rare for a Hindi film to acknowledge the existence of an India beyond the Hindi belt and Mumbai, or to make cultural references to other regions, unless it is to stereotype, sermonise or get a laugh. Clearly then, the people who created Bholaa are not an unthinking lot. The question is: what on earth were they thinking when they reduced their film to a ear-splitting, thundering mess?

Rating: 2 (out of 5 stars)

This review was first published in March 2023 when Bholaa was released in theatres. The film is now on Amazon Prime Video.

Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad, Facebook: AnnaMMVetticadOfficial

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Home » Reviews » Box Office Reviews

Bholaa Box Office Review: Ajay Devgn’s Film Is Glittery, But It’s Not Gold!

After drishyam 2, ajay devgn is back with bholaa has he struck gold yet again or this one is downer here's the box office review.

Director: Ajay Devgn

Producers: Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, S. R. Prakashbabu, S. R. Prabhu & Reliance Entertainment

Bholaa Box Office Review: Pre-Release Buzz & Impression

Ajay Devgn’s Bholaa had high hopes pinned on it after the grand success of Drishyam 2. Yes, it’s an official remake of Kaithi but still, in Ajay we trust! His own Drishyam sequel proved that if done smartly, remakes still have a scope at the box office.

When the first teaser was unveiled, the film managed to create hype around it with its exciting look. Even the second teaser worked well. Things changed drastically when the trailer came out; it was just averagely cut. It didn’t live up to the expectations set by the first two teasers. Post that, even songs turned out to be underwhelming.

City tours, events and TV show promotions are useless if the film’s trailer and music fail to create good buzz and with Bholaa, we clearly saw that case. Despite Ajay Devgn and the team putting in so much effort, the advance booking was very underwhelming. It brought down the film to a level of word-of-mouth dependent affair, which was initially touted to be a box office smasher in the making.

Bholaa Box Office Review: Initial Start, Positives & Negatives

Bholaa took a slow start in morning shows but thanks to Ram Navami’s partial holiday factor, the turnout was good in afternoon shows. Reports for evening shows too have been good so far. The 3D version is the audience’s top priority of all versions available. So, despite lagging behind in advance booking, the film is on its way to getting a respectable opening day total.

Speaking about positives, the film offers entertainment despite its flaws and word-of-mouth ranges from fair to decent so far. Not sure about A centres, but it will definitely attract crowds in B and C centres considering the genre and overall content. Then there’s blockbuster pricing of tickets, especially in premium formats like IMAX and 4DX, which will help the film is garnering more numbers even if the ticket sale is low. Bholaa has an open ground to enjoy its theatrical run until Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan arrives on the 21st of April.

Coming to negatives, the director in Ajay Devgn has repeated the same mistake he made during Shivaay and Runway 34 . The film has a dark undertone which restricts its audience base, eventually making an impact on overall box office business. As it’s a remake of a film which is easily available on YouTube and other platforms, some might not prefer to watch this Ajay Devgn starrer on the big screen. We saw a similar thing happening to Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram Vedha . Unlike Drishyam 2, even the reviews and social media reactions are not outright positive.

Bholaa Box Office Review: Final Verdict

Bholaa has its share of flaws and positive points, making it a film doing moderate or average business compared to its initial expectations. After Drishyam 2’s roaring business of above 200 crores, this one will get nowhere close to my sky-high hopes. It will end its lifetime run in the 75-90 crores range at the Indian box office.

Must Read: Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn Retells Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Story In The Most Histrionic Way Possible

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‘Abigail’ Review: A Remake of ‘Dracula’s Daughter’ Turns Into a Brutally Monotonous Genre Mashup

It's full of grousing kidnappers and blood-vomiting action, little of which is compelling.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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‘Abigail’ Review: A Remake of ‘Dracula’s Daughter’ Turns Into a Brutally Monotonous Genre Mashup 5 days ago
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From the moment the film was announced a year ago, “ Abigail ” has been marketed as a remake of “Dracula’s Daughter,” the 1936 Universal Pictures curio. So it’s no spoiler to say that the title character of “Abigail” is…Dracula’s daughter. Yet if you went in not knowing that, it might be the only real surprise in the movie, apart from what a brutally monotonous blood-vomiting genre mashup it is.

Popular on Variety

“Dracula’s Daughter,” made to cash in on the original “Dracula’s” success (though it had none of the same actors), was a rather stodgy London-fog monster movie starring Gloria Holden, who plays the title character like Greta Garbo as an aristocratic mesmerist. Yet the film has a cult dimension; there’s a scene with Holden and the woman she fastens on to model for a painting that has homoerotic overtones (at least, for 1936). I hadn’t seen the movie in decades, but it reminded me of something I’ve always liked about studio-system horror films — that there’s a dramatic lightness to them, even when they’re all about the darkness. Whereas “Abigail” is so heavy and excessive that if Sam Peckinpah saw it he might say, “Jesus! Tone it down.”

As played by Dan Stevens, who italicizes everything, Frank, the leader of the gang (though even he’s just a thug for hire), is the most tedious. He’s an embattled yuppie nerd, testy and rancorous, and he never stops yelling. The other characters yell back. I make a point of this because there’s so much oppositional energy in “Abigail” that it tamps down our impulse to identify with anyone. Sammy (Kathryn Newton) the Catholic punk, Peter (Kevin Durand) the sullen hulk who’s like Elon Musk played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank the dick — these are characters who seem programmed to annoy us. Angus Cloud, in his final performance, plays Dean, who is blitzed but mellow, a real Cloud combination — you feel the presence that was lost. And Melissa Barrera, from “In the Heights” and the last two “Scream” films, grows more forceful as the movie goes on. She plays Joey, a druggie who is given a maudlin and ineffective backstory (about the son she abandoned), but she’s the one actor on hand who seems to understand the value of toning down the noise.

“Abigail” was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who made those last two “Scream” films, and though I was impressed, to a degree, by what they brought off there, this movie feels like a step backward into overwrought generic schlock. Why does a vampire movie need to be so relentlessly physical, with whacked limbs and decapitations and bodies slammed into walls? Dracula, among other things, is the most metaphorical character in horror-film history, and I guess his daughter could be too, but not in a film that turns bloodsucking into a form of professional wrestling.

VIP+ Analysis: Can ‘Abigail’ Up Horror’s Theatrical Strength?

Reviewed at AMC Lincoln Square, New York, April 17, 2024. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 109 MIN.

Production: A Universal Pictures release of a Project X Entertainment, Vinson Films, Radio Silence production. Producers: William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, Tripp Vinson, Chad Villella. Executive producers: Ron Lynch, Macdara Kelleher.
Crew: Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett. Screenplay: Stephen Shields, Guy Busick. Camera: Aaron Morton. Editor: Michael P. Shawver. Music: Brian Tyler.
With: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Will Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud, Alisha Weir, Matthew Goode, Giancarlo Esposito.

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Bholaa (2023)
Bholaa: Directed by Ajay Devgn. With Tabu, Ajay Devgn, Makrand Deshpande, Abhishek Bachchan. After getting out of prison with the desire to meet his daughter, Bholaa's plans are interrupted by a well-orchestrated drug bust.
Bholaa Movie Review : Bholaa serves great action in this fast-paced
Bholaa Movie Review: Critics Rating: 3.5 stars, click to give your rating/review,An ever-reliable performer, Ajay also has you rooting for Bholaa, an absentee father waiting to unit
Bholaa
TOP CRITIC. Mar 31, 2023. Sep 12, 2023. Jul 20, 2023. Jun 3, 2023. After 10 years of imprisonment, Bholaa is finally going home to meet his young daughter. However, his journey is not so simple as ...
Bholaa
Full Review | Mar 31, 2023. Carla Hay Culture Mix. Bholaa takes all the worst elements of bloated action flicks and puts them into this overly long, messy, and idiotic film. The police in this ...
Bholaa bhola movie review Ajay Devgn actioner Bollywood needed
00:00. 1x 1.5x 1.8x. Action junkies, rejoice. 'Bholaa', in which Ajay Devgn does double duty as the eponymous lead actor and director, is the kind of all-out, no-holds-barred, high-octane actioner we haven't seen in Bollywood in a long time. Here's what we get in the film, which runs through the course of a night. A massive drug bust.
Bholaa Review: Ajay Devgn shines bright in gripping remake of Kaithi
Ajay Devgn. Rating: Release Date: 30 Mar, 2023. Bholaa, this week's only major Hindi release, is a well-executed actioner that hits the right notes because of Ajay Devgn's intense performance and grand vision. The movie, a remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj's Tamil blockbuster Kaithi, revolves around an ex-convict who is roped by IPS Diana Joseph ...
Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn's BHOLAA is a massappealing film with
Bholaa Movie Review 2023 : Bholaa Critics Rating 3.5/5. BHOLAA is the story of one crazy night involving drugs, gangsters and a father dying to meet his daughter. ACP Diana (Tabu) fights a gang of ...
Bholaa
Bholaa is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ajay Devgn and jointly produced by Ajay Devgn FFilms, Reliance Entertainment, T-Series Films and Dream Warrior Pictures.It is a remake of the 2019 Tamil film Kaithi and stars Devgn in the title role alongside Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra, Gajraj Rao and Vineet Kumar.. Principal photography took place from January ...
Bholaa (2023)
beraanish 1 April 2023. The movie was fantastic. The film's action takes place mostly over the course of a single night. The story advances quickly from establishing a drug crime to including a diverse group of characters in the investigation, and then to accelerating the pace until the crime is solved.
Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn-Tabu return to action with guns blazing
Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn Bollywood movie is crafted for the masses and perfectly blends high-octane action, thriller and soul in the first half and ends with a surprising climax where a ...
Bholaa Review: Ajay Devgn Takes Out Bad Guys, Leopard and Logic
30 Mar 2023, 4:55 am. Director: Ajay Devgn. Writers: Lokesh Kanagaraj (original story), Aamil Keeyan Khan, Ankush Singh, Sandeep Kewlani, Shridhar Dubey. Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra, Gajraj Rao. Towards the end of Bholaa, a key character gets up, goes into a room and shoots himself in the head.
'Bholaa' movie review: Well-crafted action set pieces in the garb of a
But an action scene in a film is the payoff, not the narrative. Although Bholaa has some cleverly crafted set pieces, at times it feels like a video game jumping from a boss fight to a boss fight ...
Bholaa Movie Review, imdb Rating, Twitter and public Reviews Updates
Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn and Tabu starrer Bholaa is an excellent action-entertainer, which is marred by a lax plot. There can be no complaints when it comes to Ajay Devgn's acting in Bholaa. The actor-director owns the character - effortlessly slipping into an action avatar.
Bholaa First Review: Ajay Devgn, Tabu's film 'incredible' with brutal
Bholaa First Review OUT: Ajay Devgn, Tabu film has apparently turned out to be incredible and the brutal tale will keep you riveted all through By Urmimala Banerjee Published: March 25, 2023 10:32 ...
Bholaa REVIEW: Ajay Devgn amazes you with its high octane action scenes
Bollywood Bubble ratings: 3/5 stars. Star-3. Choose Filters. Normal. 1977. Crema. Ludwig. Moon. Willow. Bholaa Movie REVIEW: Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Deepak Dobriyal starrer Bholaa is an official ...
Bholaa Review: This is no Kaithi and Ajay Devgn is no Nicolas Cage
A remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj's 2019 Tamil hit Kaithi, Ajay Devgn 's Bholaa is a subscriber of this old-is-new syndrome. Its story is a throwback to Nicolas Cage-starrer Con Air (1997): A family-bound ex-prisoner's freedom is hijacked by one night of hell. The treatment is a riff on Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) - the film is designed as one ...
Bholaa Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos
Bholaa Movie Review & Showtimes: Find details of Bholaa along with its showtimes, movie review, trailer, teaser, full video songs, showtimes and cast. Ajay Devgn,Tabu,Amala Paul,Sanjay Mishra ...
Bholaa Movie Review: Ajay Devgn's action-packed film is a much-needed
Bholaa Movie Review: Bholaa, starring and directed by Ajay Devgn, is a well-packaged action film that caters to the mass audience. Bholaa is a good mix of action, comedy, and emotional scenes.
Bholaa Review: Slapdash Rehash That Rides Solely On Ajay Devgn's Star
Bholaa Review: Tabu, of course, makes the most of the footage that she gets but still has to settle for second-fiddle treatment. Movie Reviews Saibal Chatterjee Updated: March 30, 2023 11:15 am IST
Bholaa review: Ajay Devgn brings some slick but mindless action
Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn plays an ex-convict in the film. Bholaa will give you adrenaline rush, but if you also look for an equally meaningful story or at least a narrative that brings some ...
Bholaa (2023)
About the movie. Bholaa, a prisoner, is finally going home after 10 years of imprisonment to meet his young daughter. His journey gets difficult when he is arrested mid-way. At first, he is not aware of the grave situation he has got himself into but after a crazy incident takes place, he must travel a pathway full of crazy obstacles with death ...
Bholaa Shankar (2023)
Bholaa Shankar: Directed by Meher Ramesh. With Chiranjeevi, Tamannaah Bhatia, Keerthy Suresh, Raghu Babu. While attempting to build a life in Kolkata with his sister, a taxi driver must confront his dark past as he faces off against the city's underworld.
'Bholaa' Review: Ajay Devgn Stars and Directs An Exceptionally Stupid Film
Rating: *. Showing in theaters. Bholaa is a film innocent of even a hint of intelligence, wit, logic or originality. A Hindi remake of the 2019 Tamil film, Kaithi (Prisoner), Bholaa falls in that special category of exceptionally stupid films. Bholaa, is in fact so stupid that it keeps the most exciting thing about itself as a blink-and-miss ...
'Bholaa' Review: Ajay Devgn's Otherwise Entertaining Film Falters In
Bholaa doesn't aim to be much beyond an action-entertainer but while it is entertaining, the action doesn't hold up on its own. The fight choreography becomes lazier with every sequence and an ...
Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn's Kaithi remake is slower and louder
Bholaa has consciously corrected the marginalisation of women in Kaithi and made other interesting tweaks. Sadly, this is not enough to overshadow the noise, the gore and the laughable sight of a wild beast cowering in the presence of Ajay Devgn. Advertisement. Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao, Sanjay Mishra, Amir Khan ...
Bholaa Review: Better than Kaithi?
Bholaa is Kaithi on steroids. Director, leading man and co-producer Ajay Devgn take Lokesh Kanagaraj's 2019 action drama - Kaithi means prisoner - and cranks up the volume, literally and metaphorically, to 11. The operating principle of this film is more is more. So there are multiple bad guys who have so many henchmen attacking Bholaa on ...
Bholaa Box Office Review: Ajay Devgn's Film Is Glittery, But ...
Bholaa Box Office Review: Pre-Release Buzz & Impression. Ajay Devgn's Bholaa had high hopes pinned on it after the grand success of Drishyam 2. Yes, it's an official remake of Kaithi but still ...
Bholaa Movie User Reviews & Ratings
Bholaa User Reviews: Check out what users have to say about Ajay Devgn,Tabu,Amala Paul,Sanjay Mishra,Makarand Deshpande,Kiran Kumar,Deepak Dobriyal,Vineeth Kumar,Tarun Gahlot,Raai Laxmi starrer ...
'Challengers' Review: Luca Guadagnino Smashes the Sports-Movie Mold
'Challengers' Review: Zendaya and Company Smash the Sports-Movie Mold in Luca Guadagnino's Tennis Scorcher Reviewed at AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles, April 9, 2024. MPA Rating: R. Running ...
'Abigail' Review: A Brutally Monotonous Genre Mashup
Yet if you went in not knowing that, it might be the only real surprise in the movie, apart from what a brutally monotonous blood-vomiting genre mashup it is. For a while, we think we're ...

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Bholaa REVIEW: Ajay Devgn amazes you with its high octane action scenes but Deepak Dobriyal steals the show

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Ajay Devgn starrer Bholaa is intense and gritty and will send chills down your spine with its brutal action sequences. Read the review here.

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Bholaa movie review: Ajay Devgn's Kaithi remake is slower and louder than the original

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