Dark comedies are difficult to make, but if handled well, they make a long-lasting impact. Baapu tries to do the same thing, mixing comedy with good drama. The movie has an interesting idea, with good cinematography, a good background score, and average performances. But a few flaws in the script and a poor second half hold it back from living up to its potential. But in spite of all that, Baapu is a watchable movie, particularly for people who enjoy offbeat narration.
A Novel Idea That Suits the First Half Just Right
One of the strongest points of Baapu is the idea. The movie has a decent and interesting idea that keeps the audience hooked from the start. The first half raises interest with the apt narration and a mix of dark humor and suspenseful drama.
The director succeeds in maintaining the tone of the film as intact as possible so that the humor does not dominate the seriousness of the story. The dialogue is crisp, and the screenplay for the first half is catchy enough to captivate the attention of the viewers. The manner in which the characters are presented and established during the initial periods contributes more substance to the movie so that the audience can understand their trajectories more effectively.
Technical Excellence Exceeds the Film
Technicality in Baapu is to be applauded. The cinematography adds value to the film by capturing the grainy and rough mood suitable for such a film. Each frame appears to be aesthetically pleasing, adding to the aspect of immersion for the film.
The background music (BGM) composed by the music composer adds seriousness to the critical scenes, bringing in the emotional and suspenseful elements of the movie. The music boosts the dark comedy elements and keeps the tension level consistent throughout the movie.
The pace is another beauty. The director gets the tone of the film just right, interweaving the black humor and drama. The film never goes in for breakneck action but allows the story to progress on its own terms.
A Slow and Unconvincing Second Half
Although Baapu begins well, the movie stutters when it reaches the second half. The shift from an interesting first half to the second half of the movie is not as smooth as one would expect. The pace gets slower, and scenes get prolonged, and the movie gets dull at times.
The romantic track is the film’s weaker area. The romantic subplot is of no great help to the plot and seems to be repetitive. The chemistry between the lead pair is not developed, and their interaction fails to appeal on an emotional level. If the romance was well handled, it would have brought an additional layer to the plot.
The second disadvantage is the positioning of songs. Though the background music is fine, the songs in the movie feel artificial and interfere with the flow of the film. Rather than adding to the flow, the songs are interferences and interrupt the rhythm of the film at its most critical moments.
Performances Save the Film
With all its flaws, Baapu is a very gripping film, courtesy of its outstanding performances. The supporting cast performs with so much passion, bringing the characters to life. They perform with conviction, having the audience glued to the narrative.
The cast also contributes towards lending authenticity to the story. All the characters are helpful in developing the world of the film, thereby making narration more efficient. The emotional impact of the film, particularly in some of the most critical scenes, is successful owing to the performances of the actors.
The humor, which is one of the core components of dark comedies, is done flawlessly. The actors’ timing contributes to the naturalness of the humor instead of its artificial nature. There are some scenes with some really laugh-out-loud lines that release the tension without breaking the seriousness of the story.
A Decent Watch for Dark Comedy Fans
Overall, Baapu is a film that works in some ways but fails to in other ways. Solid performances, stunning cinematography, and foot-tapping background music combined with the fresh idea of the film make the movie watchable. But the shortcomings of the second half, poor romantic storyline, and ill-placed songs detract from the impact of the movie.
For fans of dark comedies and creative narration, Baapu is still an acceptable film. It’s not great but a good watch with moments of brilliance.
Final Rating: 3/5
Concept: ★★★★☆
Cinematography: ★★★★☆
Background Score: ★★★★☆
Direction: ★★★☆☆
Screenplay: ★★☆☆☆
Performances: ★★★★☆
Second Half: ★★☆☆☆
Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
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Final Verdict
Baapu is a decent but watchable drama with a good concept and excellent performances. Although the first half is interesting, the movie falters in the second half because of a poor screenplay, unnecessary romantic track, and misplaced songs. Despite these negative points, the movie has sufficient good moments to make it a watchable movie for dark comedy fans.
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