dasvi movie review imdb

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Jailed under a tough cop, an uneducated politician decides to spend his time studying for high school, while his scheming wife has plans of her own. Jailed under a tough cop, an uneducated politician decides to spend his time studying for high school, while his scheming wife has plans of her own. Jailed under a tough cop, an uneducated politician decides to spend his time studying for high school, while his scheming wife has plans of her own.

• Tushar Jalota
• Sandeep Leyzell
• Suresh Nair
• Ritesh Shah
• Abhishek Bachchan
• Nimrat Kaur
• Yami Gautam
• 2.3K User reviews
• 28 Critic reviews
• 8 wins & 8 nominations

• Ganga Ram Chaudhary

• Jyoti Deswal

• Satpal Tomar

• Sandeep Sangwan

• Bimla Devi's Manager

• Judge Tripathi
• Constable 3
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia The film's success continues Abhishek Bachchan's winning streak on OTT platforms since 2020, joining Breathe : Into the Shadows, Ludo, The Big Bull & Bob Biswas.
• Soundtracks Macha Macha Re Composed by Sachin Sanghvi - Jigar Saraiya Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya Performed by Mika Singh , Divya Kumar , Mellow D. , Sachin Sanghvi - Jigar Saraiya Duration: 3:16

User reviews 2.3K

• sameerlodaya
• Apr 7, 2022
• How long is Dasvi? Powered by Alexa
• April 7, 2022 (India)
• Bake My Cake Films
• Jio Studios
• Maddock Films
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• ₹280,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 5 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen
• The Beast Link to The Beast

New TV Tonight

• Mary & George: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5
• Sugar: Season 1
• American Horror Story: Season 12
• Loot: Season 2
• Parish: Season 1
• Lopez vs Lopez: Season 2
• The Magic Prank Show With Justin Willman: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Invincible: Season 2
• The Gentlemen: Season 1
• Palm Royale: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Ripley Link to Ripley
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

100 Best Free Movies on YouTube (April 2024)

Pedro Pascal Movies and Series Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

TV Premiere Dates 2024

New Movies & TV Shows Streaming in April 2024: What To Watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and More

• Trending on RT
• Play Movie Trivia
• Best New Movies
• New On Streaming

Dasvi Reviews

If you are completely unaware of India’s political climate or possess the ability to view the movie’s fictionalization of real-life politics in isolation, then there’s a good chance that you will enjoy it.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 20, 2023

Mounted like an amateurish school play, Dasvi is like a vast stretch of dullness, wearying and annoying by turn.

Full Review | May 3, 2022

Cheerful and implausible, Dasvi presents a welcoming Indian prison system filled with guards and superintendents who are understanding, self-effacing, and fair rather than menacing and violent.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 25, 2022

Its not classic "Bollywood" and never more than...pleasant, but kind of bland, jaunty but meandering, lacking the pace and the edge to set itself apart from the rest.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 19, 2022

Is this a film about the circus of Indian politics or is it about the hold of illiteracy in the country? Dasvi doesn't really deliver on either count, crafting an overcooked story that jumps from one distraction to another.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Apr 16, 2022

Abhishek packs a punch and Nimrat is deliciously wicked, but Dasvi falls short of being the razor-sharp satire it deeply aspires to be.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 12, 2022

A film can be anything it wants to be, but Dasvi makes the cardinal mistake of being... boring! Innumerable yawn-inducing, unfunny moments together conspire to make it a tiresome watch.

Full Review | Apr 12, 2022

It approaches the job with too much seriousness and takes all the fun out of the exercise in the bargain.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Apr 12, 2022

Abhishek Bachchan is a perfect match for the kind of character he is playing. It’s a pity that the material never quite knows whether it is an exaggerated parody or a sharp comedy with realistic overtones.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Apr 12, 2022

Abhishek Bachchan may have delivered a worthy performance but the film fails to make the right impact.

Dasvi – part fun, largely skimming over the surface of its concerns and characters, but with just enough going for it to make it a mildly entertaining experience.

Dasvi has a noble intent but that doesn’t translate into an engaging movie.

It’s like a sanitized Adam Sandler comedy gone wrong...

Type to search

• Record at THE STUDIO by Rolling Stone India at Creatorland Mumbai

‘Dasvi’: Funny and Pacy First-half, Listless and Meandering Second-half

Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur shine in this film which goes from being funny, political and wicked to silly and dull in its unwarranted quest for social reform

Abhishek Bachchan in 'Dasvi.'

Cast : Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam, Danish Husain, Arun Kushwah, Manu Rishi Chadha

Direction : Tushar Jalota

Rating : ★★½

Streaming on Netflix

There comes a moment in the lives of some stars when they transcend their own limitations, inhibitions and jump to the other side to become actors. This moment comes after failure and disappointment. Mostly it’s born out of humility, but also tenacity and faith in one’s ability. And finally, it comes when the arrogance and burden of stardom sheds and stars begin to enjoy being actors. 

I have seen this happen to two stars – Bobby Deol and Abhishek Bachchan . While Abhishek had flexed his acting muscles in the past, Bobby Deol’s actor swag is new. But both seem to be taking on exciting, risky roles and are pulling them off with impressive confidence.

Dasvi has one such performance by Abhishek Bachchan though the film itself, directed by Tushar Jalota, crackles with politics and potential till its story meanders hither and thither and goes god knows kidhar in the end.

Dasvi means ‘tenth’ and the film is about Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), the 8th-class-pass chief minister of Harit Pradesh who is popular, proud and corrupt. In the first scene itself, when the film introduces us to him, it takes a mild swipe at Fit India and at politicians who treat padhi-likhai and educated officials like their personal slaves. The film, in fact, repeatedly makes snarky comments at many things contemporary, including the growing contempt for education, but always under the guise of comedy.

Ganga Ram, an accused in a scam, is found guilty and sent to jail. Before boarding the bus to the jail, he names his wife, who talks only in shivering whispers, as the chief minister in lieu.

An obsequious jailer (Manu Rishi Chadha) means comfortable quarters with a TV and a phone to keep Ganga Ram busy and in control, while Bimla Devi Chaudhary (Nimrat Kaur) suffers humiliation as she struggles to take oath and figure out what she is supposed to do.  

But things change, in the jail and back home. And this is where the story of Dasvi splits into two. An upright, strict and honest superintendent, Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam), takes charge of the jail and life gets harder for Ganga Ram Chaudhary. Bimla Devi, meanwhile, gets a makeover and starts to relish the heady joys of power.

Finding himself cornered by two women – one wants him to hammer out chairs, the other wants to take his chair – Ganga Ram decides that the only way out of hard labor and getting some respect back is to educate himself and sit for 10th-board exams.

The writers of Dasvi – Ram Bajpai, Suresh Nair, Ritesh Shah and Sandeep Leyzell – had the choice here of what to focus more on: On a chief minister who recruits the jail librarian, Raebareli (Danish Husain), cute kaidi Ghanti (Arun Kushwah) and a few others to teach him mathematics, Hindi and science? Or on the delicious conflict brewing between Bimla Devi and her husband? 

Which one is new, refreshing and fun — A socio-moral lesson on the virtues of education or a tug-of-war between a husband and wife for the CM’s kursi ?    

The answer is obvious and yet the writers of Dasvi focus on padhai-likhai and we spend most of our time with Ganga Ram as he struggles with numbers but is drawn to Indian history, especially the Freedom Movement.  

Dasvi celebrates Bimla Devi’s freedom from having to play a subservient wife and likes it when she returns Ganga Ram’s patronizing remarks in kind, but the film’s focus remains on how corrupting the mixture of power and illiteracy can be, and how uplifting and reforming education is.

This is honorable but not entirely true. It also doesn’t make for a great story. That’s why the film stagnates and sags for a while as it keeps hammering this message in.

Dasvi is quite funny and pacy in the first half. The dialogues are punchy and its comic timing has a nice cadence. This is when the reins of the film are in Abhishek’s hands. But in the second half, as Dasvi pursues a social cause, it is so bereft of ideas that it hints at a jail romance before dragging its feet to an end that is silly and dull when it could have been bold and exciting.

Dasvi has three lovely characters in conflict, but instead of letting them take flight, it saddles them with morality and drags them down to everyday ordinariness. Despite this I liked Dasvi because of the performances, because it’s funny and because it reassured me that Bollywood still has some smart, and thoughtful writers and filmmakers.

Dasvi repeatedly says that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It screams “Inquilab Zindabad”, shows us Gandhiji, Netaji, Chandra Shekhar Azad – men who dedicated their lives to this country – and asks, “You think freedom is a joke?”

These subversive messages are subtle and in disguise, like secret, coded signals.  They are delivered with a smile by actors who grace Dasvi with lovely performances.

Nimrat Kaur is very good – her transformation from a murmuring patni to a pallu -throwing politician is quite wicked and enjoyable. Her craving for power is fierce, feminist and existential and I loved that.

This is the second film where Yami Gautam has impressed me. First was that tacky, stalky A Thursday where she plays a woman gone cuckoo. In Dasvi she has some solid scenes and lines that she delivers while exuding the casually intimidating authority of a senior, desi police officer. 

But Dasvi really belongs to Abhishek Bachchan who controls and steers the film with the burly, boorish persona he creates of Ganga Ram. He carries some endearing glimpses of his father’s when he dances hands-on-waist, or slouches in a chair, lanky legs extended. But he is also his own actor. And now he has the power to carry a film on his own while making us laugh and cry at will. I wish Dasvi ‘s writers had a little more faith in him and a little less reformist zeal.

• Abhishek Bachchan
• Movie review

You Might also Like

Upcoming Gig Calendar!

• April 6th, 2024 Seedhe Maut – Lunch Break Tour in Lucknow at Tonique Bistro And Bar Buy Tickets
• April 7th, 2024 Sundowner Evening ft Deepesh Sharma in Bengaluru at One8 Commune
• April 7th, 2024 Osho Jain in Kolkata at Roots Buy Tickets
• April 7th, 2024 Omen III – A Carnival of Chaos ft Gutslit, Within Ceres, Cruoris, Griefcase, Indraa in Pune at antiSOCIAL Buy Tickets
• April 10th, 2024 Parklife SummerMoon ft Lakkhichhara, Banglar Thek in Kolkata at Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club Buy Tickets

View Complete List

Editor's Pick

Rolling Stone

• News & Updates
• Gig Calendar

Connect With Us

Subscription.

Get The Magazine

• International
• Today’s Paper
• Join WhatsApp Channel
• Movie Reviews
• Tamil Cinema
• Telugu Cinema

Dasvi review: Abhishek Bachchan film has some great ideas, sirjee. It’s a pity they get lost

Dasvi review: abhishek bachchan is a perfect match for the kind of character he is playing. it’s a pity that the material never quite knows whether it is an exaggerated parody or a sharp comedy with realistic overtones..

An illiterate politician learns the value of education during his jail term. What an idea, sirjee. But why make it such a comic book-fantasy? Are the filmmakers telling us not to take their film seriously, undermining its message?

Very soon into ‘Dasvi’ , which should ideally have been spelt ‘Dasveen’ to account for the ‘chandra-bindu’ in the word, Ganga Ram Chaudhary ( Abhishek Bachchan ) an ‘eighth pass’ chief minister of Harit Pradesh (standing in for Haryana, given the plethora of Jat accents and witticisms) finds himself in prison.

Kya jail hai, sirjee. It has the feel of a modest resort, with Chaudhary disporting himself in a room with mod cons and gadgets, watched over by an obsequious jailor (Manu Rishi Chaddha). All the inmates are orderly and well-behaved, no bristling gangs, no reception committee, zero scary incarceration feels. No one gets beaten up; grunge and grime are carefully kept out of sight. The only one who barks orders is the newly-arrived prison-in-charge Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam), and everyone falls in line, except of course our hero who roars, till one fine day, he begins purring. So does she. Padhaai-likhaai to the rescue, got it?

Alert viewers will catch attempts at subversion via sly digs. Here are some samples. ‘Fit India, hit India, so jao India, jaag jao India’ is such a waste of time, declares a character. Another is dubbed ‘anti-nasional’ (national), and yet another ‘liberal ki aulaad’. For a film to topline a newly-minted ‘ dasvi pass’ politician whose electoral plank is ‘free education’ is in and of itself a hugely subversive idea, given the current state of the nation. Nehru and Gandhi find a mention; so do famous revolutionaries and freedom-fighters. A craven babu (Chittranjan Tripathy) who has served Chaudhary and is now busy yes-ministering his wife, is the butt of bureaucrats-are-no-good-jokes, and a couple of them land.

But in the way it plays out, mixed signals to the fore, these things get lost. Furious Khap leaders are shown swallowing a ‘mixed marriage’, giving Chaudhary a chance to militate against ‘jaatiwaad ka jahar (zeher)’: all of it gets done in a jiffy, without any pushbacks. This is not the only fairy-tale element. Within days, our hero gathers around his faithful tribe who start giving him lessons on exams and life: a vertically challenged gent (Arun Kushwah), an affable librarian (Danish Hussain) who is serving a sentence for ‘photocopying expensive books’. What?

As Bimmo aka Bimla Devi who swiftly learns to play political games while shifting from frumpy salwaar-kameez to stylish saris and expensive handbags, Nimrat Kaur gets her oar right in. Too bad the plot paints her a petty villain: why doesn’t a woman have the right to be ambitious? Abhishek Bachchan has the rare gift of not taking himself seriously, and is a perfect match for the kind of character he is playing: it’s a pity that the material never quite knows whether it is an exaggerated parody or a sharp comedy with realistic overtones. For a film which wants to nod to inclusivity and gender-upliftment with ‘ladies-log’ as figures of authority, both Nimrat and Yami are reduced to standing by (the latter even joins the cheer-leading club), while Bachchan gets all the smart lines.

Will Bimmo get to make a serious stab at the kursi? Maybe that can be the peg for ‘Baarveen’. Now that would be an idea, madamji.

Dasvi movie cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, Nimrat Kaur, Manu Rishi Chaddha, Danish Hussain, Arun Kushwah, Chittranjan Tripathy Dasvi movie director: Tushar Jalota Dasvi movie rating: 2.5 stars

The music that insects play Subscriber Only

Director Rahul Sadasivan on writing Bramayugam for Mammootty Subscriber Only

In Antarctica, a post office with Indian address Subscriber Only

Is this actually the world's oldest curry?

Rupa Books: The wins and trials of a homegrown publisher Subscriber Only

Carnatic music's legacy can't be reduced to Brahmanical patriarchy Subscriber Only

In search of traditional rotiwallas — a food trail in

How Mir Jafar's tainted legacy still haunts his descendants Subscriber Only

Kutch Harappan graveyard : Remains of skeleton & key to Subscriber Only

• Abhishek Bachchan
• Express Premium
• Nimrat Kaur
• Yami Gautam

NTA will open the application edit window for CUET UG 2024, allowing candidates to make corrections or updates to their forms within two days. Changes can be made to name, photograph, and exam cities, but not contact information. Admit cards will be released in May and the exam will be conducted in a hybrid mode in 354 cities in India and 25 cities abroad.

More Entertainment

Best of Express

Apr 06: Latest News

• 01 Longevity is ‘just luck’ says 111-year-old Briton, world’s new oldest man
• 02 Candidates Chess: Vidit Gujrathi beats World No 3 Nakamura; Gukesh defeats Praggnanandhaa in battle of prodigies
• 03 Southwest Airlines jet engine catches fire before takeoff, FAA begins probe
• 04 Express News Quiz: Voter manipulation, IPL & ‘Desi Kalakaars’
• 05 IPL 2024 Points Table: Sunrisers Hyderabad rise to 5th after defeating Chennai Super Kings
• Elections 2024
• Political Pulse
• Entertainment
• Movie Review
• Newsletters
• Gold Rate Today
• Silver Rate Today
• Petrol Rate Today
• Diesel Rate Today
• Web Stories
• Premium Stories
• Express Shorts
• Health & Wellness
• Board Exam Results

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan Headlines This No-holds Barred Political Satire

Curated By : Gautaman Bhaskaran

Last Updated: April 07, 2022, 11:39 IST

Abhishek Bachchan plays a jailed chief minister who tries to complete his 10th from behind bars in Dasvi.

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan shines as an under-educated politician who takes up the challenge of clearing his dasvi (class 10), while Nimrat Kaur nails her role as a housewife turned politician.

Director: Tushar Jalota

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, Nimrat Kaur

A no-holds barred political satire, Dasvi (Tenth) makes its point in a way we understand how corrupt our leaders are and how they twist the system in their little fingers to feather their own nests and more. An unforgettable takeaway from this Netflix film is the lack of respect for education in this country. It is a battle between literacy and illiteracy, with hundreds of thousands of adult men and women still unable to go beyond merely signing their names or using their thumbs.

Abhishek Bachchan, who essays a haughty Chief Minister, Ganga Ram Chaudhary, in an imaginary State, Harit Pradesh, is an exception. He has not gone beyond his eighth-grade, and is firmly convinced that education is a sheer waste of time and energy, but yet is part of the privileged class.

Scripted by Suresh Nair, Ritesh Shah and Sandeep Leyzell from Ram Bajpai’s story – and directed by Tushar Jalota (actor in 2007 Showbiz) — Dasvi in an early scene shows Chaudhary’s disdain for lettered men when he ridicules his Principal Secretary, an Indian Administrative Service topper, Tandon. “What is the use of this education,” Chaudhary tells his cronies with an arrogance he wears on his sleeve. . “I have no such qualification, but Tandon is my slave, not the other way round…Build shopping malls, not schools…One will bring in money, the other unemployment.”

But when the axe falls on Chaudhary’s head and he is sent to judicial custody for a scam in the education system, his pride crumbles. Denied any kind of privilege in prison by the tough-talking Superintendent, Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam), he finds himself in a tight corner. When ordered to make wooden chairs – because he is not fit for anything else – Chaudhary realises the value of formal education and sets about trying to get through his tenth grade or Dasvi.

In the meantime, the man has placed his wife, Bimla Devi (Nimrat Kaur), on the Chief Minister’s chair, and power corrupts her pushing her to overrule her husband’s orders from the jail. So drunk is she with the newfound authority that she even gets a statue of herself installed, and dreams of being at Madame Tussauds! A striking reflection of what we have been seeing in the higher echelons of political power.

One would be tempted to give Dasvi a little concession, because it is a spoof, although it could have been more evenly tempered, and paid greater care to performances. Bachchan is far better than what we have seen of him in earlier works. Yami Gautam, however, is still to come anywhere near her style and substance of her debut outing, Vicky Donor. However, Kaur is splendid, transforming from a meek housewife to a haughty politician, who quickly learns the ropes of the game and understands how the system can be twisted for personal gains.

Read all the Latest Movies News and Breaking News here

• Abhishek Bachchan
• nimrat kaur
• Yami Gautam

• Sports News
• Top 10 Lists
• Streaming Services
• Newsletters
• OTTplay Awards
• OTT Replay 2023
• Changemakers

Home » Review » Dasvi review: Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam pass with flying colours in this bungled film »

Dasvi review: Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam pass with flying colours in this bungled film

In Dasvi , Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, and Yami Gautam Dhar perform admirably, but the narrative, unfortunately, falls short.

• Aishwarya Vasudevan

Last Updated: 06.32 AM, Apr 07, 2022

An ignorant politician (Abhishek A Bachchan) is imprisoned by a tough cop (Yami Gautam Dhar) and resolves to spend his time studying for high school, but his conniving wife (Nimrat Kaur) has other plans.

That towering personality walking into the jail after being convicted of a scam will make you wonder whether Abhishek A Bachchan will be mouthing the iconic dialogue of his father and legend, Amitabh Bachchan, " Hum jahan khade ho jaate hain, line wahi se shuru hoti hai ." But instead, we get a middle-aged Chief Minister dancing to Macha Macha Re after being jailed and promised five-star treatment in prison.

Without any second thought, Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Bachchan) gives away that power to his naive wife, Bimla Devi, aka Bimmo (Nimrat Kaur). As expected, we see that the convicted "ex" CM of the fictional state of Harit Pradesh takes the remote control in his hand and instructs his wife to do as he says. In the process, he encounters Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam), who is in charge of the Central Jail where he is imprisoned. This basic premise, loaded with the right to education, sets the stage for the rest of the plot.

Do they all pass with flying colours? Well, the actors do, but not the plot, which has high intent in serving the purpose.

Without wasting any time, the story establishes that Chaudhary wants to complete his schooling, but makes it an excuse to not do any household chores. Well, then out of nowhere, we just see multiple déjà vu moments from many iconic films.

First things first, the makers just decided to pay an unwanted homage to Rang De Basanti by creating scenes that Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra did in the sequences of the documentary. In Dasvi , it just tried to be funny by showing that a corrupted politician is "awakened" after reading a history textbook. Instead, it urged me to revisit the 2006 film ASAP!

Well, the references just don't stop there... In its way, with caricaturish dialogues, Bachchan takes the Taare Zameen Par route, wherein his inmates help him, and it will remind you of Aamir Khan's dialogue, " Padhne likhne ke liye aksharon ki awaaz, unki banavat, shabdon ka matlab samajhna zaroori ." They do take this dialogue in a literal sense, and we see "eureka" moments witnessed by Chaudhary.

At some point in time, one might feel that Dasvi is a part of the Irrfan Khan starrer Hindi Medium franchise, which also touched upon the importance of education beautifully. The feelings do get stronger if you watch the song Thaan Liya in the film, a similar track to Ek Jindari .

These references make Dasvi a little tedious to watch as the film doesn't have anything new to offer despite having the plot of a Chief Minister completing his education in jail. To be honest, Bachchan even fails to show that he is even a former CM, so we just live in a make-believe world when it comes to the politicians of the country.

When it comes to performances, Abhishek A Bachchan did hit it out of the park with his performance. The actor brings that innocence of being an uneducated man, which blends well with the well-informed politician. He owns the sequences with his perfect attitude and stupendous dialogue delivery.

On the other hand, for me, it was Nimrat Kaur who was the show-stealer in the film. From being the cherubic and naive wife of a CM to taking power in her hands along with an extreme image makeover, she has been shown fantastically. It's a treat to see her imbibe the negative shades, showing how power gets into one's head and you just think about yourself.

Meanwhile, Yami Gautam Dhar plays it well as a tough cop and leaves an impressive mark with her mannerisms and dialogue delivery.

Writers Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair, and Sandeep Laeyzell have their hearts in the right place. But too many cooks do spoil the broth. That's what Dasvi suffered immensely. The Right to Education plot seems original, but the sequences are taken from the films mentioned above and also from Munna Bhai M.B.B.S .

The lack of originality even makes the performances by the lead actors suffer. However, their efforts, and also those of Tushar Jalota, are quite visible, but only work as a catalyst due to the half-baked screenplay.

But the film, despite showing most of the jail sequences, hardly makes it look like a prison. That's where one might just lose interest too.

Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, and Yami Gautam Dhar pass with flying colours in Dasvi , but the screenplay misses the mark tragically.

WHERE TO WATCH

• New OTT Releases
• Web Stories
• Streaming services
• Latest News
• Movies Releases
• Cookie Policy
• Shows Releases
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Subscriber Agreement

Updated IST

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

• Top Listing
• Upcoming Movies

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan-Yami Gautam-Nimrat Kaur's Film Delivers An Impressive Report Card

'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' When Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan)'s eyes fall on this famous proverb, it forces him to ponder upon his rigid belief system and question his principles.

Strangely, this scene took me back to some of Abhishek Bachchan's media interviews wherein the actor had reflected on his past failures and how those rejections had taught him the most. Somehow, the lines between real and reel had blurred at that moment. In a nutshell, Tushar Jalota's directorial debut Dasvi has Jr Bachchan winning hearts and how!

Available on: Netflix and Jio Cinema

What's Yay: Performances, Direction

What's Nay: A few stray moments here and there.

Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), a street-smart and powerful politician, is sent to judicial custody in connection with an educational scam. "Yeh Chaudharahat ki pagdi hain, jhukti ko nahin," he proudly proclaims when asked to enter the prison through a tiny door. In his absence, he appoints his meek wife Bimladevi (Nimrat Kaur) as the Chief Minister and entrusts her with the responsibility of running the state.

Meanwhile, in prison, Ganga Ram comes across the no-nonsense Superintendent Of Police, Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam) who refuses to bend to Chaudhary's whims and fancies. Later in the heat of a moment, Jyoti ends up triggering Chaudhary by calling him an 'anpadh gawaar.' Upset over his insult, the disgraced Chief Minister takes up the challenge of completing his tenth grade exams.

As time passes by, the man who is used to power-play outside, finds himself lost in the world of education. On the other hand, Chaudhary's wife Bimladevi, driven by the lust of power, starts learning the tricks of politics to stop her husband from reclaiming his position. Will Ganga Ram Chaudhary win both the tests? The rest of the film holds an answer to that.

Tushar Jalota makes a confident debut as a director with Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Dasvi . He makes sure to pack in enough laughs in his social satire to keep you entertained throughout the film. Some of the political jargon hits the bull's eye and makes you chuckle. Without being too preachy, Jalota and his team of writers (Suresh Nair and Ritesh Shah) touch a relevant subject which strikes a chord.

In a country where we often come across barely-qualified politicians holding the power of decision-making, Jalota's Dasvi throws light on the importance of education. In one of the scenes in the film, Abhishek's character Ganga Ram talks about the difference between 'aankh' and 'drishti' , and 'dimaag' and 'soch' and how it's education which helps you to differentiate between these things.

Speaking about the 'nay' points, the narrative does get a tad repetitive in the second half but Tushar quickly tightens his directorial reins and takes his film to the winning point.

Performances

Before the trailer launch of Dasvi , Abhishek Bachchan had penned a heartwarming note in which he had mentioned that he wants to be unapologetic about this film, because he deeply believes that the team has made a good flick. Well, we must say, Jr Bachchan's words ring every bit true. As Ganga Ram Chaudhary, the actor brings with him a certain swag and vulnerability which instantly wins you over.

Yami Gautam as the 'Sherni' tough cop shines in her role and proves yet again why she is one of the most promising talents in Indian cinema. One of her crucial scenes with Abhishek Bachchan in the latter half, leaves you moist-eyed with a smile. Lending an equally effective performance on screen is Nimrat Kaur as Bimladevi. Her transformation from a docile better half of a politician to a crafty, power-hungry Chief Minister makes for an entertaining watch.

Popular YouTuber Arun Kuswah, who rose to fame as Chote Miyan in TVF videos, gives you plenty of rib-tickling moments. The rest of the cast including Danish Hussain play their parts well.

Technical Aspects

Kabir Tejpal's camera work goes apt with the narrative of the film. A Sreekar Prasad keeps his editing tight which is why there's barely any dull moment in Dasvi.

'Macha Macha Re' crooned by Mika Singh makes for a foot-tapping listen. The rest of the tracks, 'Ghani Trip', 'Thaan Liya' and 'Nakhralo' are forgettable.

Ganga Ram Chaudhary and Bimala Devi quip, "Thoda uchaa bolo" to each other when the political power lies in their respective hands. However, in Dasvi , Abhishek Bachchan and his team let their work do all the talking and pass with flying colours.

We give 3.5 stars out of 5 for Abhishek Bachchan-Yami Gautam-Nimrat Kaur starrer Dasvi.

Aadujeevitham Public Review: Prithviraj Sukumaran And Blessy's Survival Drama Earns Acclaim

Next Goal Wins OTT Release Date, Platform: Here's When Taika Waititi's Sports Comedy Will Premiere

Madgaon Express Box Office Collection Day 7 Prediction: Kunal’s Film Fights For Survival Ahead Of Crew Release

Advertisement

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Ask the Law
• GN Fun Drive
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Dubai Airshow
• Corporate Tax
• Top Destinations
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• From the Editors
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Live the Luxury
• Culture and History
• Staying Connected

Entertainment

• Live Scores
• Point Table
• Top Scorers
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• South Indian
• Arab Celebs
• Health+Fitness
• Gitex Global 2023
• Best Of Bollywood
• Special Features
• Investing in the Future
• Know Plan Go
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

‘Dasvi’ movie review: Underlying message and Abhishek Bachchan's performance elevates film

Entertainment bollywood.

Abhishek Bachchan plays the big-headed politician who mellows with time

Director Tushar Jalota’s ‘Dasvi’ is designed as a satire in a political set-up, revealing the importance of education.

Set in the fictional state of Harit Pradesh, the arrogant and pompous Chief Minister Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan) is arrested for a scam. But before getting locked up in judicial custody, he relinquishes his position in favour of his wife, Bimla Devi (Nimrit Kaur), and remote controls the state from behind the bars.

In prison, he is pampered by his sycophants till the arrival of super inspector, Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam), who insists that one should be assigned work according to one’s level of education.

Since Ganga Ram Chaudhary has only studied until eighth grade, he is eligible to work as a gardener, carpenter, or any other menial work. But being the CM and a man of clout, his pride is injured.

He tries seeking his wife’s help to get Inspector Jyoti transferred, but she blatantly refuses, citing a perception issue.

When he learns that prisoners who study are exempted from working in prisons, he contemplates appearing for the Secondary School Certificate exam, which is the tenth standard or “Dasvi” in Hindi.

But when he realises that education empowers you, he takes up the challenge, and how with the help of other inmates, he works towards studying for the exam forms the crux of the narrative.

Being a satire, the writers have crafted a vitreous cocktail of naked ambition and blustery bravado with a distinctly bitter aftertaste. On the face of it, you chuckle constantly, but subconsciously you realise the sad state of affairs that prevails. While the writing is good in parts, it is also the weakest element of the film as the narrative lacks chutzpah.

On the performance front, the film is an outright Abhishek Bachchan canvas. He plays the big-headed, self-important politician who mellows with time to perfection. He is aptly supported by Nimrit Kaur as his timid wife, who suddenly tastes power, and faster than a chameleon changes its colour, she transforms herself into a bumbling shrewd character who lacks any real conviction other than a desire for power and position.

Coming to Yami Gautam as the super-strict police inspector, despite delivering a competent performance, she does not have the persona to play such a character she seems to be a misfit in the film, and the makers of the film are solely to be blamed for it.

The rest of the supporting cast are flat stock characters who have their moments of limited on-screen glory.

The music and songs in the film appear of mediocre quality with oft-heard tunes.

Overall, the film is fairly entertaining and engaging.

Don't miss it!

'Dasvi' is out now on Netflix.

More From BollyWood

Taapsee Pannu wants to judge KKR’s show some day

Varun Dhawan talks about his career's toughest shoot

Karan Johar shares post on Bollywood beauty standards

Inside the sets of a Bollywood movie set in Jordan

Film Review: Prithviraj's 'Aadujeevitham' is brutal

Rashmika is back as Srivalli, Pushpa 2 new poster

K-drama actor Lee Jae-wook and Aespa’s Karina split up

Eid Al Fitr 2024: A round-up of concerts in the UAE

The rise of Allu Arjun: Actor talks privilege and fame

Like Banksy, mystery 'Invader' marks cities with art

7 best trending crescent bags to gift in uae, for 2024, abu dhabi: free parking, no road toll for eid al fitr, uae calls for shawwal crescent sighting on monday, your ramadan table: prawn curry with coconut milk, watch: laylat al qadr draws millions to grand mosque.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

Subscribe Now! Get features like

• Latest News
• Entertainment
• Real Estate
• RR vs RCB Live Score
• Election Schedule 2024
• Win iPhone 15
• IPL 2024 Schedule
• IPL Points Table
• IPL Purple Cap
• IPL Orange Cap
• Bihar Board Results
• The Interview
• Web Stories
• Virat Kohli
• Mumbai News
• Bengaluru News
• Daily Digest

Dasvi movie review: Abhishek Bachchan is A+, but film struggles for a passing score

Dasvi movie review: abhishek bachchan may have delivered a worthy performance but the film fails to make the right impact..

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it... this quite appropriately sums up the thought that Abhishek Bachchan -starrer Dasvi builds on. With all good intentions to educate and entertain the audience, Dasvi somewhere falls prey to its own chaos and confusion and ends up all over the place. Director Tushar Jalota has mixed too many elements to convey one simple message, and it loses focus way more often than you would expect. As a result, the inconsistent storytelling makes the film appear half-baked and ineffective. ( Also read: Gullak season 3 review: This slice-of-life series manages a rare feat, keeps getting better each season )

The film traces the life of a brash, illiterate and corrupt chief minister Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), who, for his unexplained criminal records, including an educational scam, is sent to judicial custody. While he's imprisoned, his docile and timid wife Bimla Devi (Nimrat Kaur) takes over the chief minister's chair in fictional Hamit Pradesh and begins to love the power it brings. Meanwhile, the minister is taken to task inside the jail when a strict and lawful cop Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam) is appointed as the new superintendent. It's after an altercation between these two when Jyoti calls Ganga 'anpadh gawaar' and he takes up the challenge of completing his Class 10 exam. This comes with a condition that if he fails to clear the exam, he won't take the chair of CM again. Ganga needs to pass both these tests - inside the jail and outside where his wife has just become quite intent on keeping the chair he asked her to fill for him.

Even though Dasvi has its heart at the right place and wants to send out a strong message, it lacks execution and average writing further weakens it. The fantastic first half is laced with a lot of socio-political satire and comic punches that trigger genuine laughter. But it falls flat in the second half that turns more preachy and looks a tad dragged too.

Giving clever references to Taare Zameen Par (dyslexia), Rang De Basanti (stories of freedom fighters) and Lage Raho Munna Bhai (seeing characters come alive when you read about them in books) - Dasvi tries hard to engage you but never really seems consistent in the process. The characters are given such a caricaturish look that no matter how hard you try, you don't believe them for what they are doing.

Writers Suresh Nair and Ritesh Shah don't really bring any magic with their dialogues or story. At one point, you actually wonder if a politician so addicted to a life of crime have a change of heart overnight? But the film never takes the pain of delving into that transformation. The only thing consistent is the on-point Haryanvi dialect that each character has picked with its nuances. It doesn't look forced or awkward at any point. The scene in which where Nimrat takes the CM's oath and reads out her speech is particularly hilarious.

Abhishek Bachchan as the pagdi-tying chief minister is impressive and owns the screen but only to an extent because his character arc is not backed by great writing. It's a character that is loaded with all the stereotypes of how you would expect an Indian politician to be. That leaves very little scope for Abhishek to shine even when he is well capable of doing so.

Nimrat Kaur is the highlight of the film without doubt. As the housewife-turned-politician, who has now tasted power and fame and is in no mood to let go of her chair and position, she totally nails the part and wins over you. The way her style transforms was a bit much to digest but she lights up the screen with her wit and convincing portrayal of Bimla Devi. As a fiery and strict jailor, Yami Gautam delivers an earnest performance and she definitely deserves an applause for her recent choice of roles that are breaking the clutter. She's tough and loud in some scenes and restrained in others.

Another thing that doesn't quite register is the chemistry or equation between Abhishek and Nimrat's characters. It remains superficial for most of the story and you wish there was some more focus on that part too. Nonetheless, there are some heartwarming scenes between Yami and Abhishek but they fizzle out even before you take notice.

Dasvi had a strong subject at hand, to focus on the importance of education, especially for our politicians, but in never really translates and remains limited to the silly treatment of its characters.

Dasvi is available on Netflix.

Dasvi Director: Tushar Jalota Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam

• Abhishek Bachchan
• Movie Review
• Nimrat Kaur
• Yami Gautam

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like.

• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Weather Today
• HT Newsletters
• Subscription
• Print Ad Rates
• Code of Ethics

• Elections 2024
• India vs England
• T20 World Cup 2024 Schedule
• IPL Live Score
• IPL 2024 Auctions
• T20 World Cup 2024
• Cricket Players
• ICC Rankings
• Cricket Schedule
• Other Cities
• Income Tax Calculator
• Budget 2024
• Petrol Prices
• Diesel Prices
• Silver Rate
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Telugu Cinema
• Tamil Cinema
• Exam Results
• Competitive Exams
• Board Exams
• BBA Colleges
• Engineering Colleges
• Medical Colleges
• BCA Colleges
• Medical Exams
• Engineering Exams
• Horoscope 2024
• Festive Calendar 2024
• Compatibility Calculator
• The Economist Articles
• Explainer Video
• On The Record
• Vikram Chandra Daily Wrap
• PBKS vs DC Live Score
• KKR vs SRH Live Score
• EPL 2023-24
• ISL 2023-24
• Asian Games 2023
• Public Health
• Economic Policy
• International Affairs
• Climate Change
• Gender Equality
• future tech
• Daily Sudoku
• Daily Crossword
• Daily Word Jumble
• HT Friday Finance
• Explore Hindustan Times
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Subscription - Terms of Use

FOLLOW US ON

• Critic Movie Review
• User Movie Reviews

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur starrer Dasvi rests on an interesting story and impressive performances.

While dasvi rests on an interesting story, message, and the impressive performances by the three leading actors, it turns out to be an average fare due to the flawed script., dasvi review {2.5/5} & review rating.

DASVI is the story of an illiterate chief minister. Ganga Ram Chaudhary ( Abhishek A Bachchan ) is the chief minister of Harit Pradesh. He's sent to jail for indulging in a teacher's scam. Immediately, Ganga Ram tells his docile wife Bimla ( Nimrat Kaur ) to become the chief minister in his absence. At first, the police in charge, Satnam Tomar (Manu Rishi Chadha) gives him his own quarters inside the jail to reside. He's allowed to eat food cooked from outside and moreover, he is not given any work to do, unlike other prisoners. All this changes once Jyoti Deswal ( Yami Gautam Dhar ) is made the superintendent of the prison. She is a taskmaster who believes in doing her duty religiously. She compels Ganga Ram to shift to a prison cell and consume jail food. She also orders him to take up the work of making chairs. His picture of making a chair goes viral and he becomes the butt of all jokes. An enraged Ganga Ram orders Bimla to pass transfer orders of Jyoti immediately. However, Bimla has tasted blood after assuming power. She knows that her powers will be snatched away once Ganga Ram is released. Hence, she reminds Ganga Ram that it was he who had transferred Jyoti to the prison after she had beaten up his party workers. Hence, shifting her again would go against him. One day, Ganga Ram finds out that a few prisoners are students and are preparing for upcoming exams. He is also told that those who study are exempted from working. This and his childhood dream of getting a degree prompts Ganga Ram to announce that he'll sit for the Class 10 exams. In a fit of rage, he also bets with Jyoti that if he fails in the 10th boards, he'll never become a chief minister again in his life. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Ram Bajpai's story is promising. Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Sandeep Leyzell's screenplay, however, is poor. The film is intended to be a comic caper. However, there are hardly any funny moments in the film that’ll make viewers laugh out loud. There are also several loopholes in the script. Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Sandeep Leyzell's dialogues are sharp, but only at a few places. A film of this kind should have had witty and hilarious dialogues throughout the narrative.

Tushar Jalota's direction is average though the message on the importance of education comes across well. He has also handled some moments nicely. This is especially in the latter part of the film. The scene where Ganga Ram’s results are called out is one such sequence that shows that the director has potential. Another track that works is Jyoti and Ganga Ram’s bond and how it evolves as the story progresses. The transformation of Bimla is also quite badass. However, Tushar Jalota should have properly focused on how a shy and soft-spoken Bimla suddenly turned into such a heartless and manipulative person. The change in her personality is too sudden. Moreover, if the makers had shown that Ganga Ram used to mistreat her constantly, then it would have made sense to see Bimla getting even with Ganga Ram after assuming power. But Ganga Ram didn’t seem to be rude to her. The lone scene at the beginning between Ganga Ram and Bimla showed the former actually insisting that the latter should develop an attitude as she’s the CM’s wife. Hence, it’s unconvincing why Bimla is being so unkind to her husband. The whole scam track also didn’t impress as it’s not neatly explained. Probably, the makers wanted to keep the narrative shorter and while they succeeded in doing so, these crucial details were not given due importance which diminishes the impact.

ROFL – When Abhishek Bachchan topped the class | Teaser | Dasvi | Nimrat Kaur

Abhishek A Bachchan gives a sincere performance. He tries his best to make his act entertaining and succeeds. Nimrat Kaur is a surprise. She gets to play a great role and she enhances it with her performance. The scenes where she takes the CM’s oath and where she blasts a staffperson are too good. Yami Gautam Dhar too does fine and is convincing in the role of a strict police officer. Manu Rishi Chadha is decent. Chittaranjan Tripathy (Tandon; IAS officer) is fine. Arun Kushwaha (Ghanti) does well. Danish Husain (Rae Bareli; librarian) and the actors playing Prem Qaidi and Inaamdar are okay. Dhanveer Singh (Ganga Ram's brother) is wasted.

Sachin-Jigar's music won’t have a long shelf life.  'Macha Macha Re'  is like the theme song of the film and is well woven into the narrative.  'Nakhralo'  is forgettable.  'Thaan Liya'  gives the déjà vu of  'Ek Jindari'. 'Ghani Trip'  is missing from the film. Sachin-Jigar's background score keeps the mood light-hearted and funny.

Kabir Tejpal's cinematography is neat. Mayur Barate's production design is realistic. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are not glamorous but look appealing. A Sreekar Prasad's editing is good.

On the whole, DASVI rests on an interesting story and message and the impressive performances by the three leading actors. However, due to the flawed script, it turns out to be an average fare.

• Dasvi Review
• Dasvi Rating
• Dasvi Movie Reviews
• Dasvi Public Review
• Dasvi Movie Release Date
• Dasvi Film Release Date
• Dasvi Critic Review
• Dasvi Movie Review
• Dasvi Reviews
• Dasvi Film Reviews
• Dasvi Film Review
• Dasvi Hindi Movie Review
• Dasvi Hindi Movie Reviews

Dasvi Movie News

Watch: Yami Gautam Dhar channels her inner Amitabh Bachchan in front of Abhishek Bachchan in the BTS video of Dasvi

'People made my body their business' - Nimrat Kaur shares 10-month long journey of losing 15 kilos after Dasvi

Yami Gautam looks fiery in red pantsuit worth Rs. 14,800 for Dasvi promotions

Abhishek Bachchan opens up about screening Dasvi for inmates; says, “Will never forget the look on their faces”

Dasvi: Abhishek Bachchan's character addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin as 'Putni', Joe Biden as 'Joe Badan' and Justin Trudeau as 'Tridev'

Amitabh Bachchan hits back at trolls who questioned why he promoted Abhishek Bachchan’s Dasvi; asks, “Kya kar loge?”

• Facebook Comments
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Movie
• Maidaan Movie
• Ameena Movie
• Gauraiya Live Movie
• Amar Singh Chamkila Movie
• Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout Movie
• Kaam Chalu Hai Movie
• Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 Movie
• Do Aur Do Pyaar Movie
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (English) Review
• Madgaon Express Review
• Ae Watan Mere Watan Review
• Murder Mubarak Review
• Kung Fu Panda 4 (English) Review
• Shaitaan Review
• Dune: Part Two (English) Review
• Article 370 Review
• Bob Marley: One Love (English) Review
• Madame Web (English) Review
• Crew Public Review
• Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Public Review
• Fighter Public Review
• Salaar Public Review
• Dunki Public Review
• Animal Public Review
• Sam Bahadur Public Review
• Tiger 3 Public Review
• Thank You For Coming Public Review
• Mission Raniganj Public Review
• Crew Box Office
• Bengal 1947 Box Office
• Yes Papa Box Office
• Knox Goes Away (English) Box Office
• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (English) Box Office
• Welcome Wedding Box Office
• Raashifal Box Office
• Arthur The King (English) Box Office
• Graduate With First Class Box Office
• What A Kismat Box Office
• Akshay Kumar
• Katrina Kaif
• Ranveer Singh
• Deepika Padukone
• Vaani Kapoor
• Salman Khan
• Rashmika Mandanna
• John Abraham
• Ayushmann Khurrana
• Tara Sutaria
• Rajkummar Rao
• Box Office Collection
• Analysis & Features
• All Time Top Grossers
• Overseas Box Office
• 100 Crore club
• 200 Crore club
• Top Actress
• Box Office Collection 2022
• Box Office Collection 2021
• Box Office Collection 2020
• Bollywood News
• Featured Movie News
• Latest Box Office News
• Box Office Updates
• Box Office Business Talk
• Box Office Overseas News
• Latest News Slideshows
• Upcoming Releases
• Movie Reviews
• Bollywood Hindi News
• Parties and Events
• Latest Celeb Photos
• Celeb Wallpapers
• Movie Stills
• Movie Wallpapers
• Top Movie Video Songs
• Celebrity Interview Videos
• Movie Trailer Videos
• Party & Event Videos
• Exclusives & Specials
• APPU - Animated Movie Official Teaser | Appu…
• Do Aur Do Pyaar - Official Trailer | Vidya Balan,…
• Boney Kapoor's 'Maidaan' starring Ajay Devgn…
• Ruslaan Official Trailer | Aayush Sharma,…
• Kill (2024) Official Teaser Trailer - Lakshya,…
• Watch- Dharamraobaba Atram Trailer Out Now!!!
• Latest Hindi News
• Latest Bhojpuri News
• Celebs@twitter
• Hungama.com
• Artist Aloud
• Hungama Games
• Music Reviews
• Bharat Official Trailer
• Download Celeb Photos
• Download Celeb Wallpapers
• Download Movie photos
• Download Celebrity Party Photos
• Download Movie First Look Poster
• Download Magazine Cover
• Download Movie On Set Photos
• Download Movie Wallpapers

• Date of Birth Month January Febuary March April May June July August September October November December Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913
• Gender Male Female

Skip this step for now

• Your Rating Click to rate on scale of 1-5
• Review Title

5000 characters remaining

Dasvi Review: Abhishek Bachchan Sinks His Teeth Into The Role But Film Flunks The Test

Dasvi review: it approaches the job with too much seriousness and takes all the fun out of the exercise in the bargain..

Dasvi Review: (Courtesy: bachchan )

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, Nimrat Kaur, Mubashir Bashir Beigh  

Director: Tushar Jalota  

Rating : One and a half stars (Out of 5)

A film that flagrantly flirts with fatuity and fumbles, falters and falls flat in the process, Dasvi is never in with a chance of getting its act together. It is a crummy political satire that takes upon itself the task of telling the world that education can achieve what power cannot and quotes Nelson Mandela in support of its assertion. Like such Hindi films usually do, it could just as well have fallen back on APJ Abdul Kalam.

What gets in the way of the undeniably noble purpose of Dasvi is its awkwardly self-conscious earnestness. It approaches the job with too much seriousness and takes all the fun out of the exercise in the bargain. Dasvi, streaming on Jio Cinema and Netflix, is funny but for all the wrong reasons. By putting a literal spin on the re-education of a politician, it undermines the comic potential of the premise.

The Abhishek Bachchan-starrer, written by Suresh Nair, Ritesh Shah and Sandeep Leyzell and directed by debutant Tushar Jalota, gives the lead actor a role to dig his teeth into. He does that with a fair degree of verve, but in the absence of a screenplay that can give cohesive shape to the film's disparate elements, he ends up being that proverbial backbencher who makes a lot of noise but makes little sense.

Bachchan is Ganga Ram Chaudhary, a defiantly semi-literate upcountry politician who has been the chief minister of a fictitious state ever since he can remember. He is convinced that he is born to govern in which way he can and there is nobody on the horizon who can defeat him. So, he is at liberty to treat his personal secretary Tandon (Chittaranjan Tripathi) - I am an IAS topper, the obsequious officer says - with undisguised disdain.

The wheels begin to turn when the politician is convicted in a scam and jailed. He hands over the reins of power to his silent, submissive wife, Vimla Devi (Nimrat Kaur). He is confident that he will be out on bail pretty soon and reclaim his post.

The pliable jail warden, Satpal Tomar (Manu Rishi Chadha), spares no effort to give the ex-CM all that he needs in order to feel at home in prison. But two things transpire simultaneously to queer the pitch for the man. One, an uncompromising and intrepid superintendent, Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam Dhar), on a punishment posting, arrives to take charge of the jail. Two, his own wife, having tasted blood, develops a fondness for the CM's throne.

The two women are soon going to teach the political strongman a lesson or two. How that pans out is what Dasvi is about, but the film never gets a clear view of a focal point because it bites off far more than it can chew and hurtles down a wayward course. Like Ganga Ram, who is led to believe that all he needs in order to learn English is to distinguish between active and passive voice, the film labours under many a mistaken notion that it finds very hard to justify.

To escape the hard labour that he is ordered to put in and to stop the spunky Jyoti Deswal from poking fun at his limited educational qualifications, Ganga Ram, whose schooling stopped after Class 8, decides to give the Standard X ( dasvi ) examination a shot. He believes he has it in him to master English, Hindi, History, Math, Science, Social Sciences, the works, and complete his school education.

His daring move is meant to trigger a series of comic events. It does nothing of that sort. Dasvi , painfully unfunny, beats about the bush just as much as Ganga Ram does in his attempt to catch up with all the formal knowledge that has passed him by.

What does that entail? In the process of figuring out the history of India's freedom struggle, he has encounters with Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhash Chandra Bose, besides being exposed to the exploits of Bhagat Singh.

Ganga Ram shouts " Inquilab Zindabad" on one occasion, but Dasvi isn't the sort of film that is remotely interested in mentioning the fact that it was Maulana Hasrat Mohani, a prominent leftist freedom fighter, who coined the slogan, or let a certain Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru or the party he led enter the narrative framework even tangentially. Poor Ganga Ram, he cannot escape the bane of selective history!

While he is at it for whatever it is worth, Ganga Ram discovers that "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" - he paraphrases it as " itihaas se na sikhne waale khud itihaas ban jaate hai". From the English language, he learns that "a tiger never changes its stripes". In the repetitive loops that these two aphorisms trap him in, he only finds ways to tie himself - and the film - up in knots.

He also stumbles upon the realisation that he is like the protagonist of Taare Zameen Par when it comes to Hindi - he is dyslexic. But every step of the way, he receives unstinted help from fellow inmates and the upright superintendent of police. But Dasvi flounders because the elements that could have helped it find meaningful answers to its fanciful questions - the script and some directorial imagination - do not quite make the grade.

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

Dasvi flunks the test because it walks into the examination hall without the necessary wherewithal. The principal characters - the politician, his wife, the policewoman and the CM's personal secretary - are all half-baked characters whose past is lost in a haze. The actors are reduced to fighting a lost battle.

The supporting characters - Ghanti (Arun Kushwah) and Rae Bareili (the name stems from a mispronunciation of "library"), played by Danish Husain - do make some impression despite limited opportunities but cannot save this preachy two-hour sermon on the virtues of education from being the dud that it is.

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

Track Latest News and Election Results Coverage Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.

Watch Live News:

• India Today
• Business Today
• Reader’s Digest
• Harper's Bazaar
• Brides Today
• Cosmopolitan
• Aaj Tak Campus
• India Today Hindi

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan impresses as Haryanvi politician but the story falls flat

Abhishek bachchan has done an impressive job as a haryanvi politician in dasvi. however, the film's story fails to achieve its purpose..

Listen to Story

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. When Gangaram Chaudhary (played by Abhishek Bachchan) reads this famous line in his textbook in Dasvi, it forces him to ponder upon his rigid ways and question the importance of education. Revolving around a flamboyant Chief Minister, Tushar Jalota’s directorial traces the story of a corrupt politician who is hell-bent on passing his Class 10 exam. Unlike Abhishek's excitement for the film ( remember his emotional note? ) or the level of promotions the makers did, Dasvi is a simple film that comes with a purpose, which is 'Right to Education'. However, it lacks focus and entertainment.

After Chief Minister Gangaram Chaudhary's name surfaces in a scam, he is sentenced to judicial custody. To skip jail hardships, the Haryanvi politician decides to appear for his Class 10 board exams during his prison sentence. He vows that he won’t be a CM again unless he’s Dasvi pass. Meanwhile, in prison, Gangaram comes across a no-nonsense Superintendent Of Police, Jyoti Deswal (played by Yami Gautam), who refuses to bend to his whims and fancies. On the other hand, Gangaram's wife Bimladevi (played by Nimrat Kaur) is driven by the lust of power.

Dasvi makes a statement on the importance of education. However, the narrative goes haywire mid-way. The writers - Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Sandeep Laeyzell - could have done a better job. They ended up making the characters look caricaturish. The first half of the film will leave you confused about the concept, while the second part will bore you with its long dialogues. Certain sequences feel forced, which is a huge let-down. For example, Abhishek and Nimrat’s on-screen equation seems very superficial. There's no chemistry between them. The makers of Dasvi stretched the theme (Right to Education) so long that you forget the purpose this story.

Watch the trailer of Dasvi here:

Dasvi also has several loose ends which'll leave you confused. Nimrat Kaur suddenly becomes a diva after being a confused CM. Who transformed her fashion sense? In a split second, she stammers on the stage and also gets her command over politics. How? There's also a full-fledged wedding taking place inside the prison and Yami keeps changing from being a 'sakht' policewoman to a tuition teacher to Abhishek. The CM spends his life in a prison that doesn’t look like a prison at all! Also, he has studied till 8th grade, so how could he sit for the 10th board exams?

Dasvi promised to be a social comedy but the jokes were so so. The humour is repetitive and Abhishek saying “mere liver me pain hai” while pointing at his heart didn't make us laugh. The IAS officer, who acts as the CM's personal secretary, does sit-ups and cleans cow dung. Most comic punches fall flat and fail to leave a mark. Gangaram also gets so lost in the textbooks of history that he imagines himself meeting the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, just like Sanjay Dutt in Lage Raho Munna Bhai .

Abhishek Bachchan seems to have been stuck in a loop. Where is our Abhishek who did films like Yuva and Guru? In Dasvi, he has done a terrific job with his Haryanvi accent and style. Though Nimrat Kaur's character in Dasvi was confusing, she lit up the film with her performance. Yami Gautam is earnest as the SI of the prison; however, she deserves a better character.

In all, the lack of a proper education system doesn’t look like the real problem in Dasvi (and it was supposed to be that way). Dasvi also seems rushed in the end. However, it makes us learn one important lesson - it’s never too late to learn something new!

2 out of 5 stars for Dasvi.

Dasvi is streaming on Netflix. ALSO READ I | Dasvi actor Abhishek Bachchan says cinema is responsible for creating dark image of Indian jails Published By: Grace Cyril Published On: Apr 7, 2022 --- ENDS ---

India Votes 2024

View from the margins: How a Mumbai realtor is helping NRC-scared Muslims rectify their documents

High funding but poor results: Bangladesh struggles with Bengal tiger conservation

Does Dhruv Rathee’s popularity worry the BJP?

Don’t force Christian traditions, recite Constitution’s preamble: Catholic body tells its schools

After seeing Mysore art in a gallery, one man has spent his whole life collecting and conserving it

April in non-fiction: Six new books to add to your shelf, including Salman Rushdie’s memoir

Double standards and contradictions: The CAA rules are rife with discrimination

NCERT revises Class 12 history textbook to cast doubts about Aryan migration theory

‘Bolta Hindustan’ YouTube channel removed on Centre’s orders

Aditya Birla group donated Rs 100 crore to BJP two months before government’s Vodafone Idea bailout

‘Dasvi’ review: As a politician educates himself, the fun lies beyond the syllabus

Tushar jalota’s film stars abhishek bachchan, nimrat kaur and yami gautam dhar..

Dasvi isn’t meant to be taken literally or seriously. The film delivers a yarn about a political leader who rediscovers the joys of learning in prison with an ostentatious wink and a big grin.

Ganga Ram Choudhary (Abhishek Bachchan) is the proudly semi-literate chief minister of the fictitious Harit Pradesh, having won election after election despite not studying beyond the eighth standard. After Ganga Ram is arrested in a scam, he hands over the reins to his submissive wife Bimla (Nimrat Kaur) and impatiently waits for bail.

Ganga Ram’s free run in prison, aided by warden Satpal (Manurishi Chadha), ends with the arrival of a new superintendent. The upright and super-strict Jyoti (Yami Gautam Dhar) torments Ganga Ram as might a headmistress a truculent pupil. Worse still for Ganga Ram, Bimla settles too nicely into her new role, graduating overnight from docile housewife into power-hungry leader.

Ganga Ram has his own moment of edification when he decides to take the tenth-standard exam. An excuse to escape work duties in prison leads to Ganga Ram’s transformation from garden-variety corrupt politician into enlightened mass leader.

Tushar Jalota’s directorial debut, which is being streamed on JioCinema and Netflix, is based on a story idea by Ram Bajpai and a screenplay by Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Sandeep Leyzell. Dasvi proceeds as a series of comic episodes, some of which are not as rib-tickling as they might have appeared on the page.

The humour is always better when it isn’t forced or underlined. Bimla’s rampage through the corridors of power and Ganga Ram’s bristling runs-in with Jyoti yield broad and predictable comedy. More memorable is the support given to Ganga Ram’s exam preparations by other inmates, including characters played by Danish Husain (the librarian “Raebareli”) and Arun Khuswaha (“Ghanti”).

Initial snobbery over the superiority of the educated over the partly literate soon gives way to a sly and more rewarding narrative about the difference between rote learning and knowledge. The chief minister’s compromised aide Tandon (Chittaranjan Tripathy) is an example of how education is meaningless without a spine.

Ganga Ram’s encounters with pre-Independence revolutionaries, including MK Gandhi and Chandrashekhar Azad (Jawaharlal Nehru is nowhere to be seen), reminds him of the sacrifices that made Indian democracy possible. “Inquilab zindabad!” Ganga Ram yells to nobody in particular, channelling his inner Bhagat Singh (or Kanhaiya Kumar).

Despite running longer than it should, Dasvi manages to keep its earnest preachiness in check. The solid cast is ably led by Abhishek Bachchan, more alert and attentive than he has been in a while. Nimrat Kaur is a hoot as the embodiment of one of Ganga Ram’s prison lessons – absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The film is as scattershot as Ganga Ram’s attempts to master his textbooks. As in school, the big learnings are incidental and beyond the syllabus.

• Dasvi review
• Tushar Jalota
• Abhishek Bachchan

• You Are At:
• Entertainment

Dasvi Movie Review: Abhishek Bachchan-Yami Gautam's film is a surprise; Twitterati hail them for unique story

Dasvi starring abhishek bachchan, yami gautam and nimrat kaur has released. the story of the film revolves around a crooked yet witty politician, who decides to attempt his 10th class board exam while serving a jail term. here's what netizens have to say about the film..

Dasvi poster featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur

• Dasvi starring Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur has released
• Dasvi is a social comedy that tells the story of a politician
• The film is streaming on Netflix and Jio Cinemas

In the film, Abhishek is seen having a blast in his raw and rustic Jaat avatar. Yami Gautam is powerful and piercing in the role of a 'dhaakad' IPS officer, while Nimrat Kaur is a delightful surprise as the feisty wife with a taste for her hubby's beloved kursi. The story of the film revolves around a crooked yet witty politician, who decides to attempt his 10th class Board exam while serving a jail term.

"I was getting worried with the lack of focus in the screenplay of #Dasvi but got pleasantly surprised as it drew me in, especially due to the evolution of the relationship between #AbhishekBachchan & #YamiGautam. Despite it's flaws, Dasvi has its heart in the right place," wrote a Twitter user.

"#Dasvireview Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Junior @juniorbachchan has become the superstar of OTT these days.  His acting is commendable.@NetflixIndia ," wrote another.

"It touches the important issue on education but keeping the narrative light &interesting @juniorbachchan is terrific as Jaat CM, but it’s @yamigautam who is the scene stealer for me. Her 360 degree skills are amazing to see. Outstanding!" wrote a third one.

Dasvi is a social comedy that tells the story of Ganga Ram Chaudhary, an anpadh, corrupt and dil se desi politician who finds a nayi chunauti in prison: education. Now, passing dasvi kaksha is his next manzil! With a quirky biwi by his side and a rough-tough jailor on his trail, what happens to this natkhat neta forms the crux of the plot.

The film, which is presented by Jio Studios and Dinesh Vijan and produced by Maddock Films and Bake My Cake Films, has been directed by Tushar Jalota.

The film is available to stream on Jio Cinema and Netflix from April 7.

Read all the Breaking News Live on indiatvnews.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from Entertainment and Bollywood Section

• abhishek bacchahn
• yami gautam
• nimrat kaur

Abhishek Manu Singhvi moves Himachal High Court challenging defeat in Rajya Sabha polls

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan: Here's why Tiger Shroff PUNCHES Akshay Kumar | Watch funny video

RR vs RCB IPL 2024 Live Score: Unbeaten Royals take on inconsistent Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Related Bollywood News

No Entry 2: Kriti, Shraddha, Manushi finalised opposite Diljit, Varun in Salman Khan's sequel?

Video from Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana goes viral on social media, magnanimous set revealed | WATCH

Vishal Bhardwaj was to make Sapna Didi, Hussain Ustar with Irrfan Khan, Deepika Padukone

Amar Singh Chamkila promotions: Imtiaz Ali makes big revelation on Jab We Met 2, Love Aaj Kal 3

Did you know how much Ranbir Kapoor paid in joota churayi ceremony?

Latest News

Sainik School Counselling 2024: AISSEE likely to declare class 6, and 9 seat allotment result today

When is World Health Day 2024? Know about its theme, history, significance, and interesting facts

Ensure Narendra Modi steps down and Rahul Gandhi becomes PM after Lok Sabha elections: Siddaramaiah

• Aap Ki Adalat
• Aaj Ki Baat
• Kurukshetra
• Haqiqat Kya Hai

Pramod Tiwari on Congress Nyay Patra, says historical document that solves country's problems

Lionel Messi to play for Inter Miami after injury layoff | Sports Wrap | India TV News English

Jordanians continue to protest against peace treaty near Israeli embassy in Amman | India TV News

Manish Sisodia brought to Rouse Avenue Court for a hearing in the Delhi liquor policy case

Prabhas, Deepika's 'Kalki 2898 AD' postponed due to Lok Sabha polls: Report | Entertainment Wrap

• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Jammu & Kashmir
• Chhattisgarh

Himanta Biswa Sarma dances during election campaign in Assam's Jorhat | WATCH VIDEO

Odisha: Massive fire breaks out at NTPC's Kanhia power plant in Talcher | VIDEO

Jharkhand: 15 workers kept under medical observation after fire breaks out at Bokaro steel plant

China may disrupt Lok Sabha elections using Artificial Intelligence, warns Microsoft

India will enter Pakistan to kill terrorists who flee there: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Bengal BJP writes to Election Commission over attack on NIA

'Whoever poses threat to society, their 'Ram Naam Satya' is certain', warns Yogi Adityanath | VIDEO

CM Mohan Yadav says BJP will win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh | Exclusive

MI vs DC pitch report, IPL 2024: How will surface at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai play?

Why Rajasthan Royals will wear pink jersey for clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru?

Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan build case for Shivam Dube's T20 World Cup selection

IPL 2024: Head-to-head record between RR and RCB ahead of match 19

Pakistan: Chinese nationals get 'resentful' on following security protocols, says Maryam Nawaz

Russian missile strikes on Ukraine's Kharkiv kill 6 people, 11 wounded

'Pure luck': UK citizen on becoming 'world's oldest man' at 111 years

US, China agree to launch exchanges on balanced growth; Washington flags Beijing's 'overcapacity'

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia today amid dire need of financial support

• Celebrities

Do Aur Do Pyaar Trailer OUT: Pratik Gandhi, Vidya Balan promise fresh take on a love story | WATCH

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan: Director Ali Abbas Zafar recalls how stunt shoots cost over Rs 3 cr per day

Lauren Graham remembers late actor Matthew Perry, says 'still hard to believe'

Snake Venom Case: Noida Police files 1,200-page chargesheet against Elvish Yadav among seven others

• Live Scores
• Other Sports

Mohammad Kaif asks blunt questions to Pat Cummins over Ravindra Jadeja's field obstruction incident

WhatsApp to soon roll out Link Privacy feature, Picture-in-Picture support: All you need to know

Center issues new advisory to digital platforms specifically dealing with AI amidst ongoing election

RBI to expand central bank digital currency trails beyond banks: All you need to know

Nothing to launch Ear, Ear (a) on April 18: Here's all we know so far

Realme to launch new smartphone series in India soon: What we know so far

How did a 660-tonne steel pendulum protect Taiwan's largest skyscraper during 7.4 earthquake?

Why are Japan, Taiwan and other countries in that region prone to frequent earthquakes?

SP continues to change candidates ahead of Lok Sabha polls: Here's what led Akhilesh Yadav to do so

What is the Katchatheevu Island row all about. Know details

Centre extends AFSPA in eights districts of Nagaland for six months | Know why

Solar Eclipse in April 2024: Decrease in self-confidence for Virgos, know its effect on zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, April 6: Taurus need to control their expenses; know about other zodiac signs

Transit of Sun in Aries: Chances of promotion for Aries, Know about other zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, April 5: Mental peace on cards for Aquarians; know about other zodiac signs

Horoscope Today, April 4: Cancerians should stop overthinking; know about other zodiac signs

Superfood Sorghum: Know THESE 5 benefits of this Cereal Grain

Prostate cancer cases to double by 2040, finds Lancet study

What is Egg Freezing? Know ways to minimise the risks associated with ovarian stimulation

World Health Day 2024: Five strategies for enhancing your mental well-being

Turning 40? Expert-backed tips for your first Mammogram and beyond

• Relationships

Eid-ul-Fitr 2024: 5 fun and creative ways to celebrate the festival with your loved ones

What is mindfulness? Know its benefits and tips to embrace wellness practices in your daily routine

Shani Pradosh Vrat 2024: Date, timing, puja rituals, dos and don'ts to follow while worshipping Lord

6 sun protection strategies for Indian skin: Myth vs Reality

Dasvi Movie Review: This Abhishek Bachchan starrer is strictly passable

Rating: ( 2.5 / 5).

Your impression of  Dasvi   is likely to be coloured by a bizarre piece of recent news. In Madhya Pradesh, a 15-year-old boy has allegedly killed his father fearing reprehension over his 10th results. ‘Exam fever’, then, is a debilitating reality for thousands of students, not an innocuous catch-phrase. I mention this precisely because of what the film chooses to ignore, or gloss over.  At one point, Ganga Ram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), panicking before an exam (he's a late bloomer), is pepped up by a team of cohorts. The sustaining environment is cloistered and safe. No fathers were harmed in the making of this film.

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur, Yami Gautam Dhar, Manu Rishi, Danish Husain

Director: Tushar Jalota

Streaming on: Netflix

Ganga is in jail, sent away for his involvement in a teachers’ recruitment scam. This story of a fictional Chief Minister–who wears a green turban and brandishes his ‘Jat’ identity—recalls a real-life one. Some years ago, a former Chief Minister of Haryana was locked up on corruption charges in Tihar Jail. Repentant, bored or simply hoping for an image clean-up, he decided to write his class 10th exams from prison.  Dasvi  improves heavily on this premise, having Bimmo (Nimrat Kaur), Ganga’s docile, homebound wife, step in in his place. A power struggle soon ensues, à la  Maharani .

In jail, Ganga is initially rolled out the royal treatment. But then strict superintendent Jyoti Deswal (Yami Gautam Dhar) shows up, tightening the yard. Ganga rebels, first faking a health crisis to get off work and then signing up for the open schooling program. “This is my right to education!” he tells Jyoti, not quite knowing what those individual words mean but grasping them in essence. One is reminded of a mutinous Sanjay Dutt hulking his way through Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (when Ganga winds up at the jail library, you think of Lage Raho ). But Abhishek and Yami don’t make the best adversaries; their clashes lack spark. Also, Jyoti buckles too soon, unlike the two Boman Irani villains that bolstered the Munna Bhai films.

In  Dasvi 's best, and most inventive sequence, Ganga is inspired by a quote to take up history seriously. He’s transported, in his mind, to key events during the Indian freedom struggle. He saves Lala Lajpat Rai from a baton charge. He joins Gandhi on the salt march. He encounters Chandra Shekhar Azad in his final hour. These scenarios—suitable for a subject like history—fare better than the film’s other attempts to dramatise school-level academics. Ganga’s political acumen helps him with lessons in chemistry and maths. Numbers and letters float up magically on screen. This is typical of most movies in the genre. The hard truth is that, beyond a point, all learning is un-cinematic, and requires sprucing up visually.

Abhishek has made a career playing likable tough guys on the mend. He was so calm and coiled in his last film,  Bob Biswas , that it’s fun to see him lash out expressively. Where  Dasvi   falters, though not too disastrously, is in its simplistic second half. A few months of rigorous book-learning, it turns out, can constitutionally change a person like Ganga. Not only does he reform his election policies, but also strike a blow against his community’s caste prejudice. The film tells us that no matter the barrier, education will breach it. History argues otherwise.

Related Stories