Bala

There is enough to enjoy here and yet the film doesn't land as it is simplistic and on-the-nose.

Bala is an achievement. He's perfected the art of playing people who are not instantly likeable, and he works the characters' kinks to the point where we can see them, and yet sympathise.

Bala touches upon sensitive issues but makes its point without turning overtly judgmental about anyone or anything.

Bala is the significantly better film, a simple, fun character study of a twenty-something man learning to live with alopecia in a world with a discriminatory idea of beauty.

While nailing the finer and linguistic details, Ayushmann Khurrana's latest falls into the old traps of predictable character arcs, shallow 'woke' arguments and didactic climax.

What could have been inventive, ends up becoming formulaic asserting of armchair progressive values.

Ayushmann Khurrana delivers a hilarious film that is also empathetic. Yami Gautam, Bhumi Pednekar and a talented ensemble cast buoy up the Amar Kaushik film.

Despite the repetitiveness that has become a part of Khurrana's shtick, Bala's pathos breaks through the jokes and barbs.

Ayushmann has gotten under the skin of his complex character with aplomb. The angst, the insecurity felt by him is almost palpable.

If this film had no Latika (or she was better written and appropriately cast) and the humour of the opening half had been maintained in the second, it would have been near perfect.