Hawaizaada
wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?)
A plot different from the norm. Unfortunately, dull and long.
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It is great to learn something that you didn't know about through a film. It is great to learn that there was a scientist who tried to get a plane to fly before the people we know it – the Wright Brothers. It is also awesome to know that the secret was written down in ancient scriptures. Whether or not it was true or has sound grounds is a matter of debate that is beyond the scope of this review. In either case, it matters not which nationality the scientist belonged to nor does it matter which religion the scriptures originated from. (Can text books belong to a religion anyway?) Was India even one nation when the text was written? But, the point of Hawaizaada seems to be to say, “we first, we first!” Not to mention that the film says that over more than 2.5 hours.
Hawaizaada might just have passed of as a sweet story had it been shorter. A one-line plot summary would be “A man wanted to build an airplane.” And while it alludes to the freedom struggle, family dynamics, romance etc, the film despite having one point to focus on is all over the place. The romantic moments as do the patriotic ones make you go, “Huh? Where did that come from?” The emotions on display are too strong compared to the mild build-up.
The background music and the sets are way too theatric to make you take anything in the film seriously. The film is too bright and sharp for us to believe it is the 19th century. Sure, films themselves are to blame to make us believe that those were rustic times. But, it is distracting for sure and makes you feel you are watching a play rather than a film.
The language too seems a little too contemporary. At other times times the director attempts childish comedy under the garb of Chaplin-esque. Ayushman Khurana has his charm but it is getting old now. Also, it is a rare male actor who can cry well on screen, and he is not one of them. Mithun Chakraborty carries the eccentricity well, when it is asked of him. But it is uneven – the asking, not the doing. Pallavi Sharda's existence in the film makes it a not-so brave film.
If the idea was to make a film because the concept of an Indian having made the first plane to fly was so appealing why did it need the lady prop? That shows lack of conviction. With an audience that is eager to lap up any film that has novel concepts, it was worth trying this one without making it a musical.
Another hint that the film tries to appeal to a populist sentiment is having Ayushman Khurana speak in Marathi. Authenticity would be a wrong argument to make because no one other than his character Shivi speaks in Marathi, including his parents. It's not like he continuously speaks in Marathi either. So, not only was the first man to fly a plane an Indian, he spoke Marathi too! It would be really sad if this move was to break the actor's North Indian boy image. Yet, I will look forward to his next film, because he chooses films that are not the norm.
And that is the only thing that works for Hawaizaada - something different was attempted. Despite all its pitfalls, Hawaizaada attempts at telling the story of a carefree, wayward, rich, spoilt brat who is also smart and sharp when it interests him. And he went on to fly a plane. Patriotism and national pride aside.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Apun Ka Choice : ... "Hawaizaada" gets away with its flight into the mind of the man who dared to fly. This miniature masterpiece leaves us exhilarated and exultant... full review
Thumbs up, by Sarita A Tanwar, DNA : ...Hawaizaada is like a picture post-card – watch it for the outstanding effort of a first-time director. ... full review
So-So, Daily Bhaskar : ...The film is a straight one time watch. There is nothing exceptional or starry that would keep you glued to your seats. It is worth a watch for people who are more interested in knowing about Shivkar Talpade than people who just want to have a good time.... full review
So-So, by Joginder Tuteja, Movie Talkies : ...This one drags instead of flying, and that is the reason why despite good efforts from the cast and the crew, Hawaizaada ends up emerging as a film that had its vision, but ended up meandering in many directions.... full review
So-So, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Ornate visual fest but soulless!... full review
So-So, by Meena Iyer, Times of India : ...On one level, Hawaizaada works because this story about India's unsung hero needs to find its place. But this realm depends heavily on performances - the histrionics could be several notches higher. Ayushmann doesn't have the charisma to keep you riveted for 157 minutes. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...We sense the talent, but we also sense the nothingness.... full review
Thumbs down, by Prateeksha Khot, Bolly Spice : ...more like a fantasy come love story which is neither here nor there... full review
Thumbs down, Bollywood Hungama : ...On the whole, HAWAIZAADA is all gloss no substance. Skip it.... full review
Thumbs down, by Vinod Talreja, Bollywood Life : ...extremely slow to leave a lasting impression!... full review
Thumbs down, by Suparna Sharma, Deccan Chronicle : ...Ayushmann, unfortunately, is just not able to hold our attention. His hair, in Gemini Ganesan style, has a bunch of curls falling over his forehead, giving the impression of a free spirit. That’s cute. But he is either in burlesque mode or just plaintive. His singing is far superior to his acting. Pallavi Sharda is pretty. I liked her when she was dancing with her sari tied very low. When she started ironing and stitching, she became a bore. Mithun Chakraborty is terrible, and is licked clean by little Naman Jain.... full review
Thumbs down, by Aneela Zeb Babar, Desi Martini : ...The worst thing that happened to air travel in India after Kingfisher... full review
Thumbs down, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ...lost in a jungle of props and fancy costumes. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Ameet Bhuvan, Desi Martini : ...too flabby to fly... full review
Thumbs down, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...doesn’t inspire dreams, only ennui…... full review
Thumbs down, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ... Hawaizaada is an important movie ... but it fails to live up to expectations. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...So much of money wasted in trying to tell a simple tale which required temerity not timidity. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Anupama Chopra, Hindustan Times : ...flat and clumsy... full review
Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...Hawiizaada is jingoistic, melodramatic, naïve, and often illogical. It might have worked as a quirky flight of fancy, but Puri and his characters take things way too seriously, robbing the film of that very sense of awe and wonder that it so badly needed.... full review
Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The only thing that soars is its music, but for that, I wouldn’t have had to see it, would I?... full review
Thumbs down, Indicine : ...idea just doesn't translate to a good film ... full review
Thumbs down, by surabhi Redkar, koimoi : ...Hawaizaada turned out to be a sheer disappointing watch. It has a yawn-inducing storyline which makes it difficult to watch even as it drags for over two hours. It is low on historical knowledge and even the execution is not top notch. Considering that I actually waited for the film to end soon ... full review
Thumbs down, by Udita Jhunjhunwala, Live Mint : ... acting oscillates between childlike and sincere, subtracting more than adding to the narrative.... full review
Thumbs down, by shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...To top it all, this painfully long film is peppered with unnecessary songs after every two minutes, and in the process, also heartbreakingly massacres Ghalib’s immortal ghazal, ‘Dil-e-nadaan tujhe hua kya hai’. - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/hawaizaada---movie-review/15952173#sthash.I296BCDz.dpuf... full review
Thumbs down, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...Dum?? Besides the one liner subject, there is nothing else worth mentioning in this film. The movie is dragging, boring and loud at the same time. It's a big opportunity loss for cinema lovers and the proud Indians who had to witness a great tale presented in a bad manner. Everything is overdone and will remind you of watching a vintage car with a flat tyre, which is also known as puncture.... full review
Thumbs down, by Saumil Gandhi, Mumbai Mirror : ... The seven songs do not help at all.... full review
Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Ayushman Khurana carries Hawaizaada on his shoulders with élan. Pallavi Sharda, notwithstanding her sketchily etched character, does enough to live down the Besharam fiasco.... full review
Thumbs down, by Stutee Ghosh, Planet Bollywood : ...Take a life jacket along if you must to save yourself from drowning in the ocean of disappointment.... full review
Thumbs down, by Nishi Tiwari, Rediff : ... flight of fancy that fails to take off.... full review
Thumbs down, by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Reuters : ...the film never manages to get off the ground.... full review
Thumbs down, by SUDHISH KAMATH, The Hindu : ...There are a few good moments thrown in the midst of this chaotic storytelling and muddled up narrative that doesn’t seem to make up its mind about what the film is — a melodrama, a love story, a musical, a scientific journey or a revisionist biopic? In trying to be everything, Hawaizaada is burdened by all excess weight. The heavy, loosely- strung-together contraption of a film jumps off a cliff in an attempt to fly without ever figuring out how to land.... full review
vivekbbhatia: All the very best @ayushmannk for #Hawaizaada. Fly high!
Sketcher009: Jst watched #HAWAIZAADA , Really nice movie!
SeepiTechi: Marutsakha looks wonderful in the movie!Definitely an award for that!#Hawaizaada rocked!
realgyana: Just watched #hawaizada movie. Just aswm movie . A good movie after long time
RahimWrites: Hats off to makers of #Hawaizaada It takes a lot of courage and will power to make movies like these that don't promise any high gains.
OmeriSona: #Ayushman worked good in #Hawaizada and movie is brilliant..
niteshrajput125: #Hawaizada is less entertainment and more creativity, well done team..
kukreja262: #Hawaizaada an Old Indian tale put up so nicely. @ayushmannk it's totally a Republic Day Movie
Gauravkingrocks: superb movie #hawaizada good job
evelyn_sharma: Guys go watch #Hawaizaada this weekend! Support the small films with brilliant story and lots of heart ❤️
AnuraPaknikar: #Hawaizaada A must watch for every Indian.. What a treasure our Vedas are..!! A perfect blend of spirituality & science ..
AhujaAakriti: #Hawaizaada with its beautiful magical realism exports you to another world whilst @ayushmannk 's profound act leaves you yearning for more!
rjnishita: Hawaizaada : Boring till interval, Good one in 2nd Half !! P.S.: Your opinion may differ!!
Eccentricfaizan: #Hawaizaada first half is so boring that you think why is it there. Second half is pretty decent.
aditi80588: #Hawaizaada - an average movie.
yatharthsingh: #Hawaizaada should be named as #Haramzyada
t2telegraph: #Hawaizaada is unflinchingly boring and the leads ensure you look for airsickness bags! http://bit.ly/Hawaizaada-review http://twitter.com/t2telegraph/status/561509214124650496/photo/1
PrashantJanghel: Worst Film Ever.... #Hawaizaada — feeling bored
PranjalBhatt1: pissed off wid #Hawaizaada ..........regret is all i hav....
KamathGurudutt: HAWAIZADA: 2/5 stars. Highly boring story of supposedly first Indian aviator. Skip it.
itsaditya1: The intention behind making the movie was good but it didn't create the magic as expected from it. #Hawaizaada @ayushmannk
IncodaTvHD: Hawaizaada review: Ayushmann flies around in a Batsuit in this nonsensical film Hawaizaada claims to be the... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=414055832092505
FlmCollection: Hawaizaada critics rating 1.5/5 stars Story is like a plane which never takes off http://twitter.com/FlmCollection/status/561178566323212293/photo/1
dedhpase: Sadly the concoction does not work coz all the themes are underemphasized #Hawaizaada
Bindaas_Girl1: Hawaizaada is Huge Disaster Feeling Sad For Ayushman Khurana He's Good Actor But Need To Find Right Script!
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: None
- Language: Clean. A lady is called a whore and prostitution is alluded to.
- Nudity & Sexual content: None
- Concept: A man wanted to build an airplane
- General Look and Feel: An attempt at recreating the late 1800s
![[Facebook page of Hawaizaada]](/static/images/icons/facebook_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Twitter account of Hawaizaada]](/static/images/icons/twitter_small.png){kind=icon}
![[YouTube channel of Hawaizaada]](/static/images/icons/youtube_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Wikipedia page of Hawaizaada]](/static/images/icons/wiki_small.png){kind=icon}
Comments (5)
The trailer looked authentic apparently with substantial amount of money spent on the production quality of the grandeur sets and designs. Meetu .. i believe the script was good given the fact that its historical accuracy was questionable, perhaps the execution, performances and lack of songs particularly item tunes deterred the audience from engaging into the film. The year first release 'I' directed by "Shankar" had the same expectation and it turned out excruciatingly bad and lengthy , its the last Friday of the first month of the year and again we are seeing another major film jolting.
Trailer was not authentic. It was wannabe.
I had just seen the song once and was fascinated by it. But after reading your review, I think you may have pointed out why I may not like this movie..
@Kapil @Elizabeth Yeah, it is a little too long and not enough material to hold that length.
@guddu Screenplay is an issue. There is drama but very few dramatic events, if you know what I mean.
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