Kaalidhar Laapata Review: Movie beautifully depicts life-altering friendship between two people with bittersweet moments
Kaalidhar Laapata Movie Rating: 3.5 Stars
Watched Kaalidhar Laapata movie on Zee5 Premium. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Nimrat Kaur and Daivik Bhagela
Director: Madhumita
Release Date: 4th July 2025 on Zee5 Premium
Story: Set in Madhya Pradesh, story revolves around Kaalidhar (Abhishek A Bachchan) lives with his brother Manohar (Vishwanath Chatterjee), Manohar’s wife Neetu (Madhulika Jatoliya), brother Sundar (Priyank Tiwari) and sister Gudiya (Priya Yadav).
Kaalidhar is the eldest sibling and has taken care of his family after the untimely demise of his parents. When the doctors can offer no further solution to his increasing episodes of memory loss and hallucinations, other than expensive medication, his family except sister begins to think of ways to get rid of him.
They try to kill him to claim his property but fail. After some thought, they decide to abandon him at Kumbh Mela after taking his thumb impressions on property papers while he sleeps. Their plan is to ‘lose’ him there. The two even lodge a complaint at the ‘lost and found’ officer Subodh (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) to keep themselves above suspicion.
Finding himself alone and unable to recall his own name or address, Kaalidhar begins to search for his brothers and somehow manages to find his way back to their tent. Only to overhear his family expressing relief over having ‘lost’ him, as they can ill-afford his medical treatment. A heartbroken Kaalidhar boards the next bus he can find to get as far away from them as possible and finds shelter for the night at a temple near a village.
It is here that he meets an 8-year-old orphan, Ballu (Daivik Bhagela) and eventually the two strike up an unlikely friendship. A street-smart and worldly-wise Ballu takes him under his wing and Kaalidhar, too, starts to watch out for Ballu. As they begin to spend more time together, they forge a deep bond, almost like father and son. They even draw up Kaalidhar’s wish-list of things he has always wanted to do and start ticking off the list, one by one.
Will Subodh be able to find Kaalidhar? Does Kaalidhar become self-reliant and completes his all wishes? Who is Meera (Nimrat Kaur) and why is she so important to Kaalidhar? What happens to Ballu? Does the family acquire the property they tried so hard to get hold of? Watch this movie to find out.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Story
4. Direction
5. Music
Negatives
1. Length
2. Slow Screenplay
3. Climax
4. Remake Factor
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on its premiere day as loved the trailer. When a man begins to suffer from episodes of memory loss and hallucinations, his family decides to abandon him. Only to realize that they need to find him again, to serve their own purpose. But by now he has moved on with plans of his own and has no intentions of returning.
Kaalidhar Laapata is Hindi adaptation of her acclaimed 2019 Tamil film KD (Karuppu Durai) and explores themes of abandonment and healing but misses some emotional beats. The story line is mostly similar, barring some changes. While in the Tamil version, KD is an 80-year-old man, whose children plan to kill him through euthanasia to usurp his property, in the Hindi version KD is a middle-aged man suffering from memory-loss. The film shines in its heartfelt portrayal of an unlikely bond between a forgotten man and a spirited child. It speaks of familial neglect, but also of chosen families, of strangers who come to mean more than blood relations. Shot in Madhya Pradesh, the sets and locations are as real as they could be as they provide authenticity and rustic charm to its story. The production design, too, deserves special mention; nothing feels dressed up. It’s all worn and weathered, just like the people in this story. Costumes play their part with precision, never calling attention to themselves, yet helping build characters organically, from Ballu’s oversized shorts to Kaalidhar’s humble kurta, every piece fits perfectly into the world. Initially, the pace of the film feels a bit slow, but once KD and Ballu come together, the film begins to shine. Their bond is the soul of the story. Abhishek Bachchan one of the best performances while Daivik Baghela is the surprise of the film and is truly a scene-stealer. Director Madhumita tells the story with sensitivity and care, making every moment matter. Amit Trivedi’s music, with songs like Haseen Pareshaaniyaan and Hans Ke Jaane De are like a breath of fresh air.
However, it falters in places. Some scenes lack emotional depth, and the pacing isn’t always steady. The beginning portion of the film gives a déjà vu of VANVAAS [2024], which is also about a family dumping the patriarch with fading memory in a crowded religious spot. Zeeshan Ayyub’s talent seems to be wasted, and there are moments when you are ready with your tissues, but the moment passes without tugging at your heartstrings. A key example is the missed opportunity for a heartfelt scene between KD and Ballu at the railway station. This could have added more emotional weight to the film. It’s a moment you keep expecting, but it never comes. The film also leaves some inconsistencies unexplained. For example, while Kaalidhar is introduced as someone suffering from serious mental illness with memory loss and hallucinations, this aspect is forgotten quite conveniently as the film progresses. He suddenly is all fine and even starts to earn a living for himself and Ballu, without much explanation about his recovery.
It reminds us that life can surprise us with joy, even in tough times. And shows how friendship can cross age barriers, healing our pained hearts. Overall, movie is is all about a life-altering friendship between two people with bittersweet moments, little pleasures, humour, aimless banter, learning, and unlearning on the road. It is a heart-touching, slice-of-life drama that ends on an uplifting note and makes for a very good watch. Though a remake, it shines with great acting, lovely music, and thoughtful direction. My view on this movie Highly Recommended.
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