Vanvaas Movie Review: A Family Drama That Fails to Connect

Missed Potential: Vanvaas Offers Little Beyond Nostalgia.

By Aakash Khuman 10:05 AM Dec 20, 2024 IST

Vanvaas Movie Review

Vanvaas Movie Review: Director Anil Sharma, who gave us the blockbuster Gadar 2, returns with Vanvaas, a family drama that revisits themes of love and betrayal within a family. While Sharma succeeded with similar stories in the past, like Apne (2007), Vanvaas struggles to deliver the same emotional depth, making it a tough watch.

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Plot Overview

The story revolves around Deepak Tyagi (played by Nana Patekar), a loving husband and father who builds a dream house in the peaceful hills with his wife, Vimla (Khushbu). After Vimla’s death, Deepak is left with their three sons, Somu, Bablu, and Chutka. However, as he ages and develops dementia, his sons decide to abandon him during a trip to Varanasi.

Lost and confused, Deepak meets Veeru (Utkarsh Sharma), a pickpocket with a kind heart. Despite their differences, Veeru promises to help Deepak find his way home, driven by his own motive to impress his girlfriend Beena’s aunt.

Strengths of the Film

Light-Hearted Humor: The occasional humor, especially brought by Rajpal Yadav, offers brief relief from the heavy melodrama.
Nana Patekar & Khushbu’s Chemistry: The moments between these two veterans add poetic charm and stand out in an otherwise dull narrative.

Where Vanvaas Movie Falls Short

Outdated Storytelling: The movie relies on old melodramatic tropes and feels stuck in the past.
Forced Emotional Appeal: Unlike heartfelt classics like Baghban, the film’s attempts to evoke deep emotions feel exaggerated and hollow.
Overacting and Weak Characters: Poorly written characters and loud performances dilute the impact of the story.
Technical Issues: Dubbing errors, shaky cinematography, and low production quality make the film visually unappealing.

Performance Analysis

Nana Patekar: Despite his strong screen presence, he is trapped in a predictable role that doesn’t do justice to his talent.
Utkarsh Sharma: His charm is wasted in a stereotypical role.
Supporting Cast: Talented actors like Ashwini Kalsekar and Paritosh Tripathi are underutilized, with poorly defined roles that fail to leave a mark.

Final Verdict

Vanvaas tries to deliver an emotional story about family bonds but fails due to outdated storytelling and weak execution. While the film’s intentions are genuine, its flaws make it a disappointing watch. At 160 minutes, it feels unnecessarily stretched, making it a bitter pill to swallow.