‘Bala’ Critics’ Review: Ayushmann Delivers Unfiltered Performance

The film released on 8 November.

Bala stars Ayushmann Khurrana as a young man troubled by premature balding, and Yami Gautam as a Tik Tok star. Bhumi Pednekar stars as Bala’s friend who has been at the receiving end of mean and ridiculous jokes about her dark complexion. Directed by Amar Kaushik and written by Niren Bhatt, the film is set in Kanpur and also stars Saurabh Shukla, Seema Pahwa, Abhishek Banerjee and Javed Jaffrey in supporting roles.

Here’s what critics have to say about the film:

“Still, Khurrana’s 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. This is an unfiltered, bare performance, unafraid to be seen as ridiculous: this kind of shucking of vanity, even if it is self-aware, is rare amongst Bollywood actors. Bala is human, he is flawed; he is one of us. He makes us smile. Both Amar Kaushik and Khurrana get the vulnerable parts really well, and that’s where the film scores.”

Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express

“Bala, Bala, Bala: the movie is absorbed with, and better at, dealing with its self-pitying hero. Ayushmann Khurrana is apt for the role and up for the challenge of playing yet another ordinary man dealing with an extraordinary problem. Yet, there are scenes in which Khurrana appears to be mimicking his own previous performances. The talented actor extends his repertoire with every new comedy, but there are moments in Bala that echo previous Khurrana hits, including Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Dream Girl.”

Nandini Ramnath, Scroll

“Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar live up to expectations by delivering fine performances, and Yami Gautam as the somewhat frivolous professional model Pari Mishra displays a talent for comedy here that will hopefully be explored in future films. The trio are backed by a fabulous ensemble of supporting actors, each jostling with the other in the run-up to a Best Supporting Actor nomination. However, the inconsistent characterisation and the team’s lack of awareness of their own prejudice robs Bala of much of its value.”

Anna MM Vetticad, FirstPost