Cast- Abhishek Bachchan, Yami Gautam, Nimrat Kaur
Dasvi: A Tiresome Humor on the Value Of Education.
Gangaram Chaudhary (Abhishek Bachchan), the fictional state of Harit Pradesh's chief minister, is condemned to judicial detention after his name appears in a scam. To avoid the miseries of incarceration, the discredited 50-year-old Haryanvi politician chooses to return to school and sit for class 10 board exams during his term. He swears he'll never be a CM again unless he's Dasvi pass.
It's never too late to pick up a new skill. No matter how unpleasant or difficult it may be, starting someplace, no matter how late, is the only way to succeed. Tushar Jalota's (director) 2-hour-long film attempts to investigate this notion. The intention is good, and the performances are earnest, but the location and narration get simply too far-fetched and caricaturist to keep you interested. Everyone acts as if they are in a poorly scripted play with a heavy reliance on forced humour. This is not to suggest that the talks aren't intense. Some of the lines are brilliant. "Mall banega toh maal aayega", "School toh berozgari badhegi." However, bright wits are few and far between. Most comedic blows fall flat and leave no impression.
While there are a few heartwarming moments in the film, the character sketches and arcs aren't adequately defined, which is a major source of concern. Despite witnessing the characters spout innumerable filmy monologues, you get the impression that you know little about them other than their love of theatrics. What motivates them, what do they enjoy, and what do they believe in? The narrative hardly touches the surface, leaving you wondering why a dishonest politician would suddenly alter his mind.
Abhishek Bachchan attempts to enter Bachchan Sr's 70s territory by giving his character an over-the-top appeal. Surprisingly, he is far superior when he is at his most restrained. After a while, he drops the act and comes into his own, and that's when the film grabs you. Nimrat Kaur is excellent in the roles of Bimladevi and Yami Gautam. Dhar's recent character choices are admirable. With each part, she ensures that she is venturing into unexplored territory.
Dasvi has wonderful intentions, but this does not convert into an interesting film.