“Har rishte ki expiry date hoti hai, apne liye jeena seekho” – this line beautifully captures the essence of the movie, Kaalidhar Laapata. Starring Abhishek Bachchan and Daivik Baghela in the lead, Kaalidhar Laapata is a Hindi adaptation of the Tamil film, K.D. (K.D. Engira Karuppudurai). The trailer promised a poignant slice-of-life story set in a small town in Madhya Pradesh. Is the film as good as the trailer? Read our review of the movie Kaalidhar Laapata to find out.

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Kaalidhar Laapata movie: The plot

The movie follows a middle-aged man, Kaalidhar aka KD, who is diagnosed with early-stage dementia. The doctor warns his family members to be careful as Kaalidhar won’t just forget things often; he could even start hallucinating soon. Fearing the expenses of the ‘ameeron ki beemari‘, the family conspires to drive him out of his house. They take him to the Kumbh Mela to purposely leave him there and take control of his land. The family members also file a “laapata” report to remain out of suspicion. Meanwhile, Kaalidhar struggles to find his family in the crowd. He then stumbles upon a lively kid, Ballu, who helps him discover his true self. Will Kaalidhar’s brothers return to take him home? Will he find out his family’s true motive? How will Kaalidhar react to the truth?

Kaalidhar Laapata movie review: Full of emotions, but lacks depth

The movie is a soul-stirring reminder of how we often ignore ourselves to be there for our loved ones. It’s a story about an elder brother who sacrifices his education, girlfriend, and everything in between to support his siblings. Simultaneously, Kaalidhar Laapata unpacks a wholesome friendship between two people, divided by age but united by similar destinies. The bond shared by Kaalidhar and Ballu will make you smile, laugh and cry, all at the same time. While KD’s misery is emotional, Ballu’s optimism and humour is highly contagious. Ballu describes himeself as “Khud hi TV, khud hi remote,” who doesn’t need anyone to make him happy. But it changes with his growing bond with KD, who becomes his ‘sab kuchh‘ (everything).

The movie’s plot is strong but slow. In an attempt to portray multiple themes, Kaalidhar Laapata struggles to gather itself. Directed by Madhumita Sundararaman, who also directed the original, the remake loses its spark unlike its Tamil counterpart.

The wholesome cast of Kaalidhar Laapata

Abhishek Bachchan aces his role as Kaalidhar. He intricately picks up the characteristics of a person living with dementia. The scene where his hallucination scares Ballu reflects equally in the viewer’s reaction. While Abhishek shines in the movie, Daivik Baghela’s Ballu is a delight to watch. Throughout the film’s runtime, Daivik retains his character’s liveliness and emotional depth. With a deeply layered character arc, the kid effortlessly steals the spotlight in Kaalidhar Laapata. The movie also stars Nimrat Kaur as Mira, Kaalidhar’s love interest. With a brief screen time, she is quite convincing in her role. The same goes for Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub who plays Subodh, a worker at the missing complaint booth.

Kaalidhar Laapata is now streaming on ZEE5.

Can you watch Kaalidhar Laapata with your family?: Yes, there are no intimate scenes or use of abusive language.

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