‘Kaalidhar Laapata’ is one of those films that feels like it's almost there—but never quite takes the plunge. You can sense it wants to be emotional, rooted, maybe even a little profound, but at key moments, it seems to hesitate. Instead of embracing its full potential, the film keeps stepping back, almost as if it’s unsure of how much emotion is too much.
It’s set in a space that’s familiar and grounded—a poor family weighed down by debt and helplessness, with the eldest member now suffering from memory loss—and there’s no shortage of real-life struggles here. But what’s missing is clarity.
There are stretches that feel heartfelt and others that leave you wondering where the story is headed. You’re left trying to figure out what the film really wants to say—about family, memory, loss, or redemption.
A story scattered across too many threads
At the centre of the film is Kaalidhar (Abhishek Bachchan), the eldest of three brothers. He’s uneducated, growing forgetful, and increasingly becoming a burden on the family thanks to his medical treatment. His younger brothers, already stretched thin by money problems, come up with a drastic plan: take him to the Kumbh Mela and abandon him. It’s a disturbing thought, made worse by how easily they go through with it.
But Kaalidhar, somehow, finds his way back—only to overhear their betrayal. That’s when he quietly disappears again and ends up in another village, where he meets Ballu (Daivik Baghela), an orphaned young boy who becomes his companion.
Their unlikely friendship becomes the emotional spine of the second half. They live together, earn a living, and form the kind of bond that doesn’t need much explanation. Things take a turn when the property papers, which had Kaalidhar’s thumb impression (taken when he was unconscious in the hospital), are destroyed in a fire at the house. Good performances fighting weak writing
Abhishek Bachchan is honestly the glue holding this film together. He’s gentle, awkward, and vulnerable in just the right way. You can tell he’s invested in Kaalidhar, even when the script gives him very little to work with. Daivik Baghela as Ballu is effortless.
The two share a warmth that feels genuine, even though their scenes could’ve been written with more emotional weight. Zeeshan Ayyub, unfortunately, is left stranded with a role that feels like an afterthought—constantly on the move, but never quite given a moment to shine. And that’s really the issue here. The cast is ready to deliver, but the film keeps pulling away from the very emotions it builds toward. A friendship that deserved more feeling
There’s a particular scene where Kaalidhar tells Ballu that he’s going to send him to school in Indore and that they’ll have to part ways. It should’ve been the emotional high point of the film—but it just floats by. You keep waiting for the hug, the tears, something to let it all out. But it never comes.
That restraint might have worked in another film, but here it feels like a missed opportunity. Even the memory loss angle—which is so central in the beginning—fades out completely by the final act. Kaalidhar starts off struggling with everyday tasks, but by the end, he’s suddenly fine. It’s this lack of continuity that makes it hard to stay emotionally invested.
So much heart, so little payoff
By the time ‘Kaalidhar Laapata’ wraps up, it feels like a film that kept stopping itself from being memorable. The track with Kaalidhar’s old flame (played by Nimrat Kaur) adds nothing, and you’re left wondering why it was there at all.
There was so much potential here—two lost people finding each other, a family torn by helplessness and guilt, and a man rediscovering dignity in the unlikeliest of places. But instead of leaning into the rawness of these ideas, the film keeps things safe and distant. It has heart, no doubt. But sometimes, heart alone isn’t enough—you also need courage in storytelling. And that’s where this film falters.
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayub, Daivik Baghela, and Nimrat Kaur
Director: Madhumita
Rating: 3.5/5
(‘Kaalidhar Laapata’ is streaming on Zee5)
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