Nakhrewaalii Movie Review: Ansh Duggal, Pragati Srivastava Inject Life In A Dead And Buried Rom-Com

Nakhrewaalii, headlined by Ansh Duggal and Pragati Srivastava, has its heart in the right place. Small-town stories have the freshness of the land’s soil, simplicity and the joy in routine achievements. Rahul Shanklya directs this romantic comedy with a twist. Ansh and Pragati carry the film on their shoulders ably, but the setting and its concept are dead and buried. Nakhrewaalii attempts to evoke laughs through an absurd situation that the characters go through; sadly, the efforts fall flat.

Nakhrewaalii follows the story of Sumit Mishra (Ansh Duggal), who dresses up like one of his sisters for Kanjak Puja during Navratri. The film is set in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi. In his early 20s, Sumit leaves his hometown and settles in Delhi for a better future. He falls in love with Paridhi (Pragati Srivastava), the younger daughter of his landlord. At 22, her parents want her to marry a government officer with a stable job. During their first meeting, Paridhi and Sumit have a debate on who leads an easier life – women or men. Concluding this interaction, she hopes he gets to live the life of a woman in Delhi for just a day.

While he is growing closer to Paridhi, Sumit is smitten by Delhi University student, Mihika (Aayushi Verma). Paridhi and Mihika are extreme opposites in terms of their definition of romance and desires. Amid the chaos, Sumit finally understands that his future is with Paridhi, but her father, Batuk (Gopal Datt), wants a government officer as his son-in-law. After struggling to find a job, he decides to return to his Sumita avatar, which he would take during Navratri for Kanjak Puja.

Nakhrewaalii has the flavours of a typical small-town romantic comedy. The characters are innocent and not smart or shrewd. The intention behind making this film is good, and the message comes across clearly too. The narrative also follows a straight path, without taking any creative risks. The performances in Nakhrewaalii are the standout factors in a film that is outdated and afraid to look beyond the obvious. One can see where the story leads from the first frame itself.

Director Rahul Shanklya is heavily inspired by Bollywood from the ‘80s and ‘90s. His storytelling takes a lot from that, but without reinventing it and catering to a new generation of audience. Nakhrewaalii holds back its true potential by following a rulebook of how small-town characters must talk, feel and express. The concept of a man dressing up like a woman and experiencing the horrors of physical boundaries being violated is excellent. However, the script and screenplay make it just another checkpoint to cross.

Nakhrewaalii gets the romance part better than the humour. Laughs are scarce; sexual jokes are mandatory in this situation, but they don’t evoke any sentiment. Men and women are stereotyped poorly, particularly Gopal Datt and Kumud Mishra, who plays Mihika’s father. It is harmless to make chaotic entertainers, but confused ones never land; Nakhrewaalii is confused. It doesn’t know how to use its best assets.

Ansh Duggal brings charm and promise to the big screen with Nakhrewaalii. He holds his own and carries the film pretty well, despite the clichés and cringe tropes. At certain points, Ansh reminds of a younger Kartik Aaryan, who put his soul into a game-changing monologue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama. His rawness elevates a rather boring character. Pragati Srivastava makes a confident debut. Yet again, the female lead has been heavily stereotyped, but she adds her own flavour to make her Paridhi a feisty woman. For a debut, Pragati does exceedingly well. Aayushi Verma is a sweet and lovable addition to the film. She performs well. The supporting characters are ineffective, except Gopal Datt and Kumud Mishra.

Nakhrewaalii’s music is underwhelming. Its cinematography captures the more rustic and old side of India. Due to weak writing and an inability to gauge the audience’s sensibilities, Nakhrewaalii does not reach its peak.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy, Nakhrewaalii doesn’t completely do justice to its genre. Instead of a theatre, this film would have found a better space on streaming.