Bala

About the film

Bala is a 2019 Indian Hindi-language satirical comedy film directed by Amar Kaushik and produced by Dinesh Vijan, based on an original story by Bengali film director Pavel Bhattacharjee. It stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Yami Gautam.

Bala revolves around the protagonist Balmukund Shukla, a young man living in Kanpur who is suffering from male pattern baldness, and the story is about his lack of confidence and the societal pressure that comes with premature balding. It highlights social issues of baldness and colourism. Filming was held in Kanpur, Mumbai and Lucknow. The soundtrack album was composed by Sachin–Jigar.

Plot

The film opens in Kanpur in 2005, where 14-year-old students tease a bald teacher. Balmukund "Bala" Shukla, a popular kid who carries much pride in his hairstyle, leads the teasing of the teacher. Bala borrows notes from the studious and dark-complexioned Latika Trivedi who was good in studies and passes them off as his own to the fair-skinned Shruti to impress her by pasting a new sticker bearing his name above Latika's notebook. When Latika calls him out and opens up the sticker in front of Shruti, Bala berates her for being dark-skinned. The narrator describes how society values beauty and fair skin over other accomplishments, especially in marriage.

14 years later, Bala is a balding man in his late twenties who struggles with his premature baldness. He is a fairness cream salesman by day and a nightclub comic by night. One day, Bala angrily lashes out at his bald father Hari, who is a ghar jamai, that the father's balding genes have killed the son's prospects. Hari presents him with a wig and explains that baldness is external and does not have anything to do with one's accomplishments. Bala dons the wig and resumes his work with new vigour. He finally meets his crush, a pretty, fair-skinned model, Pari Mishra, and courts her. They decide to marry. Some days before the wedding, Bala is stricken by conscience and sends her a text disclosing his baldness. Unbeknownst to him, the text accidentally goes to someone else and Pari does not see it. Bala assumes she has accepted his baldness and they marry.

Latika has her share of troubles. Many boys and families come to see her but reject her because of her dark skin. Among these prospective suitors is Rohan, an Australia-settled NRI who is attracted to Latika but the meeting blows over when his mother mentions Latika's complexion and Latika storms out. Rohan asks to meet her and they reconcile until he mentions he was initially attracted to her due to her Instagram profile. Latika reveals that she is not on Instagram, and it is revealed that Bala had created a fake profile with airbrushed pictures of her at her aunt's behest.

Production

The cast of the film was announced by producer Dinesh Vijan. The film, directed by Amar Kaushik, was publicized to star Ayushmann Khurrana in the titular role, Yami Gautam as a model based in Lucknow and Bhumi Pednekar as a dusky small-town educated woman.

Principal photography began on 6 May 2019, and the film was shot in Mumbai, Lucknow, and Kanpur. Filming concluded on 7 July 2019, with a special party for the wrap-up.

Soundtrack

The music and background score is composed by Sachin–Jigar, with guest composers Jaani and B Praak composing the song "Naah Goriye" which is a recreated version of the song "Naah" by the same artists released in 2017 while lyrics have been written by Mellow D, Jaani, Badshah, Priya Saraiya, Jigar Saraiya and Bhargav Purohit, a debutante. Vocals were provided by Saraiya, Badshah, Shalmali Kholgade, Gurdeep Mehndi, Divya Kumar, Asees Kaur, Jubin Nautiyal, Papon, Harrdy Sandhu and Swasti Mehul, thus marking the second instance after Dum Laga Ke Haisha to not have Ayushmann Khurrana sing for any of his films.

The song "Don't Be Shy Again" is from an original track of the same title from the album 'Rouge' by Rouge, composed by Dr Zeus and written by Lola Olafis. This is the second time the song is being recreated after 2015's film Alone which was titled 'Touch My Body', sung by Aditi Singh Sharma and picturised on Bipasha Basu.

Marketing and release

The theme poster of Bala was released on 27 May giving a release date.

With the release of the theatrical poster the release date was changed, the film was released in preview shows on 7 November 2019 and theatrically released in India on 8 November 2019.

Controversies

After the trailer of the film was released, it was accused of copyright violation by the makers of Ujda Chaman, which also has a storyline similar to Bala. Ujda Chaman is an official remake of Kannada film Ondu Motteya Kathe.

On the release of its first song "Don't Be Shy", music composer-singer Dr Zeus claimed that the makers have used his track without giving due credit and acquiring any sort of rights.

Reception

Bala received generally positive reviews from critics with praise for the performances, writing, direction and the social message.

Bollywood Hungama gave 3.5 out of 5 and said, "Bala not only entertains thoroughly but also delivers a very important message that will surely be lapped up by the audiences." Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India rated the movie 4 stars on five and wrote, "'Bala' remains a light-hearted comedy with situations that are relatable. Just like the film's message, 'Bala' is beautiful even with its flaws, and never fails to entertain." Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times reviewed, "Bala is a well-made film that stays true to its genre for most of the time. It makes right jokes at the time and leaves you in stitches more often that you’d expect."

Key details