205. Galwakdi; movie review

 

GALWAKDI

Cert 12A

140 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent moderate bloody images

Isn't there a bit of obsessive compulsive disorder in all of us?

Personally, I lean towards Just Right OCD - a subtype that is characterised by obsessions and compulsions.

I write this as I continue the quest to watch every film released in the UK on top of playing top 100 golf courses, visiting every football ground... get the picture?

However, Mrs W will testify that I certainly don't have the trait of tidiness which typifies many cases of OCD.

Birmingham librarian Jagteshwar (Tarsem Jassar) is near the top of the spectrum - demanding things should be just so, at home and work.

For reasons which are never explained, his family not only accept his condition but agree to follow his strict demands such as no TV after 7pm, bedtime at 9pm and set routines for dinner and breakfast.

The only sign of dissent are to call him the 'jailer' behind his back and the secret drinking sessions of his dad (B.N Sharma) and cousin (Raghveer Boli).

However, things change dramatically when his mum (Swaranheet Billo) takes pity on a free-spirited young woman (Wamiqa Gabbi) after she is evicted from a house across the road.

Jagteshwar is portrayed as not having heightened emotion but the change to his world order clearly throws him and it soon becomes clear that a very unlikely romance could be in the air.

And that it where I have my beef with Galwakdi. It is yet another movie which presents an incurable condition and then attempts to resolve it. There is actually an even worse example later in the movie.

But I guess Sharan Art's picture is not meant to be taken too seriously and you have to love Wamiqa for her boundless energy which really lifts it.

It made palatable fare on a plane crossing the Atlantic.

Reasons to watch: Unusual rom-com

Reasons to avoid: Not as funny as it would like to be

Laughs: None for me

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? About 1 in every 50 people suffer from OCD at some point in their lives (men and women equally). That adds up to over 1 million people in the UK.

The final word. Tarsem Jasser: "We left no stone unturned in ensuring that we deliver a top-class film. It’s a sweet romantic love drama that Punjabi industry is known for." The Tribune

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