Remember believing those WhatsApp forwards saying saare cold drinks peena band kardo, because someone in a random-ass factory has mixed their blood contaminated by the Ebola virus in them? Add to it riot causing rumours and make it political, and BOOM, you have ‘Afwaah’ ka base ready. With a gripping narrative and sharp dialogues, ‘Afwaah’ is not just another political thriller- it feels relatable, it makes you chuckle, it makes you question, but most importantly, it makes you worry.
Plot
Set in Sawalpur, Rajasthan, the film introduces us to Vicky Bana (Sumeet Vyas), a politician who stages an attack on his own rally ‘for the clout.’ But things get fcked when a video of him giving orders for killing a commoner during the attack goes viral. Seeing this mess, Nivi (Bhumi Pednekar), his fiancée, decides ‘jo tha, bass yahi tak tha’, leading to a series of WTF moments. Along her journey, she crosses paths with Rahab Ahmed (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), an advertising professional, who helps her run away. Right from that point, they face the onslaught of an afwaah fueled by social media, as Rahab is termed a “love jihadi.”
Performances
Look, honestly, nothing motivated me to watch this movie more than its cast. I mean with Nawaz, Bhumi, and Sharib Hashmi, you gotta expect top-notch performances. And that’s exactly what happens. Sumeet Vyas surprises Vicky, standing out with his strong yet vulnerable portrayal of a power-hungry politician. Bhumi Pednekar brings a cocky attitude to Nivi, standing up for herself and giving off ‘yaas kween slay’ vibes. Seeing Nawaz ace a nerdy, soft-spoken role feels so unreal (cuz duhhh), but his quiet intensity contrasts beautifully with Nivi’s boldness. Sharib Hashmi, as usual, brings out his best as Chandan. ATP, he deserves much bigger roles pls.
Screenplay
For a movie dealing with so many subplots, it tries not to be clumsy but fails. The first half, even though fast-paced, feels rather (???) due to so many subplots juggling from one scene to another. But this unpredictability works in your favor cuz the gossip girl in you dies for the next ‘Oh no lmao’ moment. The second half feels a lil stretchy, but it doesn’t bug you, thanks to the chaotic drama the characters unfold. There is not one dull moment in the entire movie, so you stick right there from start to finish.
Writing
The best part about Afwaah is that it never distracts you from its theme– how social media rumors mess with your head. Every scene feels like a dig into the political system, making for clever laughs throughout the movie. The dialogues are crisp, and target the fact that you never care to fact-check the shit that’s posted online just because you like it. Ye movie dekhni hai, toh beware of some punch in the guts and wry smiles with the dialogues. It’s like one second you’re chuckling and the next you go ‘damn, that’s deep’. The one thing I hated was the climax of the movie. For such a huge build-up, it has a pretty convenient climax (cue ‘garam karke thanda chor diya’ meme). A darker ending would’ve really left a harder impact imo.
At the end of the day, in a world filled with fake news and social media hysteria, Afwaah is a hilarious wake-up call. It makes you question if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli actually abused each other or if is it just someone trying too hard for his social media reach. After all, “Rumour hai par phikar kise hai, na phailane wale ko, na sunne wale ko.” Balancing the preachy with the funny, and thanks to some amazing performances, ‘Afwaah’ is a movie you should not miss. And remember, the next time you stumble upon a sensational rumor, think twice before hitting that share button.
