Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Reviews

Salman Khan films on Eid are a tradition, and in 2015 the Eid film was Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Many fans expected the usual action and big dialogues. Instead they got a warm, simple story about a kind man, a lost little girl and two countries. This Bajrangi Bhaijaan review looks at the story, the cast, what critics said, how it did at the box office and whether it is still worth watching.

Facts about the film come from its credits, its release records and published reviews. We have kept the big ending free of spoilers, so you can still enjoy it if you have not seen it.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan at a Glance

• Release date: 17 July 2015, one day before Eid
• Director: Kabir Khan, who also wrote the screenplay
• Story: V. Vijayendra Prasad
• Producers: Salman Khan, Rockline Venkatesh and Kabir Khan
• Cast: Salman Khan, Harshaali Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui
• Music: Songs by Pritam, background score by Julius Packiam
• Budget: About ₹75 crore

The Story in Simple Words

Shahida is a six year old girl from a mountain village in Sultanpur, in Pakistan administered Kashmir. She cannot speak. Her mother takes her to the Nizamuddin Auliya shrine in Delhi to pray for her. On the way back, the train stops near the border. Shahida gets off to help a trapped sheep, and the train leaves without her. She ends up alone in India.

She meets Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi, played by Salman Khan. Pawan is a simple, honest man and a devoted follower of Lord Hanuman. That is why people call him Bajrangi. He does not know where the girl is from, so he names her Munni and takes her home. He lives in Delhi with the family of his fiancée Rasika, played by Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Slowly, Pawan finds out that Munni is a Muslim girl from Pakistan. The Pakistani embassy cannot help him, and a travel agent cheats him. So Pawan decides to take her home himself, with no passport or visa. On the way, he meets Chand Nawab, a struggling Pakistani TV reporter played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Nawab first wants a “spy” story, but soon sees that Pawan is a good man and starts to help.

We will stop there. The last part of the film is very emotional, and it is best seen without knowing exactly what happens.

How the Idea Was Born

The story came from V. Vijayendra Prasad, the writer known for the Baahubali films, Magadheera and RRR. He said the idea was inspired by the 1987 Telugu film Pasivadi Pranam. He also drew on a story he had heard about a Pakistani couple who came to India for their daughter’s heart surgery.

Director Kabir Khan added his own memories. As a child, he watched Ramlila plays of the Ramayana, and Hanuman left a strong mark on him. He felt Hanuman was loved by children of all faiths in India. He began writing the film in 2013, partly as a way to bring Hindus and Muslims closer. That idea sits at the heart of the film.

The Performances

Salman Khan as Pawan

This is a softer Salman than fans were used to. Pawan is shy, honest to a fault and cannot tell a lie, even to border guards. Many critics called it one of his best roles. Bollywood Hungama wrote that it “easily qualifies to be Salman Khan’s best movie till date, featuring his career’s best performance”.

Harshaali Malhotra as Munni

Harshaali was a first time actor, and she has almost no lines, as her character cannot speak. Still, she won hearts with her face and her smile alone. She won the Screen Award for Best Child Artist and was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Want to know more about her? Read our post on five things you did not know about Harshaali Malhotra.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Chand Nawab

Nawazuddin brings much of the film’s humour. His character is a small time reporter who keeps getting ignored by big news channels. The role was inspired by a real Pakistani reporter named Chand Nawab, who worked with Karachi based Indus News in 2008. Critics singled out his performance for praise, along with those of Salman and Harshaali.

Kareena Kapoor Khan as Rasika

Kareena has a smaller part, mostly in the first half. She plays Rasika, who supports Pawan when her family has doubts about the girl. For more on the actress, see our article on what Kareena Kapoor Khan said about marriage and her career.

What the Critics Said

Bajrangi Bhaijaan got strong reviews in India. On the review site Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 17 critics’ reviews were positive. Critics praised the story, dialogues, music, camera work, direction and acting.

• Bollywood Hungama gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
• The Times of India gave it 4 out of 5, and called it Salman Khan’s “most daring film”.
• Filmfare gave it 3.5 out of 5, writing: “If movies are meant to inspire, then Bajrangi Bhaijaan fulfills its purpose with resounding success.”
• Rediff also gave it 3.5 out of 5. Raja Sen called it “preposterously sweet” and predictable, but said that thanks to its heart, “it works, and works well”.
• CNN IBN critic Rajeev Masand gave it 3 out of 5. He felt it was “way too long at 2 hours and 35 minutes”, but found it more engaging than films like Bodyguard and Ready.

So the common view was clear. The story is simple and a bit long, but it has a big heart.

Music That Stayed With People

The songs were a big part of the film’s success. The album has eleven tracks. “Bhar Do Jholi Meri”, sung by Adnan Sami, became one of the biggest hits of 2015. It is based on a famous qawwali first sung by the Sabri Brothers. “Tu Chahiye” and “Selfie Le Le Re” also became chartbusters.

Where It Was Shot

Filming began in New Delhi in November 2014. The team also shot in Mandawa in Rajasthan and in the Kashmir Valley, at places like Sonamarg. The big climax was shot near the Thajiwas glacier in Sonamarg with around 7,000 people taking part.

Box Office: A Huge Hit

The film opened big. It was released on about 4,500 screens in India and about 1,000 screens abroad, in 50 countries. The old version of this post guessed that the film would cross ₹100 crore quickly. It did. The film earned about ₹102.60 crore nett in India in its opening weekend alone.

It went on to gross more than ₹900 crore worldwide. It was the highest grossing Indian film of 2015 and is still one of the biggest Hindi films ever. It later did very well in China too, where it was released on 2 March 2018 on about 8,000 screens. The film already had a loyal fan base there. On the Chinese film site Douban, it held an average rating of 8.6 out of 10 from over 70,000 votes. Chinese critics noticed that Pawan’s link with Hanuman reminded them of their own monkey king hero, Sun Wukong. The film was also released in Turkey in 2018 and in Japan in January 2019.

The film’s success also led to some debates. Salman Khan asked for it to be made tax free, and Uttar Pradesh did so. Read more in our post on Salman Khan’s wish to make Bajrangi Bhaijaan tax free.

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
• Filmfare Award for Best Story, for V. Vijayendra Prasad
• Filmfare nominations for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor

Bajrangi Bhaijaan Review Verdict: Still Worth Watching?

Yes. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a family film you can watch with children and grandparents alike. It is funny in parts, sad in others, and the message is simple. Kindness can cross any border.

The film is not perfect. The first half moves slowly, and some moments are very simple. The old version of this post even said the film “can prove forgettable”. Ten years on, that has not proved true. People still talk about its songs and its final scene. A sequel, Pawan Putra Bhaijaan, has been announced, which shows how much the story still means to fans.

If you liked films that focus on story and feeling more than action, this one is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed Bajrangi Bhaijaan?

Kabir Khan directed it and wrote the screenplay. The story was written by V. Vijayendra Prasad.

When was Bajrangi Bhaijaan released?

It was released in India on 17 July 2015, one day before Eid.

Who played Munni in Bajrangi Bhaijaan?

Harshaali Malhotra played Munni, whose real name in the film is Shahida.

How much did Bajrangi Bhaijaan earn?

It grossed more than ₹900 crore worldwide, making it the highest grossing Indian film of 2015.

Is there a sequel to Bajrangi Bhaijaan?

A sequel called Pawan Putra Bhaijaan has been announced. Check official news from the makers for the latest on its cast and release.

Is Bajrangi Bhaijaan a family film?

Yes. It is a warm comedy drama with an emotional story that suits most age groups.