Stories of getting back up after failure and finding one’s identity have always had a special place in Indian cinema. Directed by Kamal Chandra, the film ‘Aryabhat Ka Zero’ is the story of one such middle-class youth’s breakup and rebuilding himself. Starring Himansh Kohli and Sonali Sehgal, the film is not just a UPSC preparation or heartbreak drama, but a son’s emotional struggle to earn his father’s respect and erase the tag of ‘zero’ imposed by society.

The story of the film revolves around Brahmagupta Srivastava i.e. ‘Bagu’ (Himansh Kohli), who belongs to an ordinary family of Uttarakhand. Bagu’s father Aryabhat Srivastava (Neeraj Sood) is a Group-D employee in a government office who has high expectations from his son.

The real upheaval in Bagu’s life comes when his girlfriend Rinku (Sonali Sehgal) gets fed up with his failure and marries an SDM. After a heartbreak, Bagu reaches Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi and starts preparing for UPSC with the determination to become an officer higher than that SDM. However, repeated failures and his relatives taunting him as ‘Aryabhat’s Zero’ erode Bagu’s confidence. The film depicts the journey of whether Bagu is able to go beyond the norms set by society and realize his true worth.

Director Kamal Chandra has kept the film away from too many gimmicks and fake pretenses and has tried to stay close to reality. He portrays the thoughts of a small town youth and the struggles of a middle class family with simplicity and honesty. Author Tariq Mohammad’s story may not seem like much of a novel, but his dialogues and situations feel natural and believable. The father-son interaction is particularly touching, reflecting the reality of many ordinary Indian families. The director has also tried to maintain a balance between comedy and drama, which keeps the story interesting. However, his grip falters at certain parts, especially when the film strays from its main theme and bogs down in unnecessary subplots.

From a technical point of view, the film’s work is satisfactory. The cinematography beautifully captures the contrast between the serene scenery of Uttarakhand and the bustling streets of Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. The camera work is simple and suits the mood of the story. The background score enhances the emotional moments and helps the audience connect with the characters’ struggles. However, the editing is one of the weaker aspects of the film. If some unnecessary scenes were cut in the second half, the pace of the film could have been better. The music is good, some songs blend naturally into the story, but none of the songs stick in your head long after the movie is over.

 

Talking about performance, Himansh Kohli has left a strong impression. In the role of ‘Baggu’, he portrays the emotions of a sad, broken but innocent young man very well. His comic timing in the lighter moments is fantastic, while the helplessness in his eyes makes the emotional scenes all the more poignant. Neeraj Sood in the role of Bagu’s father is the emotional soul of the film. He brings to life the helplessness, anger and unrequited love of a middle-class father with his touching performance.

 

Whenever Ravi Kishan comes on screen, he brings a smile on the faces of the audience with his typical desi style. His character adds light entertainment to the story. Sonali Sehgal has done full justice to the character of the practical and sensible girlfriend ‘Rinku’. Although Darshana Banik’s role is small, she has still managed to leave a mark with her acting. Apart from this, experienced supporting actors like Alka Amin, Rajesh Sharma and Shilpa Shinde have also made the film stronger.

Despite many good things, ‘Aryabhat Ka Zero’ has some flaws which prevent it from being a good movie. The first thing is that there is nothing new in the story. After movies like ’12th Fail’ and ‘Shaadi Mein Jaur Aana’, the plot of a heartbroken lover trying to clear the UPSC exam now seems a bit familiar and predictable. The audience can already predict what is going to happen next, which reduces the element of surprise.

The second half of the film also becomes quite slow. In an attempt to depict Bagu’s struggle, many scenes feel repetitive, which can make the film a bit boring for the audience. Some of the character development and sudden plot twists also seem a little artificial and could have been written better. Also, the ending of the film does not leave the impact it should and seems a bit rushed.

‘Aryabhat Ka Zero’ is a clean and simple film that conveys a positive message and reminds the audience that a person’s failure does not determine his identity. Excellent acting by Himansh Kohli and Neeraj Sood, emotional father-son relationship and light humor make this movie worth watching. However, its familiar story and weak second half prevent it from reaching the heights it hopes for. If you are looking for a light hearted, emotional and inspiring movie to watch with the family without too many expectations, then this is one movie you can watch at least once.