Early Review: Varun Dhawan Shines in Slow ‘October’

How would the desi audience react to the Shoojit Sircar film?

The much-awaited Shoojit Sircar film October is all set to release in India on 13 April. Starring Varun Dhawan and Banita Sandhu, the film revolves around two colleagues tied by a tragic circumstance. October released in Dubai on 11 April and judging by the early reviews, Varun Dhawan has turned in a memorable performance.

But the Dubai audience seems to have found October a tad bit too slow, even though the film’s heart is in the right place.

“The emotions are just right on the big screen when Varun is in the hospital and is curious about how things are moving. Most part of the film plays out in the hospital, so be prepared to hear some medical jargons and see some blood. Just like Badlapur, he takes us on a ride through an array of emotions and his honesty comes across on the screen... It is daring of Banita Sandhu to take a role of suffering patient in her debut film, knowing there wasn’t much for her to perform. She gets some scenes in the first half of the movie but they aren’t enough to leave an impression... the movie has its heart in the right place with a perfect emotional quotient. Kudos to the team for not going overboard with melodramatic scenes.”

Khaleej Times

“Barring riveting performances from its principal actors and nuggets of wry humour, this drama — with tragic undertones — crawls at a mind-numbing pace. It’s one of those films that takes pride in being pretentious, arty and hyperbolic. October may have worked wonderfully as a short story, but it made for a laborious watch when translated on the big screen... Your heart goes out to Dan, played impeccably by Dhawan, who’s stripped off all the trademark Bollywood macho hero stamps. He’s a happily miserable bloke and his eccentricities make for slivers of hope in this otherwise sleep-inducing drama.” 

Gulf News

How would the desi audience react to October? We would have to watch and find out.