Bhool Chuk Maaf

In the quaint city of Banaras, amidst the rhythmic beats of the ghats and the serene waters of the Ganges, there lived a young romantic named Ranjan. Born and brought up in the city, Ranjan was a hopeless optimist, with a heart full of love and devotion for the divine and the people around him. His love story begins with Titli, a beautiful young woman he falls for, and who reciprocates his feelings. However, things take an unexpected turn when Ranjan lands a job with the government, which he believes will secure a stable future for himself and Titli. Convinced that his marriage to Titli is a done deal, Ranjan decides to get their ritual engagement certificates, and a temple priest becomes the medium to solemnize their engagement. However, amidst the excitement of this momentous occasion, Ranjan forgets to make a crucial vow to Lord Shiva, a seemingly small gesture that will have a drastic impact on his life. As fate would have it, Ranjan reverts back in time to the day of his engagement ceremony. This is not a normal flashback, but rather a time loop, a phenomenon that seems unrelated to the divine rituals of Banaras. The cycle keeps repeating – every day starts with the same tragic note, with Ranjan waking up to remember the fateful day, only to relive the same series of events over and over again. Startled, worried, and lost, Ranjan is trapped in this inexplicable limbo, reliving the same day multiple times. To break the curse, Ranjan starts his journey with the only clue he has – that he forgot to make a vow to Lord Shiva. He becomes hell-bent on figuring out why the deity is 'punishing' him with a time loop. As the loop continues, Ranjan tries different approaches – he becomes a day planner extraordinaire, meticulously documenting his daily routine, from dawn till dusk. He makes numerous futile attempts to avoid his past self and turn events in his favor. However, the past him never seems to listen or take heed of the advice he leaves behind. This only adds to Ranjan's frustration, further solidifying his despair. Throughout this ordeal, Ranjan's devotion to Titli remains unwavering, even as time and again he keeps repeating the same efforts to approach her without being so clumsy and cringeworthy. His friends, family, and even Titli – as she moves through her daily routine – are puzzled by his peculiarity, as they unwittingly become pawns in his ceaseless battle to break the curse. In a desperate bid to find a solution, Ranjan seeks help from an elderly priest, who is also the temple priest involved in the engagement ceremony. Mystical and profound, the old man shares sagely that Lord Shiva wants to examine the depth of Ranjan's devotion, and asks him to be patient and try again without any impatience. Seeming to accept the words of the priest, Ranjan gathers his courage one more time and steps forward. This time, without any additional strain or expectation, the union between Titli and him is reinitiated. As the hours begin to pass – unlike before where Ranjan continues enrolling over these same hours for a prolonged time, day in, and day out – the anticipation around him about ending the period turns low and dissipates. On the day Ranjan is all set to finally get married to Titli – not because of his resolve of gaining a government job but only as a result of his heartfelt pleadings to the temple deity – Ranjan is finally exonerated and the ritual dance of marriage finally commences.