Watch Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language movie directed by Shree Narayan Singh and produced by Aruna Bhatia, Shital Bhatia, Abundantia, Viacom Motion Pictures, Arjun N. Kapoor, and Hitesh Thakkar. The film features Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, and Anupam Kher in lead roles. The movie is a social message movie centered around the issue of open defecation in rural India.

The story of the film revolves around Keshav (played by Akshay Kumar), a village man who falls in love with a woman named Jaya (played by Bhumi Pednekar). Jaya is a progressive woman who lives in the neighbouring village and belongs to a family that is highly educated, unlike Keshav’s family. They get married, and Jaya moves into Keshav’s house, located in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh. Keshav and Jaya's married life is initially happy, but soon Jaya realises that Keshav’s house doesn’t have a toilet, and Keshav takes her to attend nature's calls in the fields, which Jaya finds humiliating and unhygienic.

Jaya demands a toilet in the house, but Keshav’s father (played by Anupam Kher) and other villagers oppose the idea of having one in the house. Keshav later learns that Jaya’s demand is genuine and decides to install a toilet in his house. However, things go wrong when Keshav is told that if he wants to have a toilet in his house, he has to pay a bribe of Rs. 15,000 to the village head (played by Sudhir Pandey). He takes the challenge of fighting against the age-old tradition of open defecation and tries to change the mindset of the villagers through various means.

The movie is loaded with humour, drama, and emotion. It explores the deep-rooted social evils in rural India and brings to light the urgent need for cleanliness and personal hygiene. Although the film primarily addresses the issue of open defecation, it touches upon other critical issues such as gender bias, lack of education, and superstitions in Indian society.

Akshay Kumar, as Keshav, delivers an outstanding performance. He portrays the character with the right amount of humour and emotion, making the audience both laugh and empathise with him. Bhumi Pednekar, as Jaya, also delivers an excellent performance as a feminist and progressive woman from the urban setup who chooses to adapt to village life after her marriage. Anupam Kher, as Keshav’s father, brings his experience to the table and portrays the conservative village elder who is against changes, exceptionally well.

The music of the film is catchy and adds to the overall entertainment level of the film. The songs are a mix of romantic and catchy tracks, which were well received by audiences. The film's cinematography and art direction are brilliant, capturing the essence of rural India’s beauty and ugliness with equal finesse.

Overall, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a well-crafted film that brings to light a critical issue with a touch of humour and emotion. It is a must-watch for everyone who wants to understand the harsh realities of rural India and the changing social dynamics. The film ended up being a critical and commercial success, grossing over Rs. 300 crores at the box office. It also won several awards and accolades, including the Best Film on Other Social Issues at the 65th National Film Awards.

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.