POTENT HUMOR, SOLID PERFORMANCES
3.5/5 Stars
STORY: 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' is a remake of the Tamil film 'Kalyana Samayal Saadham' made in 2013. The story revolves around Mudit Sharma (Ayushmann Khurrana) and Sugandha (Bhumi Pednekar) who fall in love and plan to get married. But the twist in the tale comes when the groom discovers that he suffers from erectile dysfunction.
REVIEW: Is it possible to create a Hindi film around the 'touchy' subject of erectile dysfunction without being downright crass about it? Turns out that it is, and quite a funny one at that. This is because the lead pair has an affable chemistry between them - an absolutely essential element when dealing with such a private 'Gents problem' (as the film calls it). The whole premise would fall flat without them playing so well off of each other. Ayushmann and Bhumi are able to recreate the magic of being together on-screen, even if their characters aren't exactly new or challenging to either actor. But it works, so there's no need to fix it. Additionally, they're surrounded by a group of talented supporting actors who blend in seamlessly without being too overbearing. This makes the comedy work exactly how and when it's meant to without stooping to raunchy humour.
However, Seema Pahwa deserves a special mention. She has nailed down the traditionally modern mother in the recent past (as seen in 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'), and can clearly continue to make her career based on that oxymoron. There's a scene where she tries to teach her grown-up daughter Sugandha about the birds and bees by drawing comparisons to a popular Arabian folk tale. It works on multiple levels by being hilarious and heartwarming at the same time, as we see a mother making an honest and uncomfortable attempt to give her daughter a crash course in sex-ed - albeit a little too late. This scene itself shows writer-director R.S. Prasanna's ability to balance comedy with sincerity, and the film works largely because of this.
But, much like Mudit's character, the film is unable to perform when it matters the most - the climax. For some reason, the screenplay resorts to an unconvincing turning point towards the end, followed by a few more absurd sequences, including a seemingly forced cameo before going flat out overboard. It's quite the disappointment, and while that doesn't negate the undeniable effort put in by the cast, it makes you wonder why the narrative suddenly went limp. That aside, 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' keeps you entertained long enough to make it worth a watch.
