It is surprising that ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’ a film centred on homosexuality is a Family Entertainer and maybe even called a Family educator.
Suddenly, you have a new type of star in Bollywood. Ayushmann Khurranna, with the scripts and his acting, he now holds viewers mind space and has been delivering success after success. With past successes like ARTICLE 15, Andhadhun, BADHAI HO, Meri Pyaari Bindu, Vicky Donor etc, he is s star to bank upon. In fact, if it is an Ayushman Khurranna movie, you can expect a different theme, a family entertainer and book your tickets. The chances of getting disappointed are minimal. At the same time, For Ayushman Khurranna, it is all ‘Shubh Mangal’ and a need to be ‘Zyada Saavdhan’ as expectations keep soaring.
Kartik Singh (Ayushmann Khurranna) and Aman Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) are the gay couples working in Delhi. Then one day, they join Aman’s sister marriage party. They also want to use this opportunity to speak to Aman’s parents and find a future to their relationship. While travelling, Aman’s father sees them kissing, and the problem starts. Out of the two, Kartik is head-on and willing to be open, in fact, in some ways stand for his choice, love and life. Aman is the only son of the Tripathi family, bound by expectation of a joint family; he is constrained but slowly finds his voice to seek what he wants.
The biggest symbolic coup in ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’, is the projection of Gay couples. They are like any other person. There is no giveaways mannerism. Missing are the behavioural traits and gestures that were used to create useless humour at the cost of the gay couple. They are like they are- just like anyone else but with a different sexual orientation.
Everything is not right, and in many cases, you find the characters totally out of sync with the joint family mould, but you end up ignoring it. By the time something seems mismatched, it is directly followed by some act that draws you in, and you move on. The consistency in the characters is one of the things that makes Subh Mangal Zyada Sawadhan a good entertainer.
Ayushmann Khuranna’s as Kartik is fantastic. Jitendra Kumar’s as Aman wonderfully compliment Kartik. One would see a lot more of Jitendra in Bollywood in time to come.
They are powerful characters stealing all the limelight primarily because the supporting cast delivers. Maanvi Gagroo (Goggle), the 27-year-old cousin whose marriage they go to attend and spoil it, leave a mark. Gajraj Rao as the head of the joint family and a scientist is seriously funny. He has created a black cauliflower that has to lead to the farmers losing money. These protesting farmers surround his home, and he is still unperturbed. Neena Gupta shows why she is rated so high. And don’t miss out Manu Rishi (Chaman), the younger brother in the joint family. Some of the situations between Gajraj Rao (head of the family), Neena Gupta ( his wife) and Manu Rishi and his wife played by Sunita Rajwar are just superb.
Now, ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan’ is also about GAY couples and their legality. The message is well delivered. The legal situation well projected. The gay couple rights well explained, however, the end is weak. It is a movie that may fail to start any conversation on Gay rights and couples for two reasons. One; it is too late, the government have already taken measures in the right direction. Two- there is nothing much tragic in this movie with a blessed, happy ending.
Not sure of the writer-director Hitesh Kewalya wanted some societal cause or pause by this movie. However, there are a few moments of truth embedded in the film. None of them is more significant than the statement Kartik makes while addressing Aman’s father. He says, ‘Gay people have to fight every day, but there is no fight harder than the one with your family’. Hopefully, the viewers pick this angle to later introspect their behaviour with members of the family who are different and not necessarily gay.
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Gajraj Rao, Neena Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo
BLOG/10/2020/MOVIE/01
