Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Review: Shallow Plot but Fun to Watch

Credit: Wikipedia

Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film which is written and directed by Hitesh Kewalya and produced by Aanand L. Rai, Himanshu Sharma, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under the banners Colour Yellow Productions and T-Series. This film is a spin-off to the 2017 film, “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan”, whose script was also written by Kewalya. “Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan” stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar or Jeetu, Neena Gupta, and Gajraj Rao. The film also has a cameo for Bhumi Pednekar.

 

 From the onset, the film makes clear what it is about. The opening scene of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan is a throwback to the closing scene of DDLJ. Only this time, it was two guys, rather than the common conception of a guy and a girl and that grabs eyeball. The film looked different despite all the clichés. And it has lived up to this expectation to an extent.

 

Since time immemorial, love stories have always been depicted between the opposite gender. As such. this film marks a big leap for the Indian film industry. It is one of the few mainstream Hindi movies that wears its LGBT heart proudly on its cape and treats sexuality as a celebration, directing shame at those trying to inflict it.

 

The film sets out to describe the story through a screenplay set against the backdrop of a small town, middle-class family. This is the world of Aman Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), who completes a happy family with his parents and siblings. Aman is swept off his feet by Kartik Singh, played by Ayushmann Khurrana and thus he begins an affair with him, which will leave Aman’s conservative family speechless.

 

Being Kartik Singh was Ayushmann Khurrana’s tough challenge and he has mastered it with ease. However, it may not be his best performance as the film and the character lack the nuances of “Andhadhun”.

 

It was the debut film of TVF sensation Jitendra Kumar (playing the role of Aman). His fans know him as a maverick of sorts in the web-series world where he would so effortlessly impress. And he does impress in this film too. It might just be the perfect launchpad for him into the big screen.

 

Another stunning couple performance is pulled off by the “Badhai Ho” couple Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao. They play the role of Aman’s parents. Gajraj Rao plays the role of Shankar Tripathi, the family patriarch, and Neena Gupta the role of Sunaina Tripathi.

 

Manu Rishi, portraying Chaman Tripathi and Sunita Rajwar as Champa Tripathi, the uncle and aunt duo of Aman also deserves praise for the performance. Proven talents as Manurishi Chaddha and Maanvi Gagroo, who play out vital cogs, also impress in interesting roles.

The film’s greatest assets are its actors and their performance. The actors have done a tremendous job of making the film attractive. Also “Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan” is among Bollywood’s quirkiest shots at comedy ever. Putting the spotlight on homosexuality in a commercial set-up would also seem like a commendable effort at starting a wider conversation on the subject.

 

However, the biggest drawback of the film is its plot, which seems too boring and cliché at times. The director has failed to keep the audience glued to the screen throughout the film. At times the film becomes too predictable and at other times resembles the commonplace drama of daily soaps.

 

Hence, we get a film that is not too unpredictable. Also, the film refuses to skim beneath the surface while addressing a subject as a gay relationship which has gained significance in recent times.

 

That way, one could look at it as an opportunity lost, given the reach the film and its lead actor are bound to enjoy.