Shubh mangal zyada saavdhan

*ing: Ayushmann Khurrana, Jitendra Kumar, Gajraj Rao, Neena Gupta

Rated: 7.5/10

A movie on gay relationships? Most people would baulk at even thinking about going to a film that talks about LGBTQI community let alone watch two men kiss each other not once but twice. Even though the Government has decriminalised homosexuality by declaring Section 377 IPC as unconstitutional, the society has yet to come to terms with the love same sex. In their mind, it is not normal love.

But like Ayushmann Khurana, who plays Kartik, in the movie rightly said: What is normal? We have grown up on a diet to love stories that talk about love between a man and a woman. We have grown up rote learning Jack and Jill poem. Why did the poem not talk about Jack and Johnny? This is the question that we should all be asking ourselves. Fifty years back, nobody would have thought that there would be a device that allowed wireless communication. But here we are, totally dependent on our smartphones. This is our normal today. People love their cat/dog. They leave properties to them. We call them crazy but do we shun them? Why can’t love between same sex people be normal and why can’t families accept it?

Like Khurrana’s character rightly says: Roz hume ladaayi ladni padti hai zindagi mein par jo ladaayi parivaar ke saath hoti hai woh saari ladaayi sabse badi aur khatarnaak hoti hai.

Shubh Mangal... touches a cord that plus a cord like no other because it is one of the best love stories that Bollywood has made in the recent past, the last being Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani back in 2013. If only the director, Hitesh Kewalya, had released this film on Valentine’s Day because the movie is less about homosexuality and homophobia and more about how two people who are in love should stay together rather be caught in a loveless marriage.

The banter and funny dialogues between Gajrao Rao (Shankar Tripathi) and Neena Gupta, his onscreen wife – Sunaina, among the family members, between Rao and Kartik is what makes Shubh Mangal… such a delight. What is even cuter and sweeter are the detailing that has gone into Khurrana’s character. It is absolutely impossible to miss the nose ring, the pink dupatta and the cape he wears while proclaiming from the roof top that Shankar Tripathi is a homophobic. 

Then there are the brilliant performances by the actors. Khurrana has once again proved that is a great actor. His demeanor and expressions are bang on and such a delight to watch. He is the life and soul of this movie. Then there is Jitendra Kumar who plays Aman Tripathi, Kartik’s partner who compliments Khurrana. A special mention here for Rao, Gupta, Manurishi Chaddha and even Maanvi Gagroo. While Khurrana helms the movie, the rest of the starcast do their best and make this such a delightfully cute love story.

However, if you are a homophobic, stay away!