There are films with convoluted characters and screenplay and once in a while comes to those movies that do equity to what's actually written though Hotstar's new film Shaadisthan featuring Kirti Kulhari and Nivedita Bhattacharya in focal roles shines even with a simple script and written by Raj Singh Chaudhary who prior wrote the story for No Smoking (2007) and Gulaal (2009), and with Shaadisthan, he doesn't disappoint in the writing department here too.
The trailer was OK however it won't bound you to decide to sit tight for the arrival of this film. As far as I might be concerned, it was Kirti Kulhari, she was the main attraction of Shaadisthan for me as she has been working in some convincing films as of late, Pink, Indu Sarkar, Uri: The Surgical Strike or in the web shows Four More Shots Please or Criminal Justice Behind Closed Doors. It's great to see Kirti carrying the film on her shoulders.
The film begins by showing Sasha (Kirti Kulhari) who is a singer and performs with her band where she is the lone young woman. Now cut to a family of three, the dad Sanjay Sharma (Rajan Modi), the mother Kamla Sharma (Nivedita Bhattacharya), and their girl Arshi (Medha Shankar), Sanjay is ceaselessly getting calls regarding when are they going to arrive at Ajmer. But, the dad continues to yell at her girl as it was a result of her they failed to catch the plane, Arshi fled.
They have to go to a wedding in Ajmer and Cholu (Nishank Arora) advises them not to stress, he has arranged a transport for them where performers who will perform at the wedding are likewise coming and they all can go along with them. In any case, things begin to get fascinating when the family sees the musicians are inverse to what exactly they're. Sasha and her band members use cuss words, drink lagers, wear torn pants - so what will happen when the two distinct universes of perspectives collide?
The screenplay and dialogues are by Raj Singh Chaudhary, Kartik Chaudhry, and Nishank Verma and the additional dialogues are by Kuldeep Ruhil. The writers put forth some relevant points of gender discrimination, freedom and liberation, equality, and women empowerment through Shaadisthan. The features of the film are the interactions between the mother Kamla and the bold and cheeky Sasha.
The scenes can be preachy however seeing the runtime which is just 93 minutes, the writers need to put forward their message this way as it were. Also, I get that, the message is loud and clear from seeing the two groups that appear as though they're strange to each other. Nobody is ready to comprehend each other. Sasha is an independent lady procuring 2.5 lakhs monthly and is taking care of her parents who live in Indore while she doesn't even get time to return home for a half year.
Kamla while says that even though she lives like this heavily influenced by her "woh" (she couldn't take the name of her better half), doesn't imply that she is not happy. These are the considerations of the two complete opposites pillars of the society, where one couldn't care less about society and one offers need to those whom they don't know over what they desire. The crude and fine direction of Shaadisthan is a plus point where it doesn't go haywire and stick to what exactly does it need to pass on.
Kirti Kulhari is amazing as the bold, gutsy, and daring Sasha holding together the performers. She doesn't get carried away with her character which might have been the situation here. The scene-stealer is Nivedita Bhattacharya who plays Kamla, the timid and reserved lady and a mother who feels that her life, taking care of her husband and her daughter is her responsibility. Her appearances and nuanced way of putting the ghoonghat continually are great and welcome alive a breathing character on the screen.
Medha Shankar as Arshi is good and she gets a scene where he could exhibit her talent and she doesn't disappoint. Rajan Modi who plays the patriarch Sanjay Sharma, the dad is phenomenal. He is acceptable to the point that you'll abhor him, he's irritating. That is the thing that was needed from his character. Apoorva Dogra as Freddie, Shenpenn Khymsar as Jigme, and Ajay Jayanthi as Imaad, and Nishank Verma as Cholu have given solid help to the acting department.
Shaadisthan is imperfect, it's slim and shallow and unaffecting on occasion, however, it got its heart at the right spot. The cinematography by Sushil Rajpal does not have the artistic touch and the music by Nakul Sharma and Sahil Bhatia are at times acceptable. Overall, Shaadisthan underlines the issues of gender inequality and opportunity yet needs subtlety. Nevertheless, the film is tight and what's in the center is something to examine as the issues are as yet relevant and sadly crude.
Rating:- 3/5
Now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
Hope you have liked this post. Follow and hit the bell button to Subscribe and tap on filmreviewsloop for more reviews and recommendations. Feel free to comment or to give any suggestions, I'm all ears.
0 Comments