Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Movie Review: Love Is Love

Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar’s gay rom-com Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan has been making all the right noises and the much-anticipated movie finally hit the theaters today.

The film revolves around a gay couple- Aman Tripathi and Kartik, who stay together in New Delhi. Aman hails from Allahabad and goes to his hometown with his lover for his cousin’s wedding.Though they try to hide their affair from Aman’s family, his father catches them kissing and soon their entire family comes to know about their relationship. What happens then forms the rest of the plot.

Ayushmann Khurrana is playing Kartik and like always, this time too he has delivered a power-packed performance. He has totally owned the character and has even carried a sari with great élan. Kota Factory’s beloved Jitu Bhaiyya aka Jitendra Kumar has played his partner and he is fantastic in his role. Though Ayushmann has the lion’s share in this movie, Jitendra has also held his own and their chemistry too good.

What I liked about this movie is that makers have not tried to forcefully show that they are in love, it’s very organic and natural. It’s just like how things are between a regular couple. However. I do wish that they had explored their relationship more.

The duo has locked lips twice in the movie and it may make some people squirm in their seats. But even if you are a homophobe, you should watch this movie as it may change your opinion about homosexuality.

Neena Gupta has played Jeetendra’s mother and she is outstanding. Gajendra Rao is superb in his role and has beautifully portrayed the emotions that a father goes through as he discovers about his son’s sexuality.

Pankhuri Awasthy has played Aman’s fiancée Kusum and she is good in her role. Manurishi Chaddha, Sunita Rajwar and Maanvi Gagroo are mindblowing and have lent able support to the movie. Bhumi Pednekar, who had played the lead role in the original, also has a special appearance in the film.

Everybody’s comic timing is bang on and the dialogues and situations are very funny. The film is predictable but it does have a dash of freshness mostly because this is the first a mainstream commercial gay love story has come out of Bollywood after an array of critically acclaimed niche films.

The movie is 2 hours-long, it’s very crisp and entertaining and if you would go to watch it with an open mind you would thoroughly enjoy it. Songs and background score are okay but the screenplay and dialogues are good. Hitesh Kewaliya deserves a pat on his back for making this  bold entertainer.

However, the film does have some weaknesses. Like I said earlier Aman and Kartik’s relationship has not been explored in depth. The bickering amongst the Tripathis becomes too much after sometime. At some places the makers have tried too hard to make the audiences laugh. Also the reaction of his family members isn’t as extreme as one would have expected from a conservative family.

Despite its flaws, it’s a beautiful film with a strong message. Do watch it this weekend to get entertained and yes, homosexuality is not a disease.