Ayushmann Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra starrer 'Badhaai Ho' is not a high on comdey film but it has its moments to take your stress away. An interesting concept and relatable characters are absolutely inviting the audience for a one time watch fare, but to be very honest the film could have been much high on comedy as most of the quirky scenes are already witnessed through the film's trailer.
The story revolves around a commoner from New Delhi Nakul played by Ayushmann Khurrana who is embarrassed on hearing the most uncommon news he has ever heard in lifetime. His parents Kaushik (Gajraj Rao) and Neena Gupta are expecting a their third child and the akwardness is executed pretty well. Gajraj Rao is a TTE in Northern Railway and in the midst of a romantic evening his proses dwells into a surprise for everyone. WELL! Sulekha Sikri as Nakul's grandmother is the standout performer of all and has outplayed her role in this 125 minutes feature film. Sanya Malhotra has the slightest of role to play as Nakul's girlfriend. Sheeba Chaddha as Sanya's possessive mother plays a believeble. The first half of the film is elegantly humorous and we are served with the repercussions of these situations so smoothly as that's what really happens in such an out of the box situation. Director Amit Ravindernath has kept the second half quite dull and on the emotional side. Although these canny melo-dramatic scenes are touching as well.
What's the best part about the film is the understanding of the relationships that is maneuvered with justification. Whereas every societal taunts and tantrums are given a befitting reply through an exemplifying narrative. Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta are star performers from the film they have clearly overpowered Ayushmann with their dotted emotional scenes and the chemistry of the two embedded with their parenthood. The Kaushiks are there to break every stereotype. Although in the second half is quite bitter sweet, the unnecessary dull screenplay is the loophole of it.
Talking about the music, every song from the film has an engaging element to cater the audiences attention. Tanishk Bagchi and Rochak Ali's composition has set an ethnic tone to each song. 'Nain Na Jooden' remains the stand out song especially sung by our hero Ayushmann himself along with Neha Kakkar, this Rochak Kohli's serene composition is what makes it an awe-struck number. While duo's intense act with a depending chemistry is not to be missed as well. The title song 'Badhaaiyan Tenu' has all the traditional elements and desi flavour from Delhi. 'Morni Banke', a big fat Punjabi dance number, perfect for the wedding season but the fact that it appears on the film's end credit scene keeping the audience glued to their seat. This Guru Randhawa and Neha Kakkar number has been recreated from one of the most popular Punjabi folk songs and features the entire ensemble starcast as they groove to the beats of the peppy track. The song has alluring Punjabi style dance steps choreographed by Vijay Ganguly.
Akshat Ghildial's screenplay is dropping in the second half and the script which is co-written by Jyoti Kapoor, Shantanu Srivastava and Ghildial himself needed to be treated well. Amit Ravindernath Sharma's direction allows too many jumps in the film's narrative which could have been avoided. But technically 'Badhaai Ho' is a decent fare. Sanu John Varughese's cinematography is up to the mark and editing by Dev Rav Jadhav's editing has delivered a worthy feature film.
This Dussehra, 'Badhaai Ho' seems a film to catch up with your family for sure.