Movie Review: Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, Thanks But No Thanks For The Invitation
Rajkummar Rao is as competent as ever. Kriti Kharbanda does a decent job. But don’t look for joyous entertainment in this shaadi-go-round
Over to yet another shaadi which could end up in barbaadi. How couldn’t it? The prospect of Satyendra Mishra wedding Aarti Shukla doesn’t seem auspicious from the very outset. Fret.
The odds against the saat pheras of the small-towny couple of Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, directed by first-timer Ratnaa Sinha, hark back to a lost era, and in addition to those TV serials which went gaga over Jurassic saasu-maas.
Get set then, for deadly dowry demands, strictures insisting that the bride dare not harbour career ambitions. And last and also the least, there’s the pair itself which doesn’t dare to defy traditions. Instead, they subject themselves to a tortuous twist in the plot guaranteed to make you, the viewer, bothered and sweating hot.
A Still from Shaadi Main Zaroor Aana
However, since Bollywood tradewallas and wallis are
convinced that thwarted weddings make for crowd-pleasing content, here you are
beating around the malpua bush for the nth time.
The neat and flood-lit location is supposed to be Kanpur,
the second largest town in Uttar Pradesh, after Lucknow. Right. So the heart of
the mousy governmenti clerk Satyendra
nicknamed Sattu (Rajkummar Rao) goes dhak-dhak-a-dhak when his marriage is fixed
with Aarti no nickname (Kriti Kharbanda). They like what they see of each
other, keep the incipient romance hubbling-‘n’-bubbling, till those social evils rear their ugly heads. Dread.
Apni Aartiji, at the exhortation of her independent-minded
sister, opts for the PCS exams and naturally, passes with fabulously flying
colours. That justifies her status, you suppose, as a runaway bride. Bully for
her.A promising career over domestic drudgery is beyond better, any day, any
show.
Kriti Khabanda And Rajkummar Rao In Shaadi Main Zaroor Aana
End of story? Hardly. Time elapses. And by one of those
totally contrived tricks of the screenplay, the jilted Sattu now occupies a superior
seat of authority, while Aarti is charged for corruption. Quite easily done.
The Jilted Groom, you’re led to believe now, is out to wreak revenge or some
much-much. Needless to gripe, the post-interval stretch is as much of a drag as
a baaraat without a band baaja.
Don’t get me wrong though. The music score by assorted
composers does keep striking up ditties, none of which are likely to be stored
for keeps on your playlist.
Technically serviceable, such Bolly-versions of the
endless behind-the-scenes agonies and ecstasies of a shaadi-naama have been
witnessed non-stop of late.
Rajkummar Rao In Shaadi Main Zaroor Aana
Any redeeming features? Sure. Expectedly, Rajkummar Rao
invests dollops of conviction into his role, which under a lesser actor, could
have become a cartoonish caricature. Infallibly, he’s nuanced. Kriti Kharbanda,
at least, makes her screen presence felt (if you do remember her from Guesst
iin London, my sincere congratulations).
Of the supporting ensemble, Nayani Dixit as Aarti’s gung-ho sister and
K.K.Raina as the hapless but stoic father of the bride, are impressive.
In sum, the hectoring title of Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana is
not to be taken seriously. Try this so-so film, only if you have nothing better
to do for 128 minutes of your life.
Image Source: youtube/zeemusiccompany & twitter/shaadimainzarooraana
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