Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Brijendra Kala, Seema Pahwa, Supriya Shukla and Anshul Chauhan

Director: R S Prasanna

Ratings: ***1/2

Off beat movies have been the flavour of the season. The success of Toilet - Ek Prem Katha and Bareilly Ki Barfi has done wonders to the movies of this genre. The Producers make hay in the sunshine of their Box Office success. 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' seems to be the perfect fit in the similar genre and let's see if this recipe turns out to be a dainty dish for the discerning audience.

The movie starts with middle-class settings and this star cast makes it more than obvious to the person coming to watch this movie. Mudit (Ayushmann Khurrana) falls in love with Sugandha (Bhumi Pednekar) but is unable to gather strength inspite of continuous cajoling by his friends and hints thrown in by Sugandha. Ginni (Anshul Chauhan) who is Sugu's constant companion also plays her role constantly in egging on Sugu in courting Mudit. This results in gathering the courage to propose to her but he is thrown off balance by a comic situation which throws water on his plan.


Mudit's mother (Supriya Shukla) tries to play her part by proposing to send an online proposal to Sugu's family. Though the things fall in place with Roka taking place, but destiny had other plans when during courtship, the duo tries to indulge in love-making. However, the performance anxiety to Mudit results in erectile dysfunction and the way it is portrayed by the talented Director RS Prassana is simply amazing. This results in a number of comic sequences which split the audience into joy and laughter.


All kinds of medicines and Desi Totkas do not help in Mudit getting any relief. He proposes to Sugu to call off the wedding but she is madly in love with Mudit and reasons out with his fiancee. But in the meantime, everyone in bride and groom's family becomes aware of this news. It is at this time that the movie is dragged but the climax turns out to be a real climax.

Though this movie is a remake of hit Tamil romantic comedy Kalyana Samayal Saadham, it's been given excellent treatment by the Director for whom it's a debut in Bollywood. And his having directed the original movie, he's been able to handle it with finesse. Casting is the most important ingredient of a successful movie. More often than not, it's ignored to get a glamour quotient and to ensure a good opening. Whenever a Director does his homework and gives time to this important aspect, he gets good results. Shubh Mangal Saavdhan is one such movie where due diligence has been done to select the star cast.


Bhumi and Ayushmann are mature actors and their middle class looks aid any movie of this genre but all compliments to them for acting with elan. It is pertinent to mention here that Ayushmann debuted with a role in which he is a sperm donor and in this movie, he is unable to perform. So handling such roles with ease speaks volumes of the talent of this guy. Bhumi makes you fall in love with her and her infectious smile makes you want to take her home.


Seema Pahwa and Brijendra Kala are accomplished actors and their stock is further rising with such stellar performances. They play Sugandha's parents with ease and dexterity.The audience is transported to a dreamland with such a simple love story and the first half is simply loved by everybody. Some of the scenes in the second were simply undesirable and unrealistic which force me to give 3 and a half stars to the movie which I was hell bent on giving 4 stars till the Interval.

This movie must be seen by everybody except for school going kids due to the subject of the movie. Before I sign off, I like to pay huge compliments to Hitesh Kewalya for the dialogues and the screenplay.