Shaadi Ke Side Effects has too many side effects!. Review on Shaadi Ke Side Effects

Farhan Akhtar – the man with the Midas touch is back after his stupendous performance in the masterpiece Bhaag Milkha Bhaag with Saket Chaudhry’s Shaadi Ke Side Effects. Here, he attempts a rom-com of sorts, and considering his great choices of films one would expect this to be another film that would stand out. But sadly, it doesn’t. Shaadi Ke Side Effects is a by-product of confused film-making. The makers themselves, seem to be unsure of what the side-effects of a marriage are. It attempts to throw light at many so-called common marital situations, but instead ends up disproving all those theories at the end of it. The story is pretty simple and is quite evident in the trailers.

Trisha(Vidya Balan) and Sid(Farhan Akhtar) are the envy of all married couples on account of their compatibility and chemistry. But soon, parenthood beckons and life goes topsy turvy. Nothing is rosy anymore. Life is just a series of conflicts and troubles. Sid then goes to his brother-in-law, Ranveer(played by Ram Kapoor in good form) for help to get his life sorted and help he gets. He begins to tell harmless lies to his wife in order to live a life of his choice and everything seems back in control again, but not for long. But like in all movies, particularly in Bollywood, ultimately everything gets sorted out and all’s well that ends well. But Shaadi ke Side effects has serious flaws. In this time and age of complex marriages and equality of the sexes, the film fails to touch most of the pertinent questions faced by modern couples. Though the film does portray valid concerns but the treatment is too casual and does not really prove anything. The lead characters too are unimpressive and frankly, this film is too male-centric and stereotyped. Further, it gives out messages like its wrong to pursue a hobby or passion or how you shouldn’t spend too much time with your friends partying or how it’s wrong to seek happiness in small things while you have a family waiting for you. This film might probably have been more relevant a few decades earlier but sadly is irrelevant for today’s time and age. The film’s music is forced and does not strike a chord.

Vidya Balan is too irritating as the overbearing wife and though Farhan gives an earnest performance, I wouldn’t have expected him to be a part of such a mediocre film. However, barring the treatment of the story and the plot, there are a couple of genuinely comic scenes, especially in the first half. The second half is dull and dragging. Ila Arun is completely wasted in her small role as the nanny and so is Rati Agnihotri who play’s Trisha’s mom. Overall, a highly disappointing film. I would go with a generous 2 out of 5 stars for Farhan Akhtar’s Shaadi Ke Side Effects.

I would recommend you give this a miss and go watch the delightful ‘Highway’ instead!