Mar 02, 2014 01:01 AM
9880 Views
When the timings for Highway did not work out for this weekend, me and my brother made a rush decision to catch Shaadi ke Side Effects. The movie was scheduled to begin within 40 minutes. The advantage of two male persons going out for a movie is that we hardly require 5 minutes to get ourselves ready:P
We planned not to take the car to do away with parking hassles and in order to save time, we hauled a cab. Tickets in Inox Forum cost us a bomb! It was a good 300 per person. Add another 360 for a combo tub of pop-corn and cold drinks. [Only bad thing being, their card machine was not functioning]
Promotions now-a-days work a great deal in convincing consumers to watch a movie. This is the reason why cinema houses are spending a premium percentage on promotions. Well this time, I and my brother fell for it - big time. The trailer looked watch able but after seeing the movie, I was gaping to find a connection up the loose sleeve. Yes, Shaadi ke Side Effects failed to gauge any lasting impression on me! The movie was tattered with loose morals and naïve basis in disproportionate means.
About the movie:
The first half of the movie kept us partially glued to the story base. A common mish-mash and start of marital life for Farhan and Vidya was portrayed well with subtle comedy. Farhan’s parents were divorced in his childhood and therefore he vouched to keep his marriage intact by all means. Vidya was the earning member of the two member family. You have the common complaining mother-in-law in the movie as well. When Farhan and Vidya discovered that she was pregnant, they decided to abort the child, because both of them thought it was better for Vidya to continue with her job although Farhan loved children.
On the day of abortion, Farhan finds himself facing a man with 4 children. The reason being that the man did not wish to have children at the correct time (owing to financial and mental preparation) and his wife had to undergo recursive medical treatment for having children at a later age. As a result of this medical treatment, the couple was blessed with 4 children and the man is now over-burdened. Farhan thought it was better to have the baby than to abort it.
After the birth of the baby, Vidya was giving more time for the up keep of the baby. Farhan failed big time to impress upon her by helping with the baby needs. He slowly moves into depression and seeks advice on how to reconnect with his life, become a good father and a caring husband. He seeks advice from his friends then from his Jiju. It is from here that the movie seeks into the unknown and I was drawn into the black.
Acting and Performance:
The acting and on-screen performance was good and requires special mention. Vidya Balan has given a versatile on-screen performance that easily moulds into the genre of the movie. Farhan was good too although I had expected a tad better from his side(after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s acting). The on-screen chemistry played out well but at times I felt disconnected with the theme and underlying story.
Verdict:
This can be a onetime watchable movie. Although the first half had some meaning, the second half of the movie had literally left me dazed. Blame it on the stars that I was counting stars. For instance, I have never seen a married person to seek solace from his married life just by spending monthly trips to hotels(within his own city) and having liquor – Religiously! This is as impractical as it gets.
Throughout the whole movie, I could not understand what was the source of Farhan’s income? Farhan was a singer who was unable to sell a single record till the end of the movie. There are times in the movie when Vidya mentioned that he was earning well. And Farhan complains about his high EMI’s and the high wage that he had to bear for the all time maid. Too many goofs and un-answered questions.
I have frequently felt my foot off the gas pedal especially during the second half of the movie. I could not figure out the moral of the story; it was strewn between marital problems, after marital relationships and men/women having their own preferences apart from marriage. The confusing look on the grey faces of the audience post the movie proved that I was not alone in this jittery condition. The movie has left me dull and forlorn.
I would rate the movie a~3/5
Thanks for reading. Do share your opinions.
~Somjeet~
