Film Review - Shaadi Ke Side / Effects

 

The Adjustment Bureau

Film: Shaadi Ke Side / Effects

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor

Directed by: Saket Chaudhary

Duration: 2 hrs 25 mins

Rating: * * 1 / 2

After Pyaar Ke Side Effects, director Saket Chaudhary ventures into post marital blues with Shaadi Ke Side Effects. The film offers a mixed bag, there is a little bit of fun but the problem is that more often than not, it is either predictable or contrived. The issue of what happens between husband and wife after marriage and especially after having a child has been dealt with before, more so in Hollywood films.

This one tells the story from only the male point of view, it would have become a better film had they juxtaposed both sides of the story. The names of the two lead characters remain the same – Sid (Farhan Akhtar) and Trisha (Vidya Balan) are a couple, who manage to keep the spark alive in their marriage, but not for long. Soon she is pregnant and he thinks that her world is centered around the baby. Their lives turn topsy turvy when the baby comes, she quits her job to look after the baby while he is still struggling for that big break as a music composer.

Their relationship also takes a toll but there is nothing novel in the proceedings. The second half is very contrived as the plot introduces unnecessary complexities to make a point and the final stretch that involves a ‘twist’ drags its feet for too long.

When the film maintains a light tone, it is fun, there are a few smart lines (including one that refers to Virendra Sehwag) and there is the odd poignant point made about marriage but you wish the whole film would have been crisper, especially when it changes colors after interval. 

The songs are not particularly remarkable and I hope that our film makers would get over that obsession of shooting songs abroad, this time in Australia.

Vidya Balan is sincere in her act but it is Farhan Akhtar who carries the film through. His comic timing and his portrayal of emotions elevates the film considerably. Shaadi Ke Side Effects is like a meal which has a promising appetizer, bland main course with the odd tasty chutney.

Published in The Navhind Times on 2nd Mar 2014  
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