Badhaai Ho just didn't touch upon but went deep into a subject, none of the Bollywood movies has gone before. The director deals with the theme with finesse, putting in measured doses of comedy and drama to make it a truly mass entertainer for the Indian audience. Movies with such content depend highly on the acting and direction part to get them going, and this one just didn't pull through but brought the house down in laughter as well as gave lumpy throats in various scenes. It is hard to pinpoint any one performance at the cost of being unfair to others, but Gajraj Rao's (the father) mute expressions and initial unease while disclosing the news to his family and the discomfort while peers congratulating him, do show semblances with one Rowan Atkinson of Mr Bean fame; deliberate or not, it surely entertains.
Surekha Sikri, whenever appears, the audience is already half smiling apprehending another good laugh, and Neena Gupta is as good as she has ever been acting-wise. Sheeba Chaddha as the girl's mother was perfectly cast and Sanya Malhotra, known as the Dangal younger sister, did well in whatever part she got and looked lovely with that hairstyle. Ayushmann's Delhi accent was too good for a Bong like me to pick, his back-to-back hits now following Andhadhun surely puts him at the top now. The director too smartly outwits the audience with the two sequences following the rehearsing scene in front of the mirror. The film also brings back memories of the Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Chatterjee movies of late 70s and early 80s, which had a similar dramedy flavour to them. Overall, an assured good time watching it, with a positive social message too. Thumbs up to it, no hesitation in giving a 7/10...
Review of Badhaai Ho
