In a country where homosexuality was illegal even one and a half years ago, it sure feels surreal to watch two gay men celebrate their identities surrounded by friends and family on the silver screen.
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (literally translates to ‘be extra wary of marriage’) is India’s first major film with a central gay couple, which is a huge deal, even if the movie is an easygoing and lighthearted typical Bollywood rom-com. Or maybe that’s what makes it an even bigger deal, getting two hours of this—a queer love story without anything gloomy or tragic—in a glossy, mainstream Bollywood packaging.
The story follows two ordinary Indian youths, Aman (Jeetendra Kumar) and Karthik (Ayushamann Khurrana). All hell breaks loose when Aman’s father Shankar Tripathi (Gajraj Rao) catches the two boys kissing while travelling for Aman’s cousin’s wedding by train, and that eternal Bollywood struggle of lovers seeking parental approval ensues.
Bollywood’s first attempt at a queer rom-com gets a lot of things right, and very few things wrong. Here are all the reasons why SMZS should be on your to-watch list:
1. Karthik and Aman are relationship goals!
Karthik’s flamboyant, eccentric personality and Aman’s calm, grounding demeanour balance each other out and the result is an easy and warm chemistry and a well-developed friendship. Karthik’s fierce protectiveness when it comes to Aman, or the way Aman lights up whenever Karthik is in close vicinity are absolutely endearing to watch. Also, how adorable is that height difference?!
2. The bold, proud and unapologetic treatment of the subject material.
Love is love, regardless of gender, caste, or colour, which Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan truly gets. The right question is raised: why homosexuality, instead of homophobia, gets treated as the disease. Director and storywriter Hitesh Kewalya tackles the weighty ideas goofily, with a lot of humour. This time, however, the crack is at the expense of the homophobic mindset instead of the queer community, something media has been largely guilty of in the past.
3. Karthik!
Played by the brilliant and powerful Ayushmann Khurrana, he is the soul and blood of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. He is outspoken, overdramatic, and absolutely smitten with his boyfriend, which will win over your heart. And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamed of standing on a roof wearing a pride flag like a superhero cape and yelling at homophobes with a megaphone?
4. The delicious Bollywood flavour!
Now, I know Bollywood movies are mocked for the gloss, the songs, and the melodrama, but let’s be real—they are fun to watch and all that silliness is kind of endearing. SMZS has several beloved Hindi movie tropes: there’s a large dysfunctional joint family where everyone talks over everyone else, resulting inevitably in chaos; song and dance scenes where everybody moves in perfect sync and performs flawlessly choreographed dance numbers without any planning whatsoever; slo-mo shots and freeze frames; dramatic scenes where the lovers struggle for the nonconsenting family’s approval; and ultimately there’s a big fat Indian wedding!
5. The dialogue is sparkling and hilarious!
The many zingers—witty and crackling with humour—will leave you laughing out loud long after the movie is over.
6. The entire supporting cast delivers exceptional performances!
From Aman’s mother (Neena Gupta) with her snappy comebacks towards her stubborn and conservative husband, to Aman’s quirky cousin Goggle (Maanvi Gagroo), who is called so because her sunglasses are a permanent fixture on her face, the entire ensemble of characters is delightful to watch.
7. The soundtrack is fire! The songs are atmospheric and blend perfectly with the tone of the movie.
There are 7 of them in total, ranging from soulful music to cheesy, crackpot tracks that you won’t be able to stop dancing to.
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan definitely stumbles a little at places. Some of the subplots don’t really add up well in the ending, the second half falls a bit short when compared to the first half. Being a comedy, the film does not address some of the more serious issues, such as the severe day-to-day struggles of the queer community or the extent of the violence committed by homophobes in the patriarchal society. That being said, it is definitely an admirable first step in the right direction for Indian cinema, and that deserves recognition.
Will you be watching Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan? Tell us in the comments below!
