Shaadisthan

Rating 7/10

I watched Shaadisthan by chance, on Disney Hotstar in orig. Hindi w/Eng. Subs. Wasn't expecting very much but the film held my interest and turned out to be quite a good watch, with some catchy music except for the opening band number.

A conservative Rajasthani family in Mumbai (Nivedita Bhattacharya : wife; husband: Rajan Modi; daughter Arshi : actor unknown) have missed their flight to Ajmer where they are going for Arshi's cousin's wedding. Because Arshi who is to get engaged against her will to her cousin's to be brother in law at the same function, ran away though she returns home after the flight time. Arshi refuses to eat or talk.

The cousin Cheelu(unknown actor) in Ajmer requests his band friend Imad (unknown actor) in Mumbai to perform at his functions and as the group will drive down in their van, to also pick up his relatives. Arshi's parents are shocked to see the van which looks punkish. They enter with trepidation and are not happy with the way the band members dress, look and talk, even though the band group is perfectly polite to the family. Arshi is completely silent and expressionless. Sasha (Kirti Kulhari) the lead singer gets to know that Arshi is desperately unhappy as she is only 17, turning 18 the next day and being forced into marriage by her parents. The band group stop by in Udaipur at their old friend Tiger's (KayKay Menon) haveli where Tiger persuades Bhabhi and Arshi to have some tea with the rest of the group. The tea however is laced with some 'feel happy' intoxicant and the two end up dancing to the fabulous live music ... and later find themselves fast asleep at a highway dhaba. There is no food at the dhaba but the owner allows Sasha and Bhabhi to cook with his supplies. As they cook together, Sasha asks Bhabhi all sorts of questions about her life and it then gets a bit too preachy as Sasha urges her to live for herself and break free from the way she has been conditioned to be, always doing what society percieves to be correct. Imad sees Arshi sitting alone and morose and tries to cheer her up. She opens up to him about her fears and her problems, saying she is thinking of committing suicide rather than get married to someone she doesnt want to.

As the clock strikes midnight he gives her a friendly hug to wish her a happy birthday. The father who had to pick up something at Udaipur arrives just then and imagining the worst, he hits Imad. The others pull him away and the journey continues to Ajmer.

No further Spoilers as its a new release.

The music is fabulous throughout the film except for the opening rock band pieces. The acting is good except Kirti Kulhari comes across as overly preachy in her conversations with Arshi's mother. Rajan Modi as the father, Arshi herself and the male band members were very convincing. The actors names for several key characters are not easy to find surprisingly and Im not going back to watch the credits again!

Arshi's character reminded me of a Rajasthani girl in my college decades ago, who was in love with someone her parents would never approve of, and also slated to be "married off" to a man of her parents choice. That girl also spoke of committing suicide. I was not in touch and I dont know what eventually transpired but sometimes I do remember and this film brought those memories back. The film's depiction of such families is not wrong, hopefully in this modern age educated girls are able to speak up for themselves and their choices in life, but for many conservative society fearing families much will remain the same .....

Shaadisthan holds the interest and is quite a good watch.