Jun. 11, 2021|India|93 Min.|R
Genre: Adventure;Bollywood;Drama;Music;Thriller
Description: Shaadisthan (2021) is a film that aims to address women’s empowerment but falls short due to poor storytelling, which struggles to maintain the viewer’s interest. Within the first 10 minutes, the plot’s direction becomes predictable, and the weak narrative fails to engage.
The story revolves around a conservative middle-class couple, Rajan Modi and Nivedita Bhattacharya, who plan to marry off their 17-year-old daughter Arshi (Medha Shankar) against her wishes. On a sudden trip to Rajasthan, they join a group of four free-spirited musicians on their tour bus, including Sasha (Kirti Kulhari), the band’s lead singer. The journey becomes a transformative experience for the family, particularly for Arshi’s parents, who eventually realize the importance of individual freedom. The film shifts from a road trip narrative to a coming-of-age story, critiquing India’s patriarchal mindset.
Arshi’s confined world contrasts sharply with Sasha’s independent and liberated lifestyle. Sasha’s character, though underdeveloped, serves as a catalyst for challenging middle-class conservatism. Kirti Kulhari delivers a subdued performance, often appearing serious, but her presence adds depth to the otherwise amateurish film. The cast, led by Kulhari, makes a sincere effort to elevate the story. Kay Kay Menon makes a brief appearance, reminding audiences of his memorable role in *Gulaal*, the film that marked director Raj Singh Chaudhary’s acting debut years ago.
Overall, *Shaadisthan* presents a noble idea but suffers from execution flaws, leaving much to be desired in terms of character development and storytelling.
Cast director: Raj Singh Chaudhary
Cast actor: Kirti Kulhari, Medha Shankar, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Rajan Modi, Kay Kay Menon, Nishank Verma, Sanjay Dadhich, Shenpenn Khymsar, Apurv Dogra
Original name: शादीस्थान