Badhaai Do is a full-fledged family film that also fearlessly addresses a social issue.
Critic's Rating: 4.0/5
Sumi and Shardul live parallel and socially constrained lives as closeted members of the homosexual and lesbian community in Badhaai Do. When they opt for a compromise marriage to appease their overbearing families, they believe it will provide them with cover while they pursue partners of their choice. The story of this family entertainer revolves around what they eventually achieve and how they do it.
They say that marriages are forged in heaven. Surprisingly, a large proportion of these 'heavenly marriages' appear all shining and bright as a result of different sacrifices made by couples. In Badhaai Do, this matrimonial compromise is of a different kind — one that is rarely spoken but has always existed.
Harshavardhan Kulkarni's lavender marriage is an attempt to deliver the message that sexual orientation does not and should not determine who a person is. The film is an engaging family viewing and is a sequel to the numerous National Award-winning film Badhaai Ho.
Sumi and Shardul (Bhumi Pednekar and Rajkummar Rao) live as roommates in the film. Following Sumi and Shardul's wedding, they go on a path of walking on eggshells in order to maintain their secret from their families, friends, and neighbors while remaining true to themselves. As a result, they find themselves scurrying from one crazy situation to the next. Shardul and Sumi's romantic interludes with their real partners unfold with the same ease, comfort, and turbulence as any other pair in our films, indicating that the film's purpose is not to stereotype the homosexual and lesbian community, but to change mindsets and erase biases against them.
The film depicts delicately the enormous loneliness and sense of isolation that a gay person feels, especially when they are unable to interact openly with their family and are forced to cope with matters on their own. The second half focuses on the protagonists' attempts to overcome their loneliness and communicate with their families.
Bhumi Pednekar's portrayal of Sumi is sensitive, nuanced and on point. Rajkummar Rao has a firm grip on his character, which he plays with absolute grace and honesty. Chum Darang makes a fine debut in Bollywood with a role that takes courage for a newcomer to go along with. Gulshan Devaiah merits special notice because his cameo is the unexpected package. Keep an eye out for this one! The supporting cast, comprising veteran artistes like Seema Pahwa and Sheeba Chaddha adds gravitas to the story.
The film has been shot well, capturing the beauty and simplicity of Uttarakhand. The first half could have been edited better to add pace to the proceedings. Badhaai Do's title track by Tanishk Bagchi and Bandi Tot by Ankit Tiwari stand out. Hum Thay Seedhe Saadhe by Amit Trivedi is also a beautiful love track that lingers long after the film is over.
Badhaai Do is one of the few Bollywood films on gay and lesbian issues that aims to present a perspective on families rather than walking away from them. It's crucial in a country where it took decades to decriminalise consensual gay sex and where same-sex weddings are still not recognised by law or accepted by society as a whole.