Khaandaani Shafakhana
Ratings: 3/5
Duration: 2hrs 33 mins
Director: Shilpi Dasgupta
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Release Date: 02.08.2019 (India)
Star cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Varun Sharma, Annu Kapoor, Badshah, Priyansh Jore, Nadira Babbar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Plot: The movie is all about a sex clinic where everything from erectile dysfunction, to early ejaculation is cured with Unani medicines. The visitors to the clinic are discreet, and ‘Mamaji’ (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), the man at the helm of this clinic faces social boycott and protests. For many years, he single-handedly pursues his passion to cure people until he passes away, leaving the ownership of the clinic to his niece Baby Bedi (Sonakshi). She is a medical sales representative living with her mother (Nadira Babbar) and good-for-nothing younger brother Bhooshit (Varun Sharma) in a house that could be usurped by a family member, if she fails to repay her dues.
Review: In the past, we have seen films like ‘Vicky Donor’ and ‘Shubh Mangal Savadhan’ that handles sensitive subjects like sperm donation and erectile dysfunction with class, tact and comedy. While this film’s intent is bang on, what it really needed was a heavier dose of humour and entertainment. Contrary to the promotions of the film, where it was reiterated that a serious subject is tackled with humour, the film is not all that funny. The humour is sparse and dialogues which could have been funny, lack the comic punch. With repetitive conflicts, the story takes an emotional turn and eventually, it gets stuck in a loop. The pace too, slackens.
Rap star Badshah makes an impressive debut as ‘Gabru Ghatack’, who is the most high-profile client of Mamaji’s magic meds. He retains his real-life flashy avatar on-screen too and delivers well in emotional scenes. Another debutant, Priyansh Jore as Sonakshi’s love interest, has an impressive boyish charm, but their chemistry is almost non-existent. Sadly, his character doesn’t give him the scope to perform. Varun Sharma once again plays his usual funny self, but we have seen him in a similar role in a recent release too. So, there is nothing refreshing about it. Among the rest, Annu Kapoor, Nadira Babbar and Kulbhushan Kharbanda performs well.
The setting of a small town in Punjab also works well as the backdrop. A dusty old clinic, the busy by lanes of a grand bazaar, and the nondescript homes, add character to the narrative.
Khandaani Shafakhana is another example that proves that Bollywood is thinking out of the box. But the subject alone isn't enough; the key is to present it in an engaging manner, with a dose of entertainment. The film tries to do so but doesn't quite make the cut; the film is excruciatingly slow and has only the performance of its actors as saving grace. Sonakshi Sinha as Baby Bedi owns the film. She portrays Baby’s bravado and vulnerability in right doses.
Khandaani Shafakhana is at best a one-time watch. Watch it only if you are a Sonakshi Sinha fan!
