Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari
Ratings: 4/5
Duration: 2 hrs 19 min
Language: Hindi
Genre: Satirical Comedy Drama
Director: Abhishek Sharma
Writer: Shokhi Banerjee, Rohan Shankar
Producer: Gaurav Gupte, Shiv Pillai, Joshua Upputuru, Abhishek Vyas
Music: Kingshuk Chakravarty, Javed-Mohsin
Cinematography: Anshuman Mahaley
Editing: Rameshwar S. Bhagat
Art Direction: Parijat Poddar, Shujauddin Quazi
Release Date: 15 November 2020
Released In: Theatres
Star Cast: Fatima Sana Shaikh, Manoj Bajpayee, Karishma Tanna, Diljit Dosanjh, Abhishek Banerjee, Vijay Raaz, Annu Kapoor, Neha Pendse, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Rohan Shankar, Manoj Pahwa, Seema Bhargava, Manuj Sharma, Seema Pahwa, Vanshika Sharma, Neeraj Sood, Ujjawal Gauraha Shiva
Plot:
In the 1990s, a wedding detective has to perform background checks on prospective grooms. In the time before social media and mobile phones, everything has to be done in person.
Review:
Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (SPMB) is set in ‘Bombay 1995’. The year and the city name appearing in the text on the screen right at the start of the film are significant since 1995 is when this metropolis officially reverted to its old Marathi name, Mumbai, from Bombay, the title given to it by European colonisers.
Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari stars Diljit Dosanjh as Suraj, a young Sikh man in want of a wife in ‘Bombay’ of 1995, as the location title announces right at the beginning. When projected for the first time, Suraj is making introduction videos to rope in prospective brides, showcasing what he believes is his ‘good guy’ personality.
He is typical! He is on the lookout for the classic Bhartiya Nari, who would toil in the kitchen all day and in the bedroom all night. The first generation of his family to be born in Mumbai, he never bothered to learn Marathi. Real trouble knocks when Madhu Mangal Rane (Manoj Bajpayee) who is a wedding detective comes along. He outs Suraj as a boozing, eve-teasing, publicly-urinating ‘bad boy’ to a prospective bride’s family. Suraj then decides to take revenge, by aiming at Mangal’s sister Tulsi (Fatima Sana Shaikh). The tale aims for a light-hearted comedy. The twist in Tulsi’s tale is unexpected and gives a nice touch. Post-interval, the patch-up between Suraj and Tulsi happens rather quickly.
Javed-Mohsin’s music fits aptly with the film. ‘Basanti’ (composed by Kingshuk Chakravarty) is foot-tapping while the title track is catchy. ‘Waareya’ works because it’s well shot. The same goes for ‘Ladki Dramebaaz Hai’. ‘Bad Boys’ is disappointing. Kingshuk Chakravarty’s background score is excellent, especially the theme music used in Manoj Bajpayee’s scenes.
Anshuman Mahaley’s cinematography is very impressive. Rajat Poddar’s production design is authentic and reminds one of the 90s. Vijay Ganguly’s choreography is appealing in ‘Basanti’. Jia Bhagia and Mallika Chauhan’s costumes are realistic for all the characters. Rameshwar Bhagat’s editing is to the point - flair and finesse.
Overall, the film is a decent entertainer that works because of its plot, the depiction of the mid-90s era, and the performances.
