1 month ago
9
An ensemble cast which includes Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Khushalii Kumar, Parth Samthaan and Aruna Irani couldn’t save a poorly made film. Though the idea was good, the writing and direction was neither engaging nor sharp. read more
 "Sexist, racist, misogynistic, yet entertaining")
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Khushalii Kumar, Parth Samthaan and Aruna Irani
Director: Binoy Gandhi
Language: Hindi
Ghudchadi definitely is a one time watch and good for those who enjoy frivolous family drama. What worked for the film are the beautiful locations whether it is the lush golf courses, the gardens, the beautiful houses and the shooting ranges. It is a complete Delhi darshan for the audience and brings out the vibe of the city beautifully. And how can we forget the ensemble cast which includes Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Khushalii Kumar, Parth Samthaan and Aruna Irani?
It was a comeback for veteran actress Aruna Irani. But what didn’t really work for the film were the sexist dialogues and the mockery Ghudchadi made of the Indian rituals and customs. Hailing the vegetarians and rejecting marriage proposals on the basis of the prospective bride not belonging to the same caste. Menka (Raveena Tandon) was the childhood love of Veer Sharma (Sanjay Dutt). But Kalyani Devi (Aruna Irani) felt that she was not the perfect fit for the family because she came from a Punjabi family where they eat ‘non-vegetarian food’ and was not a perfect fit for Hindu Pandit family. And being a perfect mother’s son Veer Sharma (Sanjay Dutt) agreed to it and married somebody else. Regressive thought, there is a twist in the situation.
Despite the film being a little old-school and it was like going back to the 90s, we cannot deny that it was a complete family drama. But at the same time, I believe it could have been made a little better considering we had such brilliant actors like Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon and Aruna Irani. It is again a welcome break to see matured adults in their late fifties and early sixties leading a fulfilled life. One statement that comes out in a very positive way is that the film also talks about the second innings of life which is the retired life and why it is important to enjoy and live that to the fullest.
Coming back to the film Ghudchadi is about two love stories weaved together in a not very aesthetic way, but I would rather say in a very shoddy way. The dialogue delivery and the script were weak to the core and so were the costumes. And what the movie lacked was the magic of the 90s duo Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon. Both of them are seasoned actors including Aruna Irani, but their talent was underused.
On the other hand, Khushalii Kumar and Parth Samthaan’s performances were decent considering they are newcomers. But the makers need to realise that they need to re-invent themselves and think out of the box especially when you are catering to today’s OTT viewing evolved audiences.
Gudchadi is streaming on Jio Cinema
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too. see more
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English (US) ·