Movie Review - Sab Kushal Mangal: All is not hunky-dory

 Nonika Singh

Sab Kushal Mangal is yet another attempt to churn out a light-hearted comedy. Alas, it succeeds to put it all together only in fits and starts. Sure laughs do roll in, the credit for which mainly goes to Akshaye Khanna as Baba Bhandari and his two henchmen. For a film that introduces two debutants (Padmini Kolhapure’s son Priyaank Sharma and Ravi Kishan’s daughter Riva Kishan), it does rely on some heavy duty cast including Rakesh Bedi to strike a balance. Satish Kaushik (especially good in the scene spewing Urdu dialogues while camouflaging his real identity) and his other half played by Supriya Pathak hold the otherwise wobbling storyline. The real pivot, of course, is Akshaye. As a small-time politician who specialises in organising pakadwa vivah, the talented actor is simply endearing. Less villainous and more charming, he brings a smile to your face with his whimsical ways and demeanour. But even his part of a man smitten by a younger girl gets stretched and by the time the film ends, his delightful act too becomes a bit laboured.

A mature man falling for a young girl by itself is not exactly a new concept. Several comedies have been structured around this uneven courting. So, to make it different, the context is changed a wee bit and director throws in the phenomenon of pakdwa vivah prevalent in central India (as response to the menace of dowry). Only, forced marriage is merely a hook, dealt with cursorily and no real revelations are made. At many levels, the treatment might remind you of similar small-town small budget films. Only Sab Kushal Mangal is minus the spunk and flavour of successful romcoms. The un-necessary addition of songs and superfluous item number further sap the narrative.

Debutants are not bad at all and seem quite comfortable in front of the camera. However, they clearly lack the charisma to carry a film. Besides, their love story is too insipid to touch a chord, emotive or otherwise. Priyaank Sharma as celebrity media anchor Pappu Mishra is better suited for his role. The same can’t be said about Riva Kishan being tailor-made for her part as Mandira that anyway vacillates between two ends.

And pray where is the need to remind us she is beautiful. There is beauty in simplicity too and the fleeting dream sequences trying to glamourise her are simply unwanted. In comparison Akshaye’s transformation from Baahubali type to metro man holds the key and is more interesting. Wish we could say the same about the film on the whole. Duniya hai gajab tamasha de jaye sab ko jhaansa… Sab Kushal Mangal promises more than it can deliver. Bait you should fall for, only if average fare works for you.