Badhaai Do, starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, is a strong family entertainer, but it could have been bolder.
Rajkummar Rao is on point and in top form as a gay cop in Badhaai. Bhumi Pednekar also delivers a terrific performance.
So far, Bollywood’s penchant for using humour to communicate stories about taboo subjects looks to be paying off. Films like Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and Dostana have handled sensitive issues like homosexuality to convey uplifting messages. It’s no surprise, then, that Badhaai Do adopts a lighter tone to draw attention to a serious issue.
The storey of Shardul (Rajkummar Rao) and Sumi (Bhumi Pednekar), two LGBTQ+ persons who live together as roommates after agreeing to a’marriage of convenience,’ is told in Badhaai Do. The movie shows how a person’s sexual orientation shapes and decides their social destiny. While Shardul, a police officer, and Sumi, a PE teacher, agree to the lavender marriage to keep their families quiet and avoid the relentless pressure to marry, their distinct adventures with their partners finally lead to multiple realisations about their realities.
Director Harshvardhan Kulkarni deals with the matter in an exceptionally mature and sensitive manner, never trivialising the hardship homosexual people go through in his attempt to sound witty or add punchlines.
Despite the fact that Rajkummar and Bhumi own and portray these roles onscreen with ease and comfort, they continue to struggle to be seen as “normal” persons in society. For me, this is where Badhaai Do comes into play. It isn’t preachy or encourages homosexuals to rebel. Instead, the video illustrates the real and continuous tragedies individuals experience on a daily basis, both in society and at home.
Badhaai Do also delves into the intricacies of homosexual families, particularly those in rural towns, and shows how they deal with the deeply embedded stigma. The film depicts family conflicts that happen when a son or daughter wishes to come out of the closet – Badhaai Do shows how it is perceived as a “disease.”
Rajkummar and Bhumi’s growing pains as a married couple striving to connect with their actual selves and partners are depicted in the first half of Badhaai Do, while the second half focuses on their efforts to de-stigmatise and normalise homosexuality for their family. It’s worth noting that the director didn’t set out to please everyone; instead, he compelled viewers to acknowledge and accept Shardul and Sumi’s reality.
Rajkummar is on point and in great form as a gay cop. You’ll appreciate his statements in which he says that being gay as a cop is perhaps the greatest irony. His remarks, his accent, and the muscles he shows depart from the stereotypical portrayal of gay men onscreen. The scenes in which he displays his inner turmoil provoke a powerful reaction from the audience. Bhumi, too, provides an outstanding performance and never looks to be uncomfortable portraying a lesbian character. She isn’t scared to declare her sexual orientation, and she does so with confidence. The scenes with her debutant boyfriend Rimjhim (played by Chum Darang) are fantastic and nicely done.
It takes a lot of bravery on the part of the filmmakers to cast a newcomer from the North East as a parallel lead, and one can only hope that this opens the door for more comparable casting opportunities in the future. Chum brings her own distinct aesthetic to the picture, and she doesn’t seem bothered by Rajkummar and Bhumi sharing the spotlight.
The plot is supported by Seema Pahwa, Sheeba Chaddha, and Nitesh Pandey, among others. Guffaws erupt from their frantic discussions. Not to mention Gulshan Devaiah, who makes a fantastic cameo appearance. It’s without a doubt one of the most moving scenes in the movie.
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However, the length of the picture is a touch excessive, and the editing could have been much better. When the storey deviates from its intended direction and continues on for an extended period of time, it is called a storey. But, thankfully, it comes back in a decent length of time and resumes transmitting the message it was supposed to send. Badhaai Do is bold, but it could have been even bolder.
A joyful pride march won’t make much of a difference in a culture where decriminalising consensual gay sex took a long time and same-sex marriages are still prohibited. We need a lot more documentaries like this to break the stigma. But, yes, Badhaai Do does spark a discussion, particularly among LGBT families, which I believe is the film’s most important message.
