Shaadi Ke Side Effects Review

One Line Review: While the film demonstrates the efforts and frustration of an understanding husband to retain spice and excitement in the marriage, it becomes a bit stretchy and disengaging at the end.

Positive Points: Depiction of Farhan Akhtar's character's dilemma; funny sequences peppered in between that will surely tickle you.

Negative Points: Prolonged frustration of the protagonist character becomes a bit much to handle in the end; the film becomes quite stretchy at the end.

Plot: Sid Roy (Farhan Akhtar) is a struggling musician happily married to Trisha (Vidya Balan), the love of his life. In Sid's words he has 'chalked out a strategy' to keep their marriage going strong by agreeing with whatever his wife says and apologizing even when she is wrong.

While love between them is all sparkling and red hot, things take a turn when they have a baby and that's when Trisha instinctively transforms herself into a mother, who is all occupied with the new baby.

While Sid tries to play his role right as a father, he is also frustrated that Trisha is 'no longer his wife' and doesn't give him the much needed time and appreciation for the help that he offers. While Trisha is not the same as before, her constant fault finding, nagging and being occupied with her chores, puts off Sid big time.

In between enters Shekhar (Purab Kohli), their new neighbor who helps Trisha with the chores and assists her in taking care of the baby.

Pissed off by all this, now Sid turns to his sister-in-law's husband Ranvir (Ram Kapoor), who gives him advice that works but also sends him to a roller coaster ride.

Meanwhile they hire a maid (Ila Arun) who greatly helps Trisha with her chores and the baby and Sid befriends a careless jobless guy (Vir Das), who gives somewhat relief amidst chaos.

Direction And Other Technical Aspects: With respect to the overall story and theme of the film, direction is certainly carried out well, but only in the beginning. The first half of the film keeps the audiences engaged and entertained, however, the second half fails to keep that interest and excitement afloat. One couldn't help but feel that the second half has been stretched a bit longer and could have been more short and crisp.

Performance: Farhan Akhtar in his usual style of calm and sophistication projects the frustration and hopelessness felt by a compromising and loving husband alongside maintaining his ability to punch in the much required humor that adds into the film's entertainment quotient. While Vidya Balan too successfully delivers the role of a nagging and busy new mother, Ila Arun, Vir Das, Ram Kapoor and Purab Kohli are right in their places with appropriate and impressive performances.

Music: The party song 'Harry's Not A Brahmachari' by Punjabi singer Jazzy B and Divya Kumar is a dance track that could be popular at clubs while 'Bawla Sa Sapna' by Mohit Chauhan is quite and relaxing.

Final verdict: The film successfully depicts the life of a modern Indian urban couple and the way things turn out to be sour after the initial romance has dried up. While this is certainly not the main theme of the film, it is the protagonist's efforts to maintain the sizzle and spice in his marriage while avoiding confrontation and the resulting frustration that occupies the film's central theme. All that said, the film is humorous, witty, engaging and at times quirky, but them slows down on all those elements as it progresses. 'Shaadi Ke Side Effects' is certainly a one time watch for all.