Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi

To roll out a love story that has it's protagonists reaching a mid-life crisis of a different kind is in itself an inventive concept unheard in Bol... read more

To roll out a love story that has it's protagonists reaching a mid-life crisis of a different kind is in itself an inventive concept unheard in Bollywood. To have a backdrop of a particular community, humourized because of their dwindling numbers, is again something refreshing as it lends the drama with a sense of cultural rootedness. But it is not the easiest of tasks to capture the essence of an idiosyncratic culture unless it is an inseparable part of your system. An outsider's perspective, will at best, lend a superficial insight.

What Bella Sehgal does in her new film is everything that acclaimed Parsian author Rohinton Mistry avoids to do in his books. Picking up two characters who have seemingly led lonesome lives till the point that it's awkwardly unbearable; we see Farhad the good-hearted man working in a lingerie store, who apart from taking immense pride in his job, also dangles a chain around the pockets of his pants - probably his scooter keys, but also a sign of his young-at-heart self. His adorable relationship with mummy and nanny is altered after an encounter with Shirin at the store; a spinster he cannot get his eyes off from. Extended-clan mounts frustrating pressure for marriage, and Farhad sees this as the perfect opportunity. But, like for any Hindi film hero - 40 or playing 40 - obstacles are essential and inevitable. And so they come and are overcome and sugary climax is reached.

What works with Shirin Farhad is the cute chemistry of the unlikely lead pair and it works well very efficiently because of a brilliant Boman Irani. Farah Khan appears uncomfortably conscious in her new demeanor and is in her comfort zone only when she's allowed to dance (which is a lot of times since the film has like 55 songs). Also, the idea the film presents is a very robust and relevant one - the universality of love that is everlasting. Despite all the normalcy one manages to achieve, life seems a little meaningless without love. Shirin and Farhad are both nursing family dilemmas and in the process, trying to overcome that void. But exploring this interesting relationship in a way that is both comical and sensitive is not something director Bella Sehgal is equipped with.

The amateur execution comes across in its full glory as she doesn't have witty lines to cover up. So forcibly infused slapstick and melodrama - a highly uncomfortable pair fills in for lack of a competent screenplay.

The film could have been much more amusing, had the writers taken meticulous effort to work on character nuances and the dialogues, besides steering clear from contrived slapstick and awful melodrama.

Therefore, it just remains a mediocre product where the traditional hero-heroine have literally aged but managed to retain their professions.view less

The promos of Shirin Farhad promised us a cute, romantic movie and I am happy to say that it does live up to its promise for the major part. The lo... read more

The promos of Shirin Farhad promised us a cute, romantic movie and I am happy to say that it does live up to its promise for the major part. The love story between two middle aged Parsis could have been a story about older people from any community seeking love but setting it in the Parsi community gives the movie a uniquely sweet flavour.

Farhad is a typical bawa bachelor boy living with his grandmother and his, as he calls it, over loving mother. He wants to get married but has not found the right one. Of course, the fact that he works as a salesman at a bra and panty shop mars his eligibility. Shirin waltzes into the shop and into his heart. His mother opposes the and the story then winds its way to its conclusion after some melodrama and action.

Boman is a consummate actor and playing a middle aged Parsi would come naturally to him given that he grew up surrounded by many such middle aged Parsi bachelors. He is sweet and innocent in his love for Shirin and tender towards his dominating mom. I loved Farha. She looks young and fresh and softer than I have ever seen her. She also gets the Parsi mannerisms right. Daisy Irani as the mom and Shammiji as the grand mom are perfect in their roles too.

I am a half bawa myself and was watching the movie with my mom and we can vouch for the authenticity of most of the movie. There are a few over the top sequences and a slight overdose of loony characters which makes those sequences a bit amateurish and tacky. However, thankfully these are not too many. There is also a slow sad number which slows down the pace.

Overall, this is a charming movie to watch. Like Farhad says, love has no expiry date and I am sure everyone will come out of this one feeling just that little bit more romantic about life. view less

Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi never really takes off. When I saw the trailers, I could see a bad film which they tried to hide (I can see the sam... read more

Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi never really takes off. When I saw the trailers, I could see a bad film which they tried to hide (I can see the same with Barfi but I hope Im wrong). Farhad (Boman Irani), a 45 year old, is looking for love. This isnt a typical Bollywood romance like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge. The intention is great and for the first half hour, the film seems to be going towards something that could be worth watching. But unfortunately, the screenplay is chased by the same cliches contained in the films it tries to defy.

I have no opposition to cliches, in fact I embrace them, but sometimes cliches arent well told and seem stale. This film tries to break conventions but this attempt goes only as far as setting it in the Parsi community and not choosing to tell a romance between 20 somethings. The rest of it could really be a love story about two obnoxious teenagers. Farhad has mommy issues with an *overloving* mother. The mother is wonderfully played by Daisy Irani but her character becomes downright ridiculous as the film progresses. It also doesnt help that I could see some facial resemblance between her and Farah Khan. Shirin has a comatose father. Yes, she also has daddy issues. Now you know why they never got hitched. Farhad also has a happy place which he shows Shirin because thats what happens in movies. Then there is a tank, which becomes an obstacle for their love story to flow smoothly.

The filmmaking is awkward and shoddy. Its amazing that anybody would even think of incorporating the hideous zooms that can be seen in this film on more than two occasions. It is also amazing that Bela Bhansali Sehgal was an editor before she directed this film. The editing is one of the films most glaring defects. The songs are extremely unnecessary and many moments which are supposed to be funny, just arent. It does have its share of laughs and some moments that are genuinely charming but they are outnumbered by the amount of times you cringe. I was still holding on to see whether this film could be salvaged but when the father wakes up from coma, I realized this definitely was the final straw. We dont care about the characters much. They have juvenile problems like he him not answering her phone call and not being there for her in her time of need (OMG). Yes, Boman Irani and Farah Khans casting makes them likable but after a point, I just didnt care what happens to their love life. Farah Khan, a successful choreographer and director, unfortunately isnt an actress. Boman Irani is strictly okay and has already played a Parsi better this year.

I love cliches. I love unconventional stories too, but I love a good film more. An example of a good film that similarly wished to break conventions and also had a love story was Vicky Donor. It had clichs too but since they were in a good movie, I didnt mind them at all. The bar for films that arent typically Bollywood is being raised every year, anything below that would seem like a mere trifle. Yes, we could appreciate the effort but thats not what we are here to appreciate. It is the film, the final product that we are supposed to judge. This final product just isnt a good one. I wouldnt say Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi is unwatchable but it isnt worth watching either. view less

For a film that intends to break the notion that love and age go hand in hand, Shirin Farhad kit oh nikal padi tries too hard to conform to the nor... read more

For a film that intends to break the notion that love and age go hand in hand, Shirin Farhad kit oh nikal padi tries too hard to conform to the norms of a Bollywood film- stereotypes abound, too many unwanted songs and melodrama where subtlety was needed. At two hours running time, the film delivers a few warm moments but mostly underwhelms.

Farhad is a Parsi 40 plus bachelor living with his mom and granny who has not yet found his soul mate. He meets Shirin, falls in love with her, only to find out that his mom and Shirin had an incident in the past putting a spanner in the scheme of things. How the two go about finding true love at 40 is the crux of the rest of the movie.

Director Bela Sehgals debut borrows heavily from the Hrishikesh Mukherjee school of simple stories of ordinary people, yet is let down by Sanjay Bhansalis writing that oscillates between the banal to utter ridiculousness.
The film reminds one of the classic old age love story Khatta Meetha.

The age of the protagonists here is a little lesser than in that movie, but the milieu remains the endearing Parsi community. What is sorely missing here however is the sensitivity and humane touch with which the tale of two souls looking for companionship and love was told in the former.

There is immense potential in an idea like this to explore how relationships, love, friendships all zero down to age and looks in an increasingly materialistic cosmetic society of our times. Sadly, SFKTNP is not a treatise on this.

Instead, Bhansalis story relies heavily on toilet humor and juvenile Parsi stereotypes to elicit cheap laughter. This works for a few minutes but grates on the nerves later.

The film also relies heavily on the odd ball lead pair. Boman, by now a pro at Parsi roles , is competent as Farhad, at times over the top yet definitely the better of the two.

Farah Khan as Shirin is awkward and conscious. One can understand why she would be chosen as the lead for a film like this, but trusted with a lackluster character she fails to impress. She is especially bad in portions where acting is expected of her, gyrating onto melodrama and hamming easily. And there are the many songs in the film that are crass, loud and mar the narrative.

Neither an out and out mad cap comedy nor a sensitive light hearted take on the topic at hand, SFKTNP is an interesting idea with bad execution. Watch it only if you have to. view less

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