Khandaani Shafakhana review: Average film on a brilliant idea

Khandaani Shafakhana, which faced plagiarism charges by a journalist-turned filmmaker Amitabh Parashar, earlier this year is finally out. Though we don’t know if the charges were true (stealing of ideas is rampant in the world of ‘creativity), we now know Khandani Shafakhana as a film is no great deal. Though it is a brave story, of course. And its a brave choice for Sonakshi to do this film.

As is clear by the name, it's about a sexologist, sex clinic, the taboos associated with sex in our society and a girl trying to survive amid all this. But more than that, the film is about a young woman striving to carve out a place in a man's world. And this is the part which touches heart and wins you over.

But this said, the film is slow, at times boring. This is director Shilpi Dasgupta’s first feature film. She had a good story but the film couldn’t quite become as slick and interesting as the story. Visually, the director fails to impress. There ae so many subtle nuances that could have been conveyed visually in the story. But the film just keeps it sadly limited to dialogues and loud expressions.

The good thing about the story is that it is a woman protagonist who wants people (read men) to talk about their sex problems in a society which considers talking about sex ‘vulgar’. She not only insists on running her maternal uncle’s sex clinic after his death, but also studies the diagnosis, treatment and cure for sex problems of her various patients and makes medicines also despite strong opposition and emotional blackmail from her family.

The bad thing about the film is that it talks too much and repeats the same thing rather too many times. Talking about sex is considered ‘gandi baat’ or a taboo in our society is told many times but why is it so could also have been conveyed if not through dialogues then with some certain scenes or visuals. Another bad thing—comedy and talking about serious issues in a lighter vein is good but not to the extent of making them lose the seriousness.

We can compare this film to Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. This film also highlighted a sex problem. But the entire subject was treated delicately, with comedy, emotion and a sense of comfort which makes the film at once interesting, likable and sentimental too.

Khandaani Shafakhana lacks that trick.

The new comer Priyansh Jora has an impressive screen presence and easily fits in the role of lone boy supporting the protagonist in her struggle to run the sex clinic. Badshah, looks as stupid as his music is...though his music is quite popular thanks to the trend of mediocrity that’s in fashion nowadays. His ‘koka’ song from the film has already become a hit.

Kaise na bheege mann is melodious and moving.

Annu Kapur, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Nadira Babbar are established actors and needless to say that they have acted well. Sonakshi is okay too.

Briefly Khandaani Shafakhana is and average film on a brilliant idea. If you have patience to watch a slow comedy, go watch it. You won’t miss much by giving it a miss.