Single to mingle or married and harried?

The mind of the married man comes undone in Raj Kaushal's Shaadi Ka Laddoo his latest offering after Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi.

No surprise here, for the most profound takeaway from the film is a married man will stray. If he doesn't ogle, he is putting on an act and his woman ought not force him to pretend like he has given up the opposite sex. Either that, or some bizarre metaphor on how life is like a cigarette. What a drag!

With a cardboard-thin plot that might do justice to one-act college stage productions, Shaadi Ka Laddoo seems misplaced on 70mm. Leaves one to wonder for whom will these wedding bells toll?

That said, the film is a light-hearted caper. And if you are not too particular about the quality of your cinematic fare, feel free to indulge.
 
The grass is always greener on the other side, marital status notwithstanding. So much-married Som Dutta (Sanjay Suri), henpecked husband, hassled father, Indore-resident, ball-bearing manufacturer in the throes of the seven-year itch, wants nothing more than to trade places with college chum Ravi Kapur (Aashish Chowdhry).

Who wouldn't? For Ravi, MD of London's hottest music company, has a bachelor lifestyle that would put Casanova to shame. But the music baron, who would trade in his kingdom for a bride, thinks Som is the luckiest man in the world. The things we would do for love. And a wife.

Though Som dissuades Ravi from his quest, he meets with stiff resistance and finally relents to coaching Ravi on the finer nuances of 'how to woo', when the latter meets waitress-singer-Trinity college student and woman of his dreams, Meneka (Samita Bangargi).  

Playing trusted confidant all along is Ravi's best friend Tara (Mandira Bedi).

This bohemian artist with the uncanny ability to understand every male motive, lives life on her terms. And Som, weary of nagging wife Geetu (Divya Dutta) aka Toffee, who refers to him as Laddoo, is floored by her charms.

Hell hath no fury like the wife scorned. All hell breaks lose when, post-interval, Geetu discovers her husband's 'miss-adventure'.  
 
Knots and crosses that wedded folk bear see the film to its finale.    

Lead male characters Sanjay Suri and Aashish Chowdhry slip into their characters with ease and turn in endearing performances. Director Kaushal's wife Mandira in gypsy skirts, junky beaded accessories, but too much eye-shadow, is well-cast. Samita Bangargi needs a few more acting lessons or better direction. Nigar Khan, who starts the proceedings with her item number, and Divya Dutta are overly stereotypical.

The dialogue is witty in parts when the Bachelorhood versus Marriage debate is on. Technically, the film is an improvement over the director's earlier effort. He also uses animated cartoons to some effect, though it would seem they were more a cost-cutting exercise.

Musically, composers Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani score and with interesting picturisation, the songs are enjoyable.        

This is not one of those films you cannot afford to miss. If you do catch it, don't forget to bring along the Mrs.