Shukranu review: Divyenndu shines in this period comedy!

MUMBAI: Shukranu is a treat to watch and is completely different from other historic and periodic films as it has an element of comedy.

The tale starts in 1975's Emergency. Democratic rights were suspended, and men were brutally sterilised as an extreme population control measure.

As Divyenndu's character Inder makes his way to his wedding, he is abducted and shorn of his ability to reproduce. Too ashamed to admit to what has happened, he goes ahead with the nuptials.

The wedding night and the nights that follow are, predictably, disasters. Inder’s bride Reema (Shweta Basu Prasad) thinks that Inder is suffering from performance anxiety.

 Assured by a doctor that sterilisation has nothing to do with sexual performance, Inder finally has intercourse, but is shocked when he learns that Reema is pregnant.

She must be having an affair with her old friend who keeps hovering around, Inder reasons.

He deals with the situation by having an affair with Akriti (Sheetal Thakur), to whom he was initially attracted before consenting to marry Reema. When Reema shows up, with a swollen belly and expectant eyes, Inder must confront his petty-mindedness.

Written and directed and Bishnu Dev Halder, Shukranu manages to keep up the interest of the audiences and never let the viewers down in a single frame.

The highlight of the movie is Aakash Dabhade, who plays the role of Bhannu, Divyendu BFF. His comic timing is on point and he is a treat to watch.

The first 60–70 minutes of the movie gives out a fresh fe with good one-liners, but it then takes filmy twists and turns and reminds one of old Govinda movies and even No Entry.

The talented Divyenndu keeps the comedy believable and low-key but is barely convincing as Akriti’s object of desire.

Shweta Basu Prasad, convincingly made up to look like a 1970s' heroine with a big hairdo and kohl-lined eyes, could have done more, but is underutilised in a movie most incurious about her point of view and only interested in giving Inder a shot at redemption.

Team TellyChakkar gives Shukranu 3/5 stars.