Not every movie is meant to be intellectualized and Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya is definitely not a Neerja, a Lunchbox or a Raincoat. It’s not even a Piku or PK. The fact that the plot tackles the evil of dowry, packaged as delightful eye candy, makes it easy for the masses to palate. I do believe it targets the masses and not the elite that probably has no dowry or female emancipation issues to begin with. BKD is like the box of multi colour Roll-Ups that claims to provide some bonus Vitamin C nutritional value. But let’s be honest; we don’t buy it for the nutrition but for the flavour and sugar spike and those of us who are health addicts don’t buy it at all.
Personally, I didn’t even think BKD was regressive. Sure, the ‘not taking no for an answer’ is a recurring issue with many Bollywood films but Veidehi (Alia Bhatt) in BKD is very different from Alizeh (Anoushka Sharma) in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Veidehi does have feelings for the illiterate yet incredibly endearing Badri (Varun Dhawan) and only runs away from her wedding because she wants to pursue a career and he won’t stand up for her.
Here’s how it’s not regressive. Badri watches Veidehi work (in Singapore) and is so impressed that he ends up fighting for her rights. He genuinely loves her and is protective of her; he’s not lecherous and doesn’t even touch her when he gets a chance. Badri may be crude and rough around the edges but he’s definitely better than the scoundrel of a Rhett Butler, one of Hollywood’s most famous protagonists. Whether he’s ‘dreamboat or douchebag’ is debatable but the phenomenon is not new. Badri’s brother Alok won’t stand up to his father either but he works with his wife, who’s the brain behind the business; he admires her skills and at the end she does get her own office and recognition for her work. I do think this kind of gentle persuasion will be more effective in changing chauvinistic mindsets than a film which delivers a message like a blow to the head.
My point: this movie delivers exactly what it promises. A very cute couple, great cinematography, song and dance. And a morale lesson to be found at the end of the rainbow. It’s a Shashank Khaitan film, a Dharma Production and a Holi release. It’s a feel good film. Why people are expecting anything deeper is beyond me.
