The After Hrs review: 'Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi'

Film: Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi
Director: Bela Bhansali Sehgal
Cast: Boman Irani, Farah Khan
Rating: ***

Name: Farhad Pastakiya
Age: 45
Business: Bra and panty salesman at Tem Tems
It’s this last line in Farhad’s (Boman) bio-data for matrimony purposes that seems to get him rejected every time. The result?

As one of his customers points out, ‘from an eligible bachelor, you have become the most reliable bachelor’. Living with his dominating mother (Daisy) and a lovable granny (Shammiji) at 45, he is the softie who everyone wants to take a lick of, for humour of course! Things finally look up and cupid strikes when a phatakdi of sorts, Shirn Fugawala enters his life. But alas, she is disliked by the mummy for more reasons than one, and so the love story finds its villain and also cause for added melodrama.

The film remains a breezy affair throughout, but Boman infuses so much life and energy into his character that you find youself drawn into his world. Farah looks too casual for most parts and in some others she gives it a college play kind of a feel, but overall, does manage to keep up with Boman’s comic timing. The chemistry gets a thumbs up. For a first timer, Bela does a fairly good job, though she does fall prey to stereotyping of characters when entering the domain of Parsi characters. There are characters you have grown to expect in Parsi comic capers and this one has its share too, like a near eccentric gun-wielding Bawa, and an equally crazy uncle who wants to marry Indira Gandhi!

Also, there really are scenes that could’ve been done away with completely like the fracas in the society meeting and also there was just no need to resort to toilet humour. Some twists are rather cliched too. The music is strictly an added though it does lend a comical touch. Also, many actors like Kurush Deboo, Nauheed Cyrusi… seem wasted in their bit roles.

But these hiccups apart, the film has some beautiful and cute moments like the one Boman shares with his granny (Shammiji is as endearing as ever) and then some hilarious ones like Farah’s first lunch with the would-be-in-laws. The story does makes one wonder if Sanjay Leela Bhansali purposely wanted his sister to make her directorial debut with a sweet and simple story that doesn’t have much scope to go wrong especially with a strong actor like Boman. Overall, too sweet and too simple, but makes for a fun watch. So catch Farhad-Shirin’s love story, Boman-Farah make it worth a watch.