Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Goosebumps Entertainment’s Hardik Shubhechcha (Marathi; UA) is the story of misunderstandings between a newly-married husband and wife.
Madhav Joshi (Pushkar Jog) gets married to Radhika Pathak (Hemal Ingle) after a lot of difficulty in getting a suitable bride for himself. His friend, Ravi (Prithvik Pratap), gifts him a box of sex toys on his wedding. Radhika sees the box on the first night and gets put off as her ex-boyfriend had had sex with her using sex toys forcibly. Tension between Madhav and Radhika mounts and for five months, they don’t consummate their marriage. Radhika confides in her friend, Sapna (Anushka Sarkate), about her experience with her ex-boyfriend and her fear that her husband may do the same with her. However, she does not reveal that she had seen the box of sex toys with her husband.
After five months, Madhav goes to Amsterdam and Paris on a work trip. In Amsterdam, he befriends Natasha (Purvi Mundada) who is a divorcee. She tells Madhav to sort out his differences by talking to his wife. Back in India, Sapna explains to Radhika that using sex toys to up the game is considered normal. Realising her mistake, Radhika goes to Paris and apologises to Madhav.
Pushkar Surekha Jog has written a story and screenplay, with additional screenplay by Namish Chhapekar, which seem to be silly at several times. Radhika being so naive about sex toys as to not get intimate with her husband for five full months seems a bit too much. Also, Sapna taking five months to explain to Radhika that use of sex toys is normal for couples seems to be a convenient twist. Otherwise, Radhika should’ve told Sapna (right when she told her about her experience with her ex-boyfriend) that she had seen a box of sex toys with Madhav. It seems to the viewers that Radhika withheld that piece of vital information from Sapna just so that the drama could stretch for five months. Had Radhika shared this information with Sapna right in the beginning, there wouldn’t have been any scope for misunderstanding. Once the drama ends, the viewers get the feeling that the entire film is much ado about nothing. Some comedy scenes are definitely entertaining. Pushkar Surekha Jog’s dialogues, with additional dialogues by Namish Chhapekar, are very ordinary.
Pushkar Jog acts ably as Madhav Joshi. Hemal Ingle does a fine job as Radhika. Abhijeet Chavan lends average support as Madhav’s father. In the role of Madhav’s mother, Vishakha Subedar is so-so. Kishori Ambiye is passable as Radhika’s mother. Prithvik Pratap is alright as Madhav’s friend, Ravi. Anushka Sarkate lends routine support as Radhika’s friend, Sapna. Purvi Mundada is okay as Natasha. Vijay Patkar just about makes his presence felt in a brief role. Others are passable.
Pushkar Surekha Jog’s direction is not quite up to the mark. Rohan-Rohan’s music is fair. The Dokyala shot song is okay while another song is below average. Mandar Cholkar and Varun Likhate’s lyrics are nothing to dance about. Salil Amrute’s background music should’ve been more effective. Yogesh Mahadev Koli’s cinematography is nice. Shailesh Bangar’s art direction is ordinary. Sunil Dattatray Dahifale’s editing ought to have been sharper.
On the whole, Hardik Shubhechcha is too ordinary to make a mark at the ticket windows. It seems like a frivolous fare.
Released on 21-3-’25 at Jai Hind Mukta A2 (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity: very average. Opening: dull.