Jio Studios and Chrome Pictures’ Trial Period is the story of a single mom who is forced to get a dad for her little son, on a trial basis for a month.
Anamaya Roy Choudhry (Ana) (Genelia Deshmukh) lives with her little son, Romi (Zidane Braz). The single mom has helpful neighbours in Mamaji (Shakti Kapoor) and his wife (Sheeba Chaddha). One day, Romi insists that he wants a father on a trial basis. Driven to her wits’ end, Ana gets a ‘dad’ for her son and briefs him to be such a bad ‘dad’ that Romi would never again pester her for a father figure in his life. But as it turns out, Romi bonds extremely well with the new dad, Prajapati Dwivedi (Manav Kaul). Not just Romi but Ana herself starts liking Prajapati. What happens thereafter?
Aleya Sen has written a story that looks superficial rather than real. The very concept of a father on trial basis is a bit too frivolous. Even that would’ve worked had the setting been of a comedy film. But the setting is quite realistic and, therefore, the concept appears mismatched. Kunwar Shiv Singh, Akshat Trivedi and Aleya Sen’s screenplay moves on the predictable path, with hardly any surprises in store for the viewers. There are some good moments but they come in the last half an hour. The drama actually starts appealing once Ana’s parents arrive unannounced. The scene on the terrace when Ana returns from the party and chats with Prajapati looks forced if only because a gentleman like Prajapati would never keep lying in bed when a woman — that too, in an inebriated state — has come by his side. What’s even more shocking is that Ana sleeps next to him! The love story of Ana and Prajapati also is predictable. All in all, the drama fails to warm the cockles of the heart, which is what should’ve happened. Instead, a lot of the drama looks forced. Even the light scenes aren’t entertaining. Dialogues, written by Aleya Sen and Akshat Trivedi, are average.
Genelia Deshmukh tries to be earnest but the effort shows. Therefore, her performance as Ana does not become heartwarming. Manav Kaul is okay in the role of Prajapati Dwivedi. Zidane Braz is cute and natural as Romi. Shakti Kapoor gives a heartfelt performance as Mamaji. Sheeba Chaddha hardly gets scope but she is, nevertheless, good as Mamiji. Gajraj Rao is okay as Shrivastavaji. Swaroopa Ghosh is wonderful as Ana’s mother. Barun Chanda makes a mark as Ana’s father. Ayaan is lovely as Gogi. Aprajita Bajaj is good as Armin. Somansh Singh Dangwal has his moments as Shakey. Raynu Verma (as the school principal), Angad Maaholay (as Deepak), Ajinkya Mishra (as Parth), Ajay Jadhav (as the peon), Manju Sharma (as Shakey’s mother), Padam Mishra (as Gogi’s father), Daljeet Singh Gujral (as Puneet bhaiya), Ayushi Rawat (as the teleshopping anchor), Gagan Ahuja (as Lucas), and the others provide routine support.
Aleya Sen’s direction is so-so. She has not been able to make the characters lovable. Music (Shantanu Moitra, Arko, Mago-Mayank and Kaushik-Guddu) is okay. None of the songs is too popular. Lyrics (Swanand Kirkire, Arko, Sidhant Mago, Kaushik-Guddu and Jayanti Sen ‘Meena’) are functional. Song picturisations (Vijay Ganguly and Howard Rosemeyer) are okay. Anupam Roy’s background music is routine. Manoj Khatoi’s camerawork is of a fair standard. Ajay Thakur’s action and stunt scenes are alright. Rohini Sen’s production designing is average. Shahnawaz Mosani’s editing could’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Trial Period is too ordinary to make a mark.
Released on 21-7-’23 on JioCinema.