RTake Studios, Being U Studios and Shimla Talkies’ Daadi Ki Shaadi is a family drama. Much to the embarrassment of her two sons, the widowed Vimla (Neetu Kapoor) announces that she is all set to marry. And the news comes on the day of the roka ceremony of her grand-daughter, Kanika (Sadia Khateeb). Both her sons, Jeevan (Deepak Dutta) and Nag (Jitender Hooda), reach Shimla with their families, to meet Vimla who lives all alone there. The aim is to convince her to call off the wedding to save the ‘honour’ of the Ahuja family. Tony Kalra (Kapil Sharma), who was to marry Jeevan’s daughter, Kanika, accompanies her family to Shimla. Later, Vimla’s daughter, Sunaina (Riddhima Kapoor Sahni), joins the family in Shimla. She is accompanied by her little son and daughter.
What is the story behind Vimla’s plan to remarry? Who is the groom?
Ashish R. Mohan has written a story which has its heart in the right place as it underlines the uneasy truth that children have no time for their parents once they (children) get busy with their own families. However, the screenplay, penned by Ashish R. Mohan, Bunty Rathore and Saahil S. Sharma, is so convoluted, long-winding and round-and-about that the heartwarming story fails to have the desired impact. While several of the comedy scenes tickle the funny bone, the emotional ones simply fail to make the cut. Lack of tear-jerking scenes is one of the biggest minus points of this family story. The drama often looks stretched and contrived because while the point trying to be made is correct, the way it is made is not! Bunty Rathore’s dialogues are often weighty and they appeal to the family audience.
Neetu Kapoor does a fair job as Vimla Ahuja. Kapil Sharma is lovely and lively as Tony Kalra. R. Sarath Kumar performs well as Col. Theeran Devrajan. Sadia Khateeb is quite good as Kanika Ahuja. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni makes a decent debut as Sunaina. Deepak Dutta is fantastic in the role of Jeevan Ahuja. He is as natural as natural can be. Jitender Hooda lends wonderful support as Nag Ahuja. Tejaswini Kolhapure makes a fine mark as Jeevan’s wife, Romal. Aditi Mittal has her moments as Nag’s wife, Baby. Nikhat Khan Hegde lends able support as Shakti Kapoor. Flora Jacob (as Malhotra aunty) and Parveen Kaur (as Chauhan aunty) are good. Ishan Chadha (as Bobbly Ahuja) and Vidhaan Sanjay Sharma (as Bittu Ahuja) make decent impressions. Yog Raaj Singh Khalsa is endearing as Bauji. Swarna Pandey (as Avni), Mohammad Ali (as Capt. Aadi Vishnu Reddy), Rahul Singh (as police inspector Azad Bedi), Anjuman Saxena (as Kavita Reddy), Sahebdas Manikpuri (as the scrap dealer), Satwant Kaur (as Tony Kalra’s mother), Manhar Sivia (as Tony Kalra’s father), Pankaj Sabharwal (as Taiji), Sahib Singh (as Tauji), Ritu Mehta (as Amrita chachi), Satinder Kassaona (as Bhagwan chacha), Adviti (as Simran), Avantika Hari Nalwa (as young Vimla), Kavid Machhan (as kid Jeevan), Nirvan Kashyap (as kid Nag), Ashwika Sharma (as kid Sunaina), Arihant Shobta (as young Jeevan), Kavya Rapta (as young Nag), Samanvita Sharma (as young Sunaina) and the rest do as desired.
Ashish R. Mohan’s direction is average. He has not been able to make a tear-jerking drama, which is what was needed. Music (by Gulraj Singh), Payal Dev, Aditya Dev, Goldboy and Joi Barua) is quite weak. Lyrics (Manoj Yadav, Jyotica Tangri, Payal Dev, Aditya Dev, Youngveer and Mohsin Shaikh) are below the mark. Song picturisations (Ganesh Acharya, Rajeev Surti and Uma-Gaiti) are functional. Gulraj Singh’s background music ought to have been far more effective. Mark Nutkins and Suresh Beesaveni’s cinematography, with additional cinematography by Brendan Harvey, is alright. Narendra Rahurikar’s production designing, and Tanisha Goswami’s additional production designing are okay. Protim Khaound’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Daadi Ki Shaadi is a weak fare which will go largely unnoticed.
Released on 8-5-’26 at Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Panorama Studios. Publicity: below the mark. Opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was poor everywhere.