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Badrinath Ki Dulhania attempts to break stereotypes

By Buraq Shabbir
Fri, 03, 17

Films that manage to convey important messages alongside entertaining viewers have the power to influence one’s thought process. And it’s important to have more of such films that question prevalent norms and stereotypes that are being followed blindly for ages. One such attempt to bring forth what’s hampering the development of our society is Shashank Khaitan’s latest venture Badrinath Ki Dulhania that points out society’s obsession with ........

CinemaScope

The film highlights society’s obsession with marriage and conveys some important messages in the most entertaining manner.

Films that manage to convey important messages alongside entertaining viewers have the power to influence one’s thought process. And it’s important to have more of such films that question prevalent norms and stereotypes that are being followed blindly for ages. One such attempt to bring forth what’s hampering the development of our society is Shashank Khaitan’s latest venture Badrinath Ki Dulhania that points out society’s obsession with marriage and what stops a girl from following her dreams.

Starring Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, the film opens with a commentary on how differently society receives the news of birth of a baby girl and a baby boy. While the son is considered to be an ‘asset’ for the family, daughters are more of a burden for them. Badrinath Ki Dulhania tells the story of two individuals, Badrinath and Vaidehi (played by Dhawan and Bhatt, respectively), who get along well despite major differences in their viewpoints. Badrinath is a rich, desi guy who studied till 10th grade while Vaidehi is a well qualified, middle-class girl who wishes to pursue her career as an air hostess. However, her parents want her to get married and she is torn between her dreams and her family’s happiness. What she decides for herself and in what ways Badrinath contributes to her journey constitutes the essence of the film.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania has its fair share of romance, drama and entertainment that’s typical of a Bollywood film. There are certain episodes in the film that are unrealistic and do not make much sense but it’s a work of art so it’s acceptable to some extent. What makes Badrinath Ki Dulhania a subject of discussion among viewers is its message driven content with a dose of comedy that keeps one intrigued throughout the film. It not only highlights the obstacles that a girl faces if she is career oriented but also presents a picture of how her growth stops once she’s married. Taking into account the lives of two completely different individuals, the film also questions roles that society assigns to men and women.

The most important message that Badrinath Ki Dulhania imparts is that a daughter, too, can stand on her own feet and make her parents proud by achieving what many sons fail to. Also, the fact that a companion is equally important for a woman apart from a successful career has also been highlighted, which makes the film more relatable for viewers, particularly women.