THANK YOU
FOR COMING is a heartwarming tale centered around Kanika Kapoor (Bhumi
Pednekar), a young woman living in Delhi with her mother Beena (Natasha
Rastogi) and her grandmother, Kishori (Dolly Ahluwalia). Raised by a single
mother, Kanika has faced criticism throughout her life for her liberal beliefs
and her pursuit of love. Her relationships with various men have never evolved
into meaningful, long-term connections. As she approaches her 32nd birthday,
she feels disheartened that she hasn't yet found her prince charming. To add to
her concerns, she has never experienced an orgasm.
On her
birthday, Arjun Malhotra (Karan Kundra) shows interest in Kanika and is invited
to her celebration. However, he arrives with a date, Rushi Kalra (Shehnaaz
Gill). Unexpectedly, Rushi and Kanika become close friends, and Rushi
encourages Kanika to marry someone who genuinely loves her. This person turns
out to be Jeevan (Pradhuman Singh), a simple man who sells toilet showers and
has deep affection for Kanika. Despite advice to the contrary from her mother
and best friends Pallavi (Dolly Singh) and Tina (Shibani Bedi), Kanika decides
to marry Jeevan.
At the
engagement party, Kanika invites her ex-boyfriends, including Booni Bhatia,
Shekhar Sinha, Rahul Kasturia (Sushant Divgikar), and Professor (Anil Kapoor).
She indulges in excessive drinking, leading to a hazy memory of the night. The
only thing she remembers is that she experienced an orgasm for the first time.
However, she can't recall which of her ex-boyfriends she spent the night with –
Jeevan, Booni, Shekhar, Rahul, or Professor. The film unfolds as Kanika embarks
on a quest to uncover the truth.
Radhika
Anand's story is promising, and it touches upon important themes, while the
screenplay has its ups and downs. Some scenes are impactful and entertaining,
while others could have been written more effectively. The witty and humorous
dialogues by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh add to the charm of the film,
though they are sparingly distributed. Notably, a dialogue about attaining
orgasm by looking at one's hot body stands out and sets the tone for the film.
Karan
Boolani's direction is commendable as he addresses significant issues like
childhood traumas, societal judgment of women who live life on their terms, and
the lack of female sexual satisfaction. Instead of becoming preachy, he uses
humor and poignant moments to convey these messages. The film's audacious plot
keeps the audience engaged, especially when Kanika sets out to solve the
mystery of her engagement night.
However, the
film does have its shortcomings. It moves at a brisk pace, not allowing the
characters to develop organically, making Kanika's decision to marry Jeevan
feel abrupt. The lack of emphasis on the characters' professional achievements
is puzzling, as it is an important aspect of women's lives. The humor is
limited, and the school finale comes off as somewhat silly.
In terms of
performances, Bhumi Pednekar shines in a role that is vastly different from her
previous work. Dolly Singh and Shibani Bedi provide excellent support, while
Pradhuman Singh delivers a standout performance. Natasha Rastogi and Dolly
Ahluwalia are dependable as always. Shehnaaz Gill, although entertaining, has
limited screen time. Kusha Kapila (Neha) is underutilized, while Gautmik
(Karan) and Saloni Daini (Rania Das) leave a mark. Sushant Divgikar impresses
with his screen presence, and Anil Kapoor is excellent in his cameo.
The film
effectively incorporates songs into its narrative, with "Desi Wine"
being a standout track, followed by "Pari Hoon Main,"
"Haanji," and "Baaraat." However, none of the songs are
chart-toppers. Aman Pant's background score serves its purpose well.
Anil Mehta's
cinematography is clean, and the styling by Manisha Melwani and Devanshi Tuli
adds to the film's appeal. Disha Dey's production design is realistic, and
Shweta Venkat Mathew and Manan Sagar's editing is sharp.
In summary,
THANK YOU FOR COMING is a progressive film that addresses important themes,
offers entertaining moments, and delivers a surprising twist. However, it is
hindered by a patchy script, limited humor, and a somewhat lackluster climax.
Its success at the box office may be hampered by low awareness, and it is
likely to be appreciated primarily by a niche audience in multiplexes.