Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Everything I do, I do it with passion. And that’s a fact. This is Sheru’s punchline, a junior Bollywood artist who hustles as a pimp to make ends meet in Mumbai. The dialogue also rings true for Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays Sheru, as only seasoned actors of his caliber can make the audience root for a lying, deceitful small-time criminal. And newcomer Avneet Kaur is a bundle of charm as the titular Tiku in 2023 movie “Tiku Weds Sheru”.
Directed by Sai Kabir, who shares writing credits with Amit Tiwari Anand, the film delivers on what the trailer promised: a quirky, entertaining dramedy about two individuals whose dreams defy their humble backgrounds. The story begins with a comical scene, introducing Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Sheru, an extra on a film set, exuding a delusional swagger of a leading hero. Struggling to make ends meet, Sheru resorts to illegal jobs to pay off his debts and rushes off to Bhopal for an arranged marriage. The allure of a beautiful bride called Tiku (Avneet Kaur) and a substantial dowry seals the deal for him. However, unbeknownst to Sheru, Tiku aspires to become an actress and sees the wedding as her ticket to Mumbai. What unfolds is a quirky romance filled with lies, exaggerations, drama, and broken dreams.
From the vibrant and lively wedding in Bhopal to the cramped one-room kitchen where Sheru resides in Mumbai, the cinematography skillfully blends colors and sets to create an engaging atmosphere. The music, for the most part, complements the mood of each scene, except for the final song number towards the climax, which wasn’t catchy enough. However, it is the lead pair’s portrayal of the aspirational class that truly shines. Tiku and Sheru represent the countless men and women who flock to Mumbai, in the hopes of making it big in Bollywood. While a fortunate few find their way to success, most others are lost in the shadows. Expect some dance, drama, betrayal, blood, drugs and a whole lot of emotions among other things.
The lead actors, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur, deliver fantastic performances and infuse their characters with genuine emotion. Avneet’s portrayal sometimes brings to mind the talent and charm of Alia Bhatt, and that is certainly intended as a compliment. Starting as a foul-mouthed and spirited young woman unafraid to pursue her desires, Avneet skillfully portrays Tiku’s more vulnerable side, delivering an endearing performance. However, with their focus on Tiku and Sheru, the writers overlook fleshing out the supporting characters, resulting in the rest of the cast being relegated to forgettable side roles.
With an evenly paced 1 hour 52 minutes runtime, “Tiku Weds Sheru” is an entertaining romantic dramedy with solid leads. Often, stories of this nature tend to stumble towards the end, but even the film’s climax is delightfully “filmy”. The ending strikes a bittersweet tone, infused with comedy and optimism, and is likely to viewers feeling satisfied.
Stream the film on Prime Video.
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