Slum Dog Husband review: This absurd, disjointed satirical comedy might have been inspired by an illogical WhatsApp idea

In Slum Dog Husband, Parsigutta Laxman aka Lacchi (Sanjay Rao) is more or less a jobless youth. He occasionally takes up a petty job of selling sunglasses on the roadside.

A sex-thirsty youngster presumably, he falls for Mounila (Pranavi Manukonda) who is also from the same locality. Apparently, more than what both knew about the word love, they get tuned to each other irrespective of the context.

A little conversation with Lacchi over the phone would turn Mounika on. Both families want to keep a full stop to their phone sex and marry them off at the earliest.

Unfortunately, they both had no idea about their birth dates to check for the strength of star positions according to astrology.

So, the priest suggests that the groom should initially marry a dog to break the curse. What problems does Lacchi face after marrying the dog forms the crux of the movie.

Join us in the wedding celebrations, Be a witness to this Hilarious Roller Coaster Satire on screen in just 2 days.#Slumdoghusband @SanjayROfficial @Pranavimanukon2 @ar_sreedhar @actorbrahmaji @Appireddya @Mic_Movies @RelianceEnt @kvrajendra @GskMedia_PR @saregamasouth pic.twitter.com/BJKdAHWSZp

— Mic Movies (@Mic_Movies) July 27, 2023

Analysis

Neither the dog nor the husband in the film appears to be from a slum in the first place. At least it doesn’t even attempt to showcase the struggles of protagonist Lacchi. His only craving is to derive sexual gratification.

As his attempts to have phone sex are repeatedly thwarted by his mother, he goes to a park.

Then, Inspector Balaram (RK Mama) irks Lacchi by advising him to have a romance with his girl inside a bus. Lacchi gets third-degree torture in the police lockup after going by the advice of the Inspector.

It looks as if the story is inspired by WhatsApp ideas and contexts that go by illogical reasoning.

This shyish protagonist Lacchi initially says no to marrying a tree when suggested by the priest. But comes forward to marry a dog in a lavish ceremony by inviting everyone from his basthi.

The sequences are so disjointed and disparate that it feels like walking out of the hall even before the interval bang.

At one point, it becomes a triangular love story when the dog, which now becomes Lacchi’s wife, tries to love him in return because of his honesty; but Lacchi goes after his girl!

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An incoherent mess

Slum Dog Husband is so incoherent that you keep wondering why director AR Sreedhar brought topics like social animals, human relations, and animal rights into a romantic comedy; and why he tried to weave it into a satirical commentary.

Fish Venkat, who is the judge of Civil Court, recalls reading sometime during his schooldays that “Man is a social animal.” This makes him convinced that marrying a dog is also legal.

Now, how does the director miss the logic that man is also a biological animal and consummation is the basis of marriage?

Sapthagiri as David Mathew keeps on stretching the argument in the courtroom about whatever comes to his brain.

After discovering that the dog is male, this illogical lawyer named Davedhu Matthayya attributes Lacchi’s marriage to the same-sex marriage verdict given by Supreme Court and seeks the honourable judge to observe the marriage as legal.

AR Sreedhar tries to make the second half a courtroom drama with a touch of satirical comedy aimed at the judiciary.

Yes, a few punches landed flukily with the introduction of defence lawyer Salman Khan (Brahmaji) and another lawyer David Mathew. Every time Sapthagiri addresses the honourable Judge “My Lord”, the about-to-retire Judge replies: “I prayed and praised the Lord.”

Sanjay Rao looked promising when he scored a hit with O Pitta Katha (2020), a few years ago. Abandoning his lucrative career in the Indian Navy, he is spoon-fed about the industry dynamics by his dad Brahmaji.

Apparently, Sanjay couldn’t avoid the trappings of commercial cinema and fumbled with Slumdog Husband, a grossly illogical and absurd project.

Director AR Sreedhar wanted to send out a hard-hitting message in the last 20 minutes. But it barely lands.

Instead of making Slum Dog Husband a courtroom-type drama during the latter half, the director could’ve chosen a hamlet — possibly a panchayat set up to bring about the solution to the protagonist’s problem.

The comedy would have had a believable factory had the problem been resolved in a village setup rather than choosing a Civil Court complex in Hyderabad.

#SlumDog #Husband Movie Release on 29th #July. Hope Everyone enjoy the movie in theatres. Love You All. Me #Sapthagiri. pic.twitter.com/LsocoSNuw8

— Sapthagiri (@MeSapthagiri) July 27, 2023

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Performances

Sanjay Rao is entertaining in a few portions. He is rather dull and ponderous in most of the sequences.

Comparatively, Brahmaji does well in his cameo role as defence lawyer Salman Khan, a reputed legal advisor for film stars.

Yadamma Raju gets not much bite to his character as Parsigutta Santosh, though he turns antagonist in the second half.

Pranavi Manukonda as Mounika is another acting talent that is introduced through this film.

Senior actor Venu Polasani gives his best for his role as Mukundam.

RK Mama, Muralidhar Goud, and Fish Venkat are just entertaining in parts.

Music director Bheems Ceciroleo is the only saving grace for Slum Dog Husband. The “Lacchi gani pelli..” song that plays on the occasion of Lacchi’s marriage is good.

In a way, his efforts are wasted in the movie. It would have added some weight, had the story been entertaining.

The “Frustration Song” doesn’t pack a punch. The retro song “Hey mera chota dil lutgaya monika..” is good.

The cinematography by Srinivas J Reddy looks routine.

Verdict

Slum Dog Husband could have been possibly inspired by WhatsApp ideas or silly social media jokes— grossly illogical and absurd. Neither the comedy nor the sad plight of the protagonist would make you invest in the story.

(Views expressed here are personal.)