The trouble with this film is that quite soon it chickens out. From a comedy with a strong ‘social’ component which could have been a barrel of meaningful laughs, it turns into a soppy melodrama.

Sonakshi Sinha and Badshah’s film has its heart in the place but suffers for playing sexual problems for jokes and unnecessary melodrama.

Sonakshi Sinha’s Film Isn’t A Cure for Boredom…The movie makers stay true to their promise of, “The Only Sex Film for the Whole Family” and the film ends up being a straitjacketed one for it.

With so many maladies plaguing the movie, it’s too bad there’s nothing like a scriptwriting Shafakhana.

The character-driven, female-centric film looks erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and low sperm motility in the eye.

The lifeless plot gets a few scenes right, but they are few and far between. The only bright spot is an all-too fleeting appearance by rapper Badshah, who plays a flamboyant version of himself as a popular rapper named Gabru Gatak. His delightfully wry delivery seems to coax Sinha into showing off some of the comic timing that is otherwise missing from the rest of her performance.

In the past, we have seen films like ‘Vicky Donor’ and ‘Shubh Mangal Savadhan’ handle sensitive subjects (read sperm donation and erectile dysfunction) with class, tact and comedy. While this film’s intent is bang on, what it really needed was a heavier dose of humour and entertainment.

Khandaani Shafakhana is another example that proves that Bollywood is thinking out of the box. But the subject alone isn’t enough, the key is to present it in an engaging manner, with a dose of entertainment. The film tries to do so, but doesn’t quite make the cut.

Khandaani Shafakhana is at best a one-time watch and is a treat for only, and only, Sonakshi Sinha fans.

Despite the flaws, the topic is a pertinent one — this is a conversation that needs to happen and people with issues related to sex need to feel that there is no need to keep their gupt rog all that gupt anymore.

Alas, only if the matter was handled with a little more finesse, this story about yaun sambandh wouldn’t have been a yawn-fest.

Shilpi Dasgupta’s noble intention runs thin when the screenplay starts reducing sexual issues to jokes for quick giggles. The gaze is empathetic even though the protagonist starts off reluctantly.

Depth though is missing in this film that touches upon all these elements, but sinks its teeth into them only in fits and starts. It has its moments here and there. However, overall, although it is meant to be a comedy drama about sexual health, the comedy is occasionally on point but there is not enough of it, the social commentary is very occasionally insightful but not enough, and the drama is not dramatic enough.

Khandaani Shafakhana betrays most flaws that efforts of debutant directors in Bollywood normally do. Hopefully, Shilpi Dasgupta will give us a better second film.

Sonakshi Sinha delivers a sincere performance in a movie that gets lost between convenient laughs and righteous messaging

While the message behind this film is laudable, it isn’t always exciting. If you are hoping that this movie will end with a big bang, you are mistaken.