Parsis, since the time they arrived on the Indian shores way back some centuries ago, have made good of their promise to mix into the Indian mainstream, just like sugar in milk. Yet their typical goofy, quirky image (besides their tall real life achievements!) has also made sure that they’d always stand out in the crowd.

Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, the debut directorial venture of Bela Bhansali-Sehgal, presents an all-Parsi middle-age love-story, which tries to make the most of that sweet eccentric Parsi Bawa image.

What’s the plot?

Farhad Pastakia (Boman Irani) is forty-five. He is still single and staying with his over-protective mom and a loving grandmother. The mom is busy trying to convince him to marry but his age, his job (as a salesman in a specialized ladies undergarments shop!) and his own expectations are coming in the way. Then he finds Shirin Fuggawala (Farah Khan), a spirited spinster, who is working as a secretary in the Parsi Community trust. The two forty-plus Parsis like each other and fall in love. But will their deep family-attachments and a silly misunderstanding come in their way of finding happiness together?

What’s hot?

For most of the time, SFTNP is sweet and funny. Boman Irani is brilliant as usual. He carries the film on his shoulders. Farah Khan is a pleasant surprise in her debut acting role. She delivers an assured performance, a far cry from her earlier rather insipid stint as a TV host.

Boman and Farah’s screen chemistry is nice to watch.

What’s not?

Many side-characters act too loud.

The writing is rather ordinary. The humor is often repetitive and silly. The emotional sequences seem to be forced. The plot, characters and dialogues could have been better exploited with better writing. (Only after writing these lines in the review I found out that it was Sanjay Leela Bhansali who has written the film! But hey, so what?)

 The songs and dances hamper the flow, rather than adding anything extra.

Verdict

Even though it treads on a rather predictable (Parsi) path, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh NIkal Padi is a largely enjoyable romantic comedy, thriving on an excellent chemistry between a rather unusual lead pair. Coming from a debutant director (a sister of Sanjay Leela Bhansali- no less!) it is a promising beginning.