Overview
A comedic yet heartfelt exploration of love and societal expectations in modern India.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- empathetic
- date night
- pride month
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, empathetic, and socially relevant portrayal of queer relationships confronting family and cultural pressure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Shardul and Suman marry to deflect pressure from their families while pursuing relationships with men and women respectively.
The film uses comic family situations and romantic complications to explore same-sex desire and social conformity.
Both protagonists are pressured to marry and have children despite their same-sex attractions.
Shardul spends time with Kabir while Suman develops feelings for Rimjhim after their marriage.
Films like Badhaai Do, and why
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
shared queer themes, family pressure, warm comedy, and socially conscious romantic drama
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
shared lavender-marriage premise, closeted queer identity, family expectations, and bittersweet humor
The Way He Looks
shared lgbtq+ self-discovery, cultural repression, intimate drama, and emotional coming-of-age
Dum Laga Ke Haisha
shared marriage-of-convenience structure, ensemble comedy, and conflict between social convention and personal desire
Movie Details
- Director
- Harshavardhan Kulkarni
- Release Date
- 2022-02-11
- Runtime
- 147 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (98)
Cast
- Rajkummar Rao
- Bhumi Pednekar
- Seema Pahwa
- Sheeba Chaddha
- Nitesh Pandey
- Loveleen Mishra
- Chum Darang
- Shashi Bhushan
- Deepak Arora
- Gulshan Devaiah
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Badhaai Do about?
- Two queer strangers enter a protective marriage to satisfy their families, only to find that domestic expectations threaten the freedom they hoped to preserve.
- What is Badhaai Do like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Badhaai Do as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Badhaai Do violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Badhaai Do as mild.
- What did critics think of Badhaai Do?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a funny, empathetic, and socially relevant portrayal of queer relationships confronting family and cultural pressure.
- Which films are like Badhaai Do?
- Films with a similar feel include Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, The Way He Looks, and Dum Laga Ke Haisha.
- How long is Badhaai Do?
- Badhaai Do runs 147 minutes.
- Where can I watch Badhaai Do?
- In United States, Badhaai Do streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
