Thank You For Coming is not a typical rom-com. There are no meet-cutes and no perfect man waiting in the wings while the female protagonist sorts out her life, but there is a happy ending. Not the kind you’d expect in a mainstream Bollywood film though. Thank You For Coming may or may not be a commercial success, it may even be “too much” for an Indian audience. But the sheer existence of this film is a relief. It’s a welcome break from the excessive masculinity that Bollywood has been throwing in our faces lately. Yes, it is an obvious attempt to pander to an urban audience that knows all the keywords trending on social media. It takes a few of the most discussed subjects on desi social media–feminism, women choosing to remain single instead of miserable in a marriage, female sexuality, gender identity, slut-shaming, and consent–and presents it all in an aesthetic package.

Directed by Karan Boolani and written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh, Thank You For Coming stars Bhumi Pednekar as Kanika Kapoor, the messed-up protagonist of the film who goes from man to man in search of an orgasm, Shibani Bedi as Tina, Kanika’s sassy, supportive friend and protective single mom to a teenager, and Dolly Singh as Pallavi, Kanika’s newly married friend. The other members of the cast include Kusha Kapila as the mean girl, Shehnaaz Gill as a happy-go-lucky trainee chef who only wants to enjoy her life and keeps showing up wherever ‘Kanika di‘ is, Anil Kapoor as a Gulzar-loving professor who is unlucky in love, Karan Kundrra, Natasha Rastogi, and Dolly Ahluwalia.

Not full of laughs, but it is entertaining

Much like its lead, the first half of Thank You For Coming is all over the place. It feels like a really hasty build-up to the second half which is much better and finally brings the story together. We don’t really see any depth to any other character except the lead, which is fine for a film like this. But it does make you wonder what performers like Sushant Divgikr, Shibani Bedi, and Shehnaaz Gill could have done with their roles given the chance.

The vibe of the film is very 2023, complete with music by Ritviz, known content creators in the cast, and effortless sidelining of the men, including Anil Kapoor, even though the lead character’s main aim in life is to find a man. But that’s okay. Because if this story had given us a knight in shining armour, it would’ve lost its message.

Kanika Kapoor is a single woman raised by a rebellious single mom (Natasha Rastogi) and her nani (Dolly Ahluwalia) who keeps cleaning up the messes her daughter and granddaughter create. Kanika survives a troubled childhood full of bullies in every corner, and as she turns 30, she panics at the thought of never finding a man and ending up single like her mom. When she reveals that she’s never had an orgasm, her friends Tina and Pallavi resolve to make it happen for her. They give her a bag of sex toys, and a few one-liners, and also try to support her, and dissuade her at regular intervals, when she decides to marry the good boy in her life.

The morning after her engagement party, Kanika wakes up in a daze only to remember that she had her first orgasm the previous night. This is when the kalesh begins as the three friends try to figure out who she slept with. As this story progresses, the film branches out in several directions. But the most enjoyable and visually stunning part is when we see Rani Kohenur in all her glory in Pari Hoon Main. If only this performance was longer! We need a lot more of Sushant Divgikr on the big screen.

Hits and misses with the performances

Bhumi Pednekar embodies the confused, sexually deprived modern Indian woman well. There are many times in Thank You For Coming when Kanika Kapoor is not a pretty sight. There are also times when she’s really in your face with her mess. But that’s Bollywood for you–an exaggerated version of some kind of reality. It always feels like Bhumi Pednekar is about to go over the top with her character but thankfully, she doesn’t.

Shibani Bedi, as Tina Das, easily shifts from the progressive, sassy friend to the troubled, protective mother who still wants her daughter to be a conventional good girl. The one-liners given to her are some of the best in the film, and they also work because of Shibani’s comic timing. Dolly Singh, as Pallavi, is great as the lead’s friend, but the little bit of emotional drama towards the end seems out of her league as an actor. At least for now. Kusha Kapila brings her south Delhi aunty persona to the big screen as the mean girl and we all know she does that well. Shehnaaz Gill, as mentioned above, needed more to her character to really shine.

Thank You For Coming is a fun, breezy watch, perfect for a day out with your girlfriends. Out now in cinemas!

Can you watch it with family? Inappropriate for children. Adults who squirm at the thought of women talking about sexual pleasure will be uncomfortable.