The found family trope is one of my favourite tropes to read because I like the fuzzy feeling I get when I read about the characters sticking by each other like family. And, I am glad that this genre is well-adapted to Bollywood films like Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, English Vinglish, and Zindagi Na Miegi Dobaraa to name a few. To add to this list, we have the newly released romantic drama Trial Period. Starring Genelia Deshmukh, Manav Kaul, Shakti Kapoor, and Sheeba Chadha in the lead, Trial Period is directed by Aleya Sen, who has previously produced the 2018 hit Badhaai Ho. This film is strictly a two-starrer but it is Manav Kaul who deserves an extra star for his performance in this one.
The plot of Trial Period
As the movie’s name suggests, this film is about bringing something home only to return it after the 30-trial period, and in this case, Genelia AKA Ana brings a father for hire for her son. Ana is a single mother whose school-going son Romi suddenly starts asking about his father’s whereabouts. A divorcee, Ana explains to him as simply as she can to him about their separation but Romi, who is teased in school about not having a father.
So, Ana decides to bring home a ‘papa’ AKA Manav Kaul AKA Prajapati on a trial basis for Romi. But he has been given clear instructions that he is supposed to make Romi hate him so that his obsession with having a father wanes. All that ensues further is a clash between Ana and Prajapati on parenting, different lifestyles, different sets of values and just about everything else.
Characters Of Trial Period
Genelia Deshmukh as Ana Roy Choudhary
Ana, a Bengali woman living and raising her son in Delhi, looked pretty but did not fit the part well. It felt as though she did not what the hardships a single mother faces as she balances her work life and raising a son simultaneously.
Genelia’s Ana looked confused and did not know the dos and don’ts of parenting. Her struggles did not come through, and she seemed miscast in this role as well because she seemed immature in many scenes. Genelia failed to add a touch of sensitivity to her character, and she came in too strong in some scenes where she was expected to be soft.
Manav Kaul as Prajapti Dwivedi
Prajapati Dwivedi is a simple guy hailing from Ujjain who comes to Delhi to land a job. He is a history teacher but agrees to be a dad for hire after getting pressurised by his uncle, played by Gajraj Rao.
Prajapati is a walking green flag, this guy! Manav Kaul plays this role with such innocence and sincerity that it makes me wish every girl get a guy like him. He is an all-rounder who cooks, cleans, plays a duffli, knows yoga asanas, and plays transitional sports. But poor writing flattens his character arc. With a limited area to play within, Manav Kaul tries his best to deliver and he even partly succeeds.
What I liked best about his role was how his character had a purpose and he served that purpose in the end, unlike Genelia Deshmukh’s character.
Shakti Kapoor and Sheeba Chadha as the sweet neighbourhood Punjabi couple brought a lightheartedness to the film. Gajraj Rao made me laugh out loud on so many occasions! His comic timing was perfect, and he made sure he held my attention every time he appeared o the screen.
Verdict
I failed to understand the point of the Trial Period. Was it a film that gave out the message that a single mother can raise her children just fine? Or was it about how a single mother can find love again, and is allowed to be vulnerable? In the process of making this a mixture of both these concepts, the film failed to hit all the marks and felt quite dull.
The chemistry between Genelia Deshmukh and Manav Kaul was only pulled by the latter. Even in those scenes when they came together and Deshmukh had major dialogues, it was Kaul who shined despite not having any.
Also read: Bawaal Review: Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor Shine In A Love Story That Stretches Yet Sensitively Uses WW II References
The film lacked severely in the editing department because there were many scenes that began and ended abruptly, and the transition between two frames lacked flow. If you are looking for something to watch this weekend, sure, give Trial Period a go but I would not specifically suggest it. Genelia Deshmukh and Manav Kaul starrer is now streaming on Jio Cinema.