Thank You For Coming

''Thank You for Coming'' is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language sex comedy film directed by Karan Boolani and produced by Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor. Written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh, the film stars Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila and Shibani Bedi.

The film premiered at the 48th 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Gala Presentations section on 15 September 2023 and was theatrically released on 6 October 2023 to mixed reviews from critics. The film failed at the box office. At the 69th Filmfare Awards, Pednekar received a nomination for Best Actress for her performance in the film. But the film also received negative reviews from viewers and critics for its clichés, plot and poor cinematography.

Plot

The film follows Kanika Kapoor on a quest for love and sexual pleasure. Kanika, a 32-year-old single woman, lives with her mother , Dr. Bina Kapoor, and her grand mother, Kishori Kapoor. She has affairs with a college friend, a professor and later with Rahul. Despite trying hard she has never had an orgasm. After every break up and at her birthdays, when she is very depressed for being alone, she is cheered up by her best friends Pallavi Khanna and Tina Das.

At her 32nd birthday she has a dream where she has died upon waking she has an epiphany and decides to marry Jeevan Anand, a businessman, who has been courting her for long time however they have never been physical. Her mother and friends warn her about the shy and naive Jeevan Anand. But given her mother didn’t marry her father and raised her as single mother, Kanika is terrified of being alone and facing society. Waking up next morning after her engagement ceremony, she has a vague recollection of having an orgasm the night before but she could not recall who it was. All three friends go to investigate who Kanika slept with.

They visit Jeevan Anand and Professor, and later are called by Rahul who appears as a drag queen and tells Kanika encouraged him to be himself. While none of her old fling were with her the night before, her old rival schoolmate tells her that she saw, Karan, Pallavi's husband, leaving Kanika's room in hotel. Kanika is devastated and drives back with flashes of the night with Karan. She gets a call from Rabeya Das, Tina's daughter, (whom she earlier advised men are users and to wait to lose her virginity) Rabeya's boyfriend made a video of their sex and released it on the Internet with it going viral. Kanika has a minor accident after which she breaks her engagement off with Jeevan.

As she arrives home, she is attacked by Pallavi who accuses Kanika of sleeping with her husband and Tina fights with Kanika for giving bad advice to her daughter Rabeya but is rescued and consoled by her mother and grandmother. After a long talk with her mother, Kanika recalls the night. Karan had tucked a drunken Kanika in bed and left, after which she masturbates and gets orgasm. She runs off to Rabeya's school where she is preparing for a public apology. Kanika get the mic and encourages women to not be ashamed of their sexual desires. Rabeya follows and refuses to apologise. Pallavi also realizes her mistake and all three friends make up.

Movie ends with Kanika being single and happy.

Cast

* Bhumi Pednekar as Kanika Kapoor
* Dolly Singh as Pallavi Khanna
* Shibani Bedi as Tina Das
* Shehnaaz Gill as Rushi Kalra
* Kusha Kapila as Neha alias "The Queen"
* Natasha Rastogi as Dr. Bina Kapoor, Kanika's mother
* Dolly Ahluwalia as Jeevan Anand
* Karan Kundrra as Arjun Malhotra
* Gautmik as Karan, Pallavi's husband
* Sushant Divgikar as Rahul/Anjali
* Saloni Daini as Rabeya Das, Tina's daughter
* Anil Kapoor as Professor (special appearance)

Soundtrack

The music of the film is composed by QARAN, The Jamroom, Hanita Bhambri, Vishal Mishra and Aman Pant while lyrics are written by QARAN, IP Singh, Siddhant Kaushal, Raajesh Johri, Hanita Bhambri, Kumaar and Farmaan.

The song ''Pari Hoon Main'' is remake version of the famous Suneeta Rao's song ''Paree Hoon Main'' from the album Dhuan (1991).

Release

The film premiered at the 48th 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Gala Presentations section on 15 September 2023 and was theatrically released on 6 October 2023 to positive reviews from critics. It released on the streaming platform, Netflix on 1 December 2023.

Marketing

The marketing of the film involved a month long promotional tour with Pednekar, Gill, Singh, Bedi and Kapila that included many fan events and the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Reception

Critical reception

Shubhra Gupta of '' The Indian Express'' gave the film 3/5 stars stating, "Bhumi Pednekar film is a heartfelt slap in the face of the zillions of movies that are about privileged boys and their putrid toys". Marya E. Gates of '' Indie Wire'' gave the film a B− stating, "Anand and Singh’s script tries to tackle too many thematic issues, ultimately short-changing most of them. However, it’s hard to deny Pednekar’s irrepressible charm."

In a more positive review, Meera Navlakha of ''Mashable'' stated, "If its purpose is to serve as a feminist romp for modern India, it succeeded – and executed with fun. This is a welcome addition to the genre, reinforcing that female stories deserve to be told with humor, light and meaning".

Box office

''Thank You for Coming'' had an opening day gross of crore with an average occupency of 67.52%. The film witnessed a 44% growth gross on day two, grossing crore but continuously showed decline since.

As of 29 November 2023, ''Thank You for Coming'' grossed crore in India and crore overseas for a worldwide gross of crore.

References

External links

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* {{Bollywood Hungama movie, thank-you-for-coming/, Thank You for Coming

2020s Hindi-language films
2023 comedy-drama films
Indian comedy-drama films
2020s Indian films
2023 films