MELBOURNE, 31, December 2022: Ayushmann Khurrana (Dr. Uday Gupta) wants to be a orthopaedic doctor but ends up as the only male in the gynaecology department surrounded by female doctors. His reluctance there leads to embarrassing situations, chaos, gender hesitancy and comedy. Director Anubhuti Kyshyap weaves a rather sensitive subject in the Indian context, into a feel good comedy, with frankness and simplicity. In a country with a rare male gynaecologist, the movie tackles a personality controlled by subjectivity facing unintended situations.
Here is a doctor who is inexperienced and reluctantly working. The female staff (doctors and nurses) often chid him, at he faces the wrath of patients and people accompanying them. For example, examining a pregnant patient without the presence of a female patient (against medical ethics) or conducting a twins delivery (experience) is a big challenge. Dr. Nandani, head of the department tells him to shed his ‘male touch’. While work challenges become a norm, at home his mum (Sheeba Chadda as Shobha Gupta) a single mother is yarning for companionship and trying out with an elderly fellow. His best friend (Abhay Chintamani Mishr as Abhishek Chandel ‘Chaddi’), who lives with him is frustrated as is not able to clear the civil services exam.
But Dr. Uday Gupta’s first successful take at a complicated delivery, after the patient’s two unsuccessful deliveries, leads the baby being named Uday, after him. Success seems to be coming. Meanwhile, he falls for Dr. Fatima which culminates into a kiss, but Dr. Fatima considers him only a ‘good friend’ and invites him for her engagement event. In a sub-plot he deals with his married cousin’s girl-friend Kavya’s (Ayesha Kaduskar) MTP , she being a minor.
Ayushmann Khurrans gives a stellar performance and so does Sheeba Chadda. Other actors are not bad, sailing through a smooth script. This is one of the good movies of 2022. Being a medical comedy is an added feather. Breaking many gender taboos, the movie’s message speaks for itself. Well done, Director Anubhuti Kyshyap. Bollywood biggies have so much to learn!
The movie is adult (18+) and has many suited dialogues. For example, the nurse is about to inject a scared patient, remarks in Hindi – “Itni choti sui sui se dar lagta hi – Jab apne pati se…” The 124 minutes movie shot in Bhopal has eight tracks including ‘Newton ek din Saeb girega..’ and the last track ‘Mera dil dhak dhak karta hi..’ with the concluding titles.
Not to be missed. Doctor G is currently streaming at Netflix.
I give Doctor G, 3.5 stars out of five.
