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After 'Ek Aur Ek Gyarah', producer Subhash Ghai once again tries his hands on comedy but this time with a new protégé as director. He brings in veteran actor-director Satish Kaushik to call the shots who apart from acting started showing his directorial skill when he was assisting Shekhar Kapur. His directorial debut was 'Roop Ki Raani Choron Ka Raja' that bombed at the box office. Satish Kaushik has since kept on moving on both the tracks simultaneously; as an actor and as a director.

In acting, no one ever doubted his skill but as a director he has had a mixed career. It he had a hit in 'Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai', then he also has dud in 'Vaada'. On one hand he has had a super hit like 'Tere Naam', on the other he also had a super flop in 'Badhai Ho Badhai'. In 'Badhai...' he has dabbled as a producer too. This time Satish Kaushik has tried to handle Bollywood's sex bomb Mallika Shehrawat.

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Satish makes a sort of casting coup in his latest 'Shaadi Se Pehle' but fails to utilize Mallika. 'Shaadi Se Pehle' has been publicized as a full-blown comedy by its makers. But after spending nearly hours in cinema hall, one doesn't laugh enough to feel an ache in stomach; instead one has a severe headache. In 'Shaadi Se Pehle', Mallika Shehrawat tries her best to sizzle on the screen, but fails as she lacks emotions and expressions though exposes her body.

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Films concerning marital and extra-marital affairs have become flavor of the season and add a lot of absurdity in the plot. Besides, these films are called hit comedies. Boney Kapoor has tried it in 'No Entry' and succeeded, but Subhash Ghai tries it in 'Shaadi Se Pehle' and miserably fails. The only difference between the two is the script. While 'No Entry' has lots of funny situations and moves in tandem, 'Shaadi..' lacks the connection from one scene to another.

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'Shaadi Se Pehle' is the story of Ashish (Akshaye Khanna) and Rani (Ayesha Takia). Ashish is in love with Rani and cannot think of anything but about her. But, he suffers from some illness that keeps repeating. Later, he comes to know that he has cancer. Ashish's life is shattered but he wants everything to be set right before he dies. He wants Rani to hate him so that she can live life with someone else. For this he pretends to be friendly with sexy super model Sania (Mallika Shehrawat). So, Rani dumps him.

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But the destiny had it otherwise; Ashish comes to know that his diagnosis was wrong and he is not suffering from cancer. He wants Rani back in his arms. But time seems to be running out for him. Besides, there is this goon (Suniel Shetty) after him. He is Sania's brother and wants Sania to get married with Ashish as soon as possible. This poses another serious situation for Ashish who runs from pillar to post to save himself from this situation. Though Ashish has always been dependent on his friend (Rajpal Yadav), this time the latter is unable to handle the situation.

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'Shaadi Se Pehle' could have been a very good film for this weekend but it ends as just any other mediocre one. It does not have the Midas touch of showman Subhash Ghai. Satish Kaushik has already pointed out this fact; he has said that there was no interference from his producer during the shooting. The fact is visible, as Satish has failed to carry the charisma of his producer's banner. 'Shaadi Se Pehle' lacks the grip of a comedy.

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It fails at many places and all songs picturized on Mallika do not carry the story forward. Most of the times they look like a music video thrown in from nowhere. The scene where Akshaye flirts with Mallika for the first time promises many more such scenes to follow but that doesn't happen at all. The chemistry between Akshaye and his sidekick Rajpal Yadav also lacks catalysts. The triangle of Akshaye, Mallika and Ayesha is never there and the audience keeps waiting for Ayesha and Mallika to come face to face till the end.

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The only good part of the film is music by Himesh Reshamiya (he also happens to be music director of another film released this week e.g. 'Banaras'). All the actors in 'Shaadi Se Pehle' appear to be lost in thoughts and not in the happenings of the story. Though cameos by Anupam Kher, Gulshan Grover and Aftab Shivdasani try hard to enliven the film's narration it does not help it much. Sanjay Chel's script is the biggest culprit. Subhash Ghai who is very good at script will find out a better scriptwriter next time. On the whole, 'Shaadi Se Pehle' is just a mediocre film that will find it hard to live up to the expectations from a Mukta Arts film.