Story: The Mehta Boys follows the tale of a young and struggling architect, who is forced to welcome and live with his father in his Mumbai apartment for a couple of days after the sudden death of his mother. Actor Boman Irani’s directorial debut takes you on an emotional ride of multiple relationships, mostly focusing on the dynamics of a father-son duo. Both are equally stubborn, hotheaded and extremely argumentative, especially with each other. Does their unusual equation win hearts in this slice-of-life film? Let’s find out…
Review: The movie unlocks with Amay (Avinash Tiwary) in his barely livable Mumbai apartment. He opens his eyes to the view of damp walls, walks toward his unclean kitchen and serves himself a plate of breakfast he ordered online. It’s ironic that the young man living under such circumstances is an architect by profession. The film subtly showcases the character’s rather lost and unambitious approach toward life in the ‘city of dreams’. Nevertheless, you may find his situation either relatable or irritating.
After learning about his mother’s sudden demise, Amay returns to his hometown to see his family, where he seems to share an unlikely equation with the people. While he is quite close to his elder sister (Puja Sarup), the relationship with his father (Boman) appears somewhat strained. Co-written by Alexander Dinelaris and Boman, the movie gets full marks for taking time to elaborate on the dynamics between the pivotal characters.
For the slice-of-life tale that The Mehta Boys is, the slow-paced and carefree approach to the screenplay surely works. However, the inconsistent equation between the central characters sometimes comes across as a flaw in the plot. In several instances, the father and son seem to be delving into a deeper discussion about their thoughts about each other and the things around them. Suddenly then, a trivial utterance or gesture leads to needless fights and disagreements. In the beginning, you may relate to it or even enjoy the banters between them. But after a point, it all becomes monotonous.
Nevertheless, the outstanding performances make up for the little flaws in this family film. Avinash earnestly portrays the character of an indolent and vulnerable man. Amay is talented, but not confident enough to thrive at work. He is sentimental yet unable to express his true feelings to anyone. The father shares a similar emotional quotient as his son. But unlike the latter, he is expressive and quite open with people, except his son. Boman’s nuanced performance as a recently widowed man trying to rekindle his relationship with his estranged child is applaudable.
Boman surprisingly doesn’t appear to be a first-time director. Even with little hits and misses in the two-hour-long film, the symbolic shots work wonders. When a huge red tarpaulin flutters below the blue sky, the father and son look astonished and remember the deceased wife and mother respectively. Meanwhile, when the father talks about his late partner and remembers how he fell in love with her, the camera pans across his face closely and gracefully showcasing the mixed emotions of a romantic man, who has just lost his companion. It seems heartbreaking yet beautiful and deep.
Puja’s character as Amay’s sister appears for only a brief period in the film, but the brilliant actor leaves her mark. As an elder sister/daughter, she is understanding and takes the responsibility of keeping the rest of the family united. During an airport scene, the actor gets furious and bursts into tears due to the unnecessary clash between her father and brother. One may identify with that rage in real life.
Shreya Chaudhry plays Avinash’s colleague and love interest, Zara. She is confident, beautiful and unlike Amay knows what she wants in life. The Bandish Bandits star makes frequent appearances amid the story like a breath of fresh air, and each time her arrival breaks the monotony of the movie.
Verdict: The Mehta Boys is not flawless. But Boman’s sophisticated approach to the story as a director and a brilliant actor, alongside Avinash, Puja and Shreya make up for the inconsistencies. With a soothing pace and profound storytelling, this charming tale comes to life.
The Mehta Boys
Watch On:Prime Video
Director:Boman Irani
Writers:Boman Irani, Alexander Dinelaris
Cast:Boman Irani, Avinash Tiwary, Puja Sarup, Shreya Chaudhry
Rating:3.5 stars
