The setting and the age demographics of the protagonist Binny, plays a crucial part in the film Binny And Family. Aptly titled, the story revolves around a teenage girl slowly getting used to the new city of London who suddenly faces an issue of having to share her space with her grandparents. This might seem like a trivial issue but through the gaze of Binny and to an extent her mother (Charu Shankar), you see that it is important considering Binny’s exams that seem to be fast approaching. The contrasting view is that exams might just be used as a catalyst to divert the focus of the actual issue, given how you see Binny partying hard even while vying her eyes on her school crush Dhruv who in turn is in a conflicted relationship with another girl. And while adjustment plays an important part in the life of Binny – having to tolerate Dhruv’s on and off relationship with Saniya, at home she literally wishes to feel like home, even if it means calling the shots with respect to her space.

One of the interesting aspects of the drama is the characterization wherein each character has a contrasting emotion with respect to the other. For instance, you see Binny’s parents being the liberal kind, often resorting to house parties and alcoholism even while keeping their eyes on Binny, while completely changing their lifestyles when Binny’s grandparents visit them. There is a playful bit of hide and seek that is used as an undercurrent even as unsaid restrictions are imposed in the household featuring Binny’s grandfather, a mild patriarch who doesn’t appreciate Binny staying outdoors at night, a sharp contrast to Binny’s grandmother who is much more giving in that regard. And even as the elderly couple slowly try to get adjusted to their new setting (a hilarious scene of them inquiring about the Doctor aka Dr. Dre) , the conflict lies with Binny who feels her space to be violated.

The drama has a sense of familiarity that is nicely subdued by its sense of staging. For instance, a huge twist in the tale at the halfway mark following a sequence of events that represent a showdown, is wonderfully downplayed to the extent that it isn’t is only treated as a side event without dwelling and submitting to the regular tropes of the genre. It is merely used as a catalyst for realisation on the part of Binny who slowly begins to accept her reality while also dwelling on a perception by shattering her beliefs with dollops of empathy. As a result, you see Binny schooling her parents on mental health despite facing the wrath from her grieving grandfather, an important scene that is a turning point for all characters.

The drama switches POVs rather seamlessly as the generational gap between Binny and her grandfather starts to narrow, even as you see the character of the grandfather trying to learn the ways of the new country, he finds himself in. In a beautiful scene, you see him advising Binny about love and how it may not necessarily end up with the person you love the most, a cliched thought if you think about it but beautifully staged and performed. The drama continues to be subdued with its subplots, not deviating its path or focus away from its core relationship. And hence, the subplots involving Binny’s relationship with her closest friend or even her crush is usually on the sidelines, or even merging into the prime core. Even when the drama threatens to head towards its melodramatic finale, it never gets bogged down with its cliches, while using the minimalistic approach really well. So a little monologue at the end does leave you with a feel-good feeling as opposed to waiting for the film to end. The balance of approach is being self-aware on how much is enough is quite evident here, in a sweet little screenplay that punches above its weight.