- Date of Release: 31 May 2024
- Genre: Biopic, Drama, Sports
- Language: Hindi
Mr & Mrs Mahi
Introduction
The timing of the release of this film(pun intended) could not have been better, with it sandwiched between the recently concluded IPL and the upcoming T20 World Cup. Yet, it is a pity that apparently the makers no nothing about the game of cricket, and the same thing is reflected woefully onscreen. Now picture this – there is a batter who has scored only 24 runs but in 5 balls and there is a massive debate about her selection. Oddly, the selectors choose to invite the player for a face to face interview before giving her the green flag. I mean if cricket selections were like a face to face job interview, I would have captained the Indian Cricket Team! The lunacy doesn’t end there for once selected, she is escorted straight to a press conference, something that I couldn’t even wrap my head around. Such events comprise of an unintentionally funny second hour of Mr & Mrs Mahi which literally had the whole story being told in its trailer. I was still willing to give the film a chance given that it starred Rajkummar Rao in his first Dharma outing, and in good form post the release of Srikanth. But the film was such a damp squib and I couldn’t hold my emotions back(of anger and frustration). So here are my thoughts on Mr And Mrs Mahi, a film that never should have been green lit.
Story & Screenplay
Mr & Mrs Mahi follows the story of Mahima and Mahinder, an odd couple who help each other succeed towards their goal of cricket, much to the dismay of their families. The story here is so predictable and stale that it has absolutely nothing new to offer. I mean how many times have you seen a father opposing his son’s dreams and treating him like a black sheep in the family, only for the son to eventually prove him wrong. Or even the husband helping out his wife to realise and achieve her dreams. Now put these two concepts together, and what forms is the first and second half of Mr And Mrs Mahi in a ridiculously dubious screenplay standing at 130 odd minutes. And the predictability of the film wasn’t the only issue, the portions of cricket were the biggest nemesis here that gave me an impression that neither the writers nor the makers have actually followed cricket, even remotely. You can’t be making ‘school boy errors’ in your script! This section will contain spoilers.
The drama opens with the introduction of the protagonist centered around a cricket match in which the chasing team needs 18 runs of the last over. The protagonist, aspiring for a state team selection, gets them on the cusp of victory(not before running out his partner on purpose) before falling prey on the boundary resulting him in not being considered for selections(incidently that stroke that got the protagonist out was similar to the final shot of MSD in probably his final appearance of an IPL match). And this incident of his, shatters his dreams of being a cricketer until he meets his second half who not only motivates him but helps him realise his love for the game that prompts him to coach her(who was caught up in a similar situation as him).
While some moments in the first hour are heartfelt, a part of my issue lay with the characterization also. For instance, the father of the protagonist is absolutely fame crazy and has photoshopped pictures featuring himself and famous cricketers on his wall at a shop. This trait would essentially want him to push his own son in becoming famous instead of pulling him back, something that didn’t sit right for me. Secondly, switching careers is not a new thing but going towards something like cricket when you already have completed MBBS is something far fetched(and even further while stretching the envelope). Yet, in a scene you see the character of Mahima middling every ball as if she was in touch with the game all along, this while her husband couldn’t do the same after a 5 year gap. I guess rules don’t apply to this universe.
I would still pass off the first hour as decent owing to some levels of an emotional connect between its characters, particularly the lead pair who do share a warm chemistry between the two. The issue(and a major one) starts in the second hour that oscillates between cricket and the dynamics of a failing relationship between the couple. It was almost like an Aashiqui 2 template thrown in a cricket setup in the second hour wherein the popularity of the wifey soars over the ambitions of the husband, much to his dismay. This, while the wifey suffers from a Shreyas Iyer syndrome of not being able to play the short ball while struggling for her form in the team. The cricket portions are ridiculously childish and totally illogical. Slowly but surely, I found myself disconnected to the drama wherein the predictability and silliness of it took centerstage in an already stale tale!
The finale cricket match was so predictable and so silly(I mean who takes a drinks break before the final ball of the match, were the umpires sleeping?) that it made me laugh at times. Picture this, the husband(upto that point having strained relations with his wifey who is struggling with the short ball) calls her out in love, only for her to connect the short ball(matlab coaching gaya bhaad mein). What nonsense was this, and I wonder who greenlit this project with such glaring silliness at Dharma. And a typical happy ending not withstanding, the convenience of the writing is amplified even in its final act summing up a ridiculously penned screenplay that made no sense to a cricket enthusiast like me.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are well penned and to my surprise, there are some heartfelt analogies told through the lines. The music is decent but not memorable, and I wish the film had a blockbuster number to elevate the viewing experience. The BGM is far too generic and does nothing to elevate the drama at regular junctures. The cinematography particularly in shots of cricket leaves a lot to be desired given that you don’t see the characters batting and bowling in a single frame. That automatically dilutes the impact here. The editing also comprises of multiple jump cuts that just do not engage you particularly in the cricket sequences. Director Sharan Sharma who had previously directed Gunjan Saxena does start off on a good note but quickly begins to taper under the burden of a far too formulaic and generic script. I was appalled at his understanding of the game that was the bare minimum requirement in a film like this. As a result, he totally did mess up the cricket sequences that were the core sequences of the film. The direction was a major swing and a miss here in this dubious film.
Performances
The performances are quite decent here. Dheerendra Gautam as Guddan has his moments to shine, as does Zarina Wahab who is heartwarming to witness. Rajesh Sharma as Kenny is pretty impressive(so he played coached to Dhoni and now Mahi, wow) and does a good job. Kumud Mishra as the father of the protagonist is really good despite his character being a sort of a wannabe caricature on paper, he does manage to hold his fort well. Jahnavi Kapoor as Mahima has definitely improved her craft and is slowly getting better. But she was definitely exposed in confrontation scenes with a better actor in front of her, partly also in emotional scenes, something that she could further improve on going ahead. I feel sorry for Rajkummar Rao who yet again puts forth a commendable act as Mahi. Unfortunately for him, this comes in a rather insipid film that just doesn’t justify his talent as an actor. Much like Bhaiyya Ji last week wherein you did witness Manoj Bajpayee trying to make things work, Raj does the same here, emoting and expressing with utmost perfection. But the writing was so bad that it invariably dilutes his performance too.
Conclusion
Mr & Mrs Mahi is a predictable tale of love and cricket immensely let down by a dubiously silly and lacklustre second hour that is unintentionally funny with its cricket bits. Clearly, the cricketing logic died a brutal death here. This one is a major swing and a miss! Available in a theatre near you.
