What Is the Story About?
Prime Video original film ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ centres on a lonely widower, V. Kamath (Jackie Shroff), who forms an unlikely friendship with fellow lonely soul Mrs Prakash Handa (Neena Gupta). A parallel and connected storyline follows struggling tailor Nanhe (Abhishek Chauhan), his trials and tribulations in Mumbai, and his budding romance with the street-dwelling firebrand, Rawas aka Rani (Monica Panwar).
‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka’ is written and directed by Vijay Maurya, and produced by Payal Arora and Maurya under their production banner, Made in Maurya.
Performances?
The performances in Mast Mein Rehne Ka are excellent across the board. Jackie Shroff is superb as Kamath. His lonely old man is adorable; and his wish to die, a poignant reminder of the loneliness of old age. Neena Gupta is good as the pseudo-chirpy Prakash Kaur Handa. She conveys both, a lovable joie de vivre and a poignant sadness, with equal skill.
Monica Panwar is fantastic as the street-smart Rawas. Faisal Malik lends excellent support as Nanhe’s guardian angel. But amidst all the stellar performances, it is Abhishek Chauhan who impresses the most as the small-town simpleton navigating life in the predatory jungle of the big city. His expressions and delivery of dialogue are terrific, as is his assured performance.
Analysis
Vijay Maurya’s ‘Mast Mein Rehne Ka‘ delivers pertinent messages, hidden in the layers of humour and drama surrounding the four protagonists in the film. Through Kamath and Prakash’s similar situations, it shows how loneliness breaks the human spirit like nothing else can. And yet, it reaffirms the resilience of the same human spirit through Nanhe and Rani’s doughty tales.
Through it all, the movie keeps us entertained as it explores the growing connection between Kamath and Prakash on the one hand, and Nanhe and Rani on the other, making one feel all the feels when it comes to friendship and love. Often, it makes touching points that hit the chords of one’s heart. The dialogues in the film are quite meaningful too, if slightly on the heavier side.
The story is set in South Mumbai, in the posh Walkeshwar and Malabar Hill areas of the city. However, the characters that populate the film are far from posh. They’re threadbare and rundown – depicting a stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots; the fortunate and the not-so-fortunate ones; the emotionally fulfilled and the bereft; that instantly hits home.
Not everything is as affecting in the story as the makers would want it to be. A lot of it feels contrived and inorganic – the run-ins with the burglar; Nanhe’s troubles; and most importantly, Kamath and Prakash’s silly capers. Also, the writing lacks the depth to make the viewer really feel for the characters from deep within. It seems superficial and artificial, and so the emotions it drums up within us are ephemeral and short-lived too.
Mast Mein Rehne Ka is the kind of movie that will keep you engaged and invested for its runtime; but one you’ll forget as soon as the screen goes blank. Also, the narrative begins to feel stretched and overdrawn after a point. A shorter run-time would have worked in the film’s favour.
To sum it up, Mast Mein Rehne Ka is a poignant film, but full of clichés and tropes. It’s nothing you’ve not seen before, but still worth a one-time watch.
Music and Other Departments?
Anurag Saikia, Shailendra Barve and Kaam Bhaari’s songs are soft, soothing and melodious. They lend the required poignancy to the storytelling. Nagaraj Rathinam’s cinematography is good. It deftly captures the sights and sounds of Mumbai. Antara Lahiri’s editing is largely efficient.
Highlights?
The performances of the four leads
Drawbacks?
Comes across as superficial and contrived
Did I Enjoy It?
I found it okay.
Will You Recommend It?
Only as a one-time watch.
Mast Mein Rehne Ka Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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