What Is the Story About?
Amay, an architect, is struggling to make his presence felt at his job. He is passionate about his job but he is simply not getting any success. His girlfriend is constantly pushing him and sometimes it also feels like patronising. Meanwhile, his mother passes away and he has to go home. His relationship with his father is just like any typical father-son relationship in India, which is filled with coldness. They don’t dislike each other but there is a sort of glass door between them. Amay’s sister wants their father to go abroad but somehow that doesn’t happen. Meanwhile, Amay is left with his father alone and then the real film begins.
Performances?
We have always been astounded by the actor Boman Irani. He is a magnanimous actor who has a long filmography celebrating his craft. The director Boman Irani has made the actor “Boman Irani” play a role that was tailor-made for him. He is perfect in showing the emotions of grief, awkwardness, loneliness, and most importantly, losing his esteem.
Avinash Tiwary in his short career has given several strong performances and this is one of them too. The actor was seen last year in popular projects like Madgaon Express and this sudden shift in the emotional genre shows that the actor is ready to take risks as an actor. His vulnerable moments when he is struggling to gain validation from his boss and girlfriend are really worth a watch.
Analysis
“The Mehta Boys” takes one of the most easy-looking yet difficult relations in India. It is that of the father and the son. Shiv and Amay Meha look like mature men but they never let their relationship mature and they behave like young teens without sense in front of each other.
Shiv Mehta behaves like a typical Indian father who loves his son but does not show any affection towards him. Amay is no less, as he never tries to bridge the gap. The two always need a mediator between them. It was initially Amay’s mother and now his sister.
The film tries to pick a highly character-driven, artsy route but that causes it to slow down a lot. The problem is, not every artistic film has to be very slow. The Mehta Boys is not a very long film per se but the scenes where Amay and Shiv are alone together seem stretched.
However, we must appreciate the kind of details that the screenplay has kept. When Amay comes home, then the first thing his father tells him is to keep the shoes outside. At Amay’s home, there is no space for Shiv’s photo, and the tension has been shown in the overall settings, dialogues, and everything possible. However, it is highly predictable.
Overall, it is a drama that could have been extraordinary, had it been trimmed a bit.
Music and Other Departments?
The music of the film serves its purpose. It reflects the tension pretty well but thankfully it does not sound very dramatic. The film is shot mostly in closed rooms and in that respect, the set design was done pretty well.
However, the film’s biggest drawback is its editing. It feels sloppy and that most certainly affects the impact.
Highlights?
Direction
Performances
Story
Drawbacks?
Pacing
Predictability
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
The Mehta Boys Movie Review by Binged Bureau