Synopsis:
MR & MRS MAHI is the story of a cricket-crazy couple.A married couple who share a love for cricket begin training in the game due to her natural talent. Mahendra (Rajkumar Rao) loves playing cricket, but for some reason, he never made it to the state team or the Indian team. He attempts to fulfill this dream through his wife, Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor), who is also passionate about cricket. On the other hand, she is being forced into medical studies, which she doesn’t enjoy, and Rajkumar helps her realize her true calling. This narrative weaves through the struggles of life, family dynamics, and the frustration of unachieved goals.
Star Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor
Director: Sharan Sharma
Review:
Nikhil Mehrotra and Sharan Sharma‘s story has the potential. We have seen films about failed individuals coaching aspiring players to success. But here, the coach is the husband and that gives a novel touch. The screenplay is smooth. The first half is quite rich in emotions and humour. But the writing has some loose ends in places. The dialogues are well-worded for most parts of the film.
Sharan Sharma‘s direction is effective. He has done a fine job with the high points and there are many of them like Mahendra gifting a tie to Mahima’s father, Mahendra and Mahima realizing their love for cricket in each other, Mahendra thanking Mahima for happiness, etc. The intermission point is clap-worthy.
Post-interval, the film takes a turn as Mahima’s cricketing career commences. However, from here on, the film gets predictable as one can guess what will happen next. There has also been an overdose of sports films. As a result, viewers might not break into applause towards the end. The track of the husband getting jealous of his wife gives a strong déjà vu of ABHIMAAN [1973]. Moreover, the dialogues that were incredible throughout the film lack the punch in two crucial scenes in the climax. Also, the character of the mother is crucial but is given a raw deal. She is absent in the last part of the film though she contributes incredibly to the narrative.
Rajkummar Rao is natural. There’s no false note to his performance and in the second half, he does a very good job. Janhvi Kapoor proves her worth yet again. This was a physically demanding film and she excels. Kumud Mishra is dependable. Rajesh Sharma is lovely, as expected. Zarina Wahab is too good but sadly, she is hardly there. Her character becomes very crucial in the pre-climax but in the first half and finale, she is not given her due.
On the whole, MR & MRS MAHI is a decent flick with the performances, plot and a clap-worthy interval point as its USP. However, the second half is predictable and it comes at a time when the audience is fatigued by sport films.
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