Mr & Mrs Mahi Review - Not a Bad Film, but not Great Either!
Mr & Mrs mahi follows a pair who enjoys cricket. Set in Jaipur, Mahendra aka mahi (Rajkummar) and mahima aka mahi (Janhvi) met through an arranged marriage. mahima is a successful doctor, but Mahendra is a failing cricketer forced to work at his father's sports goods business. Mahendra, a sad guy, falls in love with Mahima, and the two marry. After their wedding, Mahendra discovers that she shares his passion for cricket.
Mahima then encourages him to return to the game. She pushes him to give playing for the state another go. However, he fails again on his second attempt, and his mentor advises him to pursue a career in coaching. Mahendra, hurt by his counsel, struggles with inner conflict. That's when he notices Mahima's cricket abilities and begins to train her. She throws up her medical profession to pursue Mahendra's goal.
After rigorous training, she earns a seat on the state squad and works her way through the ranks. Mahendra, on the other hand, fades into the background as she grows. With no proper recognition, he begins to pursue popularity through other platforms, like instagram Reels, radio, and even television. However, nothing goes in his advantage, leaving him disappointed. He eventually gets bitter, impacting Mahima's playing.
Sports-themed films generally have a sense of hope throughout, making you cheer for the main characters. Unfortunately, Mr & Mrs mahi does not allow you to cheer for any of the main cast members. The film, written by Nikhil Mehrotra and sharan Sharma, has a melancholy tone. The screenplay, while understandably emphasising Mahendra's anxieties and failure, provides little moments of euphoria. As a result, the majority of the film leaves you feeling disappointed. The second half seemed comparable to Abhimaan, a 1973 film starring amitabh bachchan and jaya bachchan (then Jaya Bhaduri). Although the setup and subjects are different, Mahendra's characterization curve in the second half reminded me of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films.
What surprised me about the screenplay was how few cricket scenes there were. While mahima is shown smashing balls into the stands for sixes and fours, we don't see her fielding or participating in any other aspects of the game. The absence of such moments impacted the high that a sports film often provides. This also caused the film to become linear.
While the script is lacking in depth, Sharan, Janhvi, and Rajkummar compensate for it. The film is well-packaged, with sharan including all of the hallmark dharma film features to create a visually pleasing film. He also relies on the refreshing music CD, which works in his benefit. Rajkummar's performance as the despondent Mahendra dominates the stage. He bears the film on his shoulder for the most part. The passages in which he embraces his character's grey side demonstrate that he is an excellent match for the part. kumud mishra deserves special recognition for his portrayal as Mahendra's father.
Overall, Not a Bad Film, but not Great Either!
Overall, Not a Bad Film, but not Great Either!