In his directorial debut, Boman Irani delivers a bitter sweet story on complex family dynamics. The understated writing coupled with the acting performances makes this a must watch for those who like slice of life movies.
A still from the film 'The Mehta Boys'. (X)
The Mehta Boys, directed and co-written by acclaimed actor Boman Irani, is a perfect example of a well-made slice of life.
The complex family dynamics feel straight out of life without any overt melodrama.
Often times the movie conveys a lot through symbolism.
The core plot of The Mehta Boys focuses on an underconfident architect Amy (Avinash Tiwary) and his father Shiv (Boman Irani).
Shiv is a grieving widower who is having a hard time dealing with the death of his wife. Amy shares a distant relationship with his father.
Shiv is all set to go for the US with his daughter Anu (Puja Sarup). However, a last-minute mishap forces Amy to spend time with Shiv for 48 hours. Over 48 hours a transformative change happens as the father and son navigate how to deal best with the situation.
Emotions which have been buried for a long time resurface leading to introspection. This is the story in brief.
‘The Mehta Boys’ is a family drama. (X)
The best part of The Mehta Boys is how Boman Irani avoids melodrama. Both Shiv and Amy are flawed in their own way, their attempts to find a common ground without any dramatic dialogues and filmy exaggerations is a treat to watch.
As a director and an actor, Boman Irani conveys a lot with the silences between the conversations.
What also makes The Mehta Boys special is how it showcases the importance of acknowledging emotions and doesn’t make it just about fixing the relationships overnight. How Boman Irani gradually showcases the discord between the father and son is a master class in both direction and writing.
The strained relationship isn’t because of hatred, but it has more to do with unresolved pain and the clash of egos, which results in an inability to communicate. This gradual layering makes the viewers introspect about their own relationships.
Boman Irani directorial ‘The Mehta Boys’. (X)
As already mentioned, The Mehta Boys is a movie which rides high on symbolism. A special mention must be made of how Boman Irani uses a leaking roof, a piece of cloth drifting in the wind etc to showcase the inner turmoil of Amy and Shiv.
One of the most poignant moments in the movie involves a tattered cloth floating over Shiv and Amy’s heads resembling their late mother’s saree. This tattered cloth is a reminder that the mother is still there in spirit keeping a watch on them.
The core of The Mehta Boys is how it isn’t always about fixing relationships instead it’s about acknowledging the fact that every person has a different way of expressing their feelings. The healing process doesn’t always need to be dramatic; instead, it can come in the form of small gestures.
Through the profession of Avinash Tiwary’s Amy, Boman Irani also makes scathing remarks on how every building feels the same in terms of the overall architecture, the dialogues related to the high tower buildings work as a perfect social commentary.
A minor issue with The Mehta Boys is that Boman Irani could have gone deeper into the origin of father and son discord. The distance between the two is mostly left for the viewers to interpret; still, this is just a minor in an otherwise powerful movie.
Avinash Tiwary and Boman Irani in ‘The Mehta Boys’. (X)
The performances of the central characters also add a lot of weight to the movie. Boman Irani is a legendary actor who doesn’t need a specific introduction.
As Shiv he is spectacular in portraying a loving yet reserved father. He simply nails the various eccentricities. The actor particularly shines in the portions expressing the character’s grief, guilt and stubbornness.
Avinash Tiwary is also terrific in providing solid support. He perfectly embodies the angst of a son who wants to be acknowledged and understood. The way he portrays the internal battles of Amy is a sheer delight to watch.
Shreya Chaudhary as Amy’s girlfriend Zara also makes her presence amply felt. Although the story is essentially a father and son drama she too leaves a significant impact, more than holding her own opposite Boman Irani.
Her character of Zara thankfully isn’t just a supportive girlfriend, Zara has an agency of her own and Shreya excels in portraying the various shades. Puja Sarup as the daughter also deserves a special mention.
To sum it up, The Mehta Boys is a perfect watch for fans of slice-of-life movies with relatable scenarios. The film is now streaming on Prime Video.
(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha.)
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