Film: Mr. And Mrs. Mahi

Cast: Janhvi Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao

Director: Sharan Sharma

Rating: 3.5 Moons

Cricket and cinema draw maximum viewership in India; even devotion to an extent. Taking this love further, Sharan Sharma directs Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in Dharma Productions’ Mr. And Mrs. Mahi.

Mr. And Mrs. Mahi is about Mahendra Agarwal (Rajkummar Rao) and Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor). They have a lot in common. Beyond their names, the factor that binds them together is cricket. Mahendra and Mahima are under pressure to follow the path guided by their parents. This pushes them away from their goals. Mahendra recognises Mahima’s talent and volunteers to quit his family business and coach his wife. Will the husband-wife conflict leave the couple clean-bowled? Will the dream of playing cricket professionally ever be fulfilled? Mr. And Mrs. Mahi answers.

Director Sharan Sharma’s passion, understanding and love for cricket reflects strongly in Mr. And Mrs. Mahi. He blends the sport seamlessly into a sweet and simple love story that’s not very difficult to find in the neighbourhood. The narration and direction build around the characters, neither overpowering the conflict nor putting excessive emphasis on cricket. The sport is a supporting character, but an important one that takes the crescendo higher. With writer Nikhil Mehrotra, Sharan organises his own match of entertainment loaded with multiple sixes and fours. Mahendra and Mahima, just like any couple, might not agree on every topic but cricket and their aspirations mean the world to them. Parents, too, go wrong and Mr. And Mrs. Mahi normalises this without demeaning anyone.

This is a tale that shall remain rent-free in the mind and heart for many years to come. Despite the conflict and hurdles, love wins. The relationship of parent-child remains one of the central highlights and the subplot flows smoothly. Without painting any character pure white, it sheds light on the jealousy that comes along with fame. The switch between the pre-interval and post-interval is dramatically delicious.

The film isn’t unpredictable. Beyond cricket and a love story, Mr. And Mrs. Mahi follows the journey of a son who struggles to seek validation from his parents. The wall decorated with pictures of ‘celebrities’ holds significance. It symbolises the unrealistic and pressing expectations parents have for their children.

This isn’t a purely flawless film. The first half takes too long to establish. The conflict is the most interesting part of any story and that comes fairly late and lasts too less. There are grey portions but not enough to make the simpler parts sweeter. Mr. And Mrs. Mahi resorts to the typical troupes followed in cinema over the years. The final cricket match sequence seems rushed.

Rajkummar Rao shows versatility with his performance as Mahendra. While you resonate with his angst, his ego makes him a different and less likable person. Rajkummar pulls off a complex and layered character effortlessly.

Janhvi Kapoor transforms into Mahima brilliantly. The transition from a topper doctor to a magical cricketer is excellent. She is convincing as a cricketer and the hard work shows. Kumud Mishra and Rajesh Sharma are fantastic with their performances.

Mr. And Mrs. Mahi is the perfect summer vacation watch. With the cricket fever still viral across the country, this one is a heartwarming watch.