WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Finesse. Flair. Artistry. Traits that become a requirement for anyone involved with creative endeavors, it can all yield amazing, imaginative, success-infused results. However, what occurs when all that flow, vision, and momentum comes to screeching halt? Prolific Mumbai-based pulp fiction author Abhimanyu Roy (Ayushmann Khurrana) is experiencing exactly this–writer’s block. Despite a long string of well-received, but critically insignificant horror novels that have become his chosen niche, Abhi begins to realize he needs something different to write about, something with more depth, more substance, more eloquence. So, no better choice but to create a traditional love story. Of course, revisiting the basis of said tale might prove more challenging than Abhi ever expected.
Returning to Kolkata and his rather eccentric parents and relatives, who are more than a tad overenthusiastic about his coming home, Abhi finally has the opportunity, via an unanticipated discovery from his past, to start recollecting about the muse behind his current novel’s themes–a girl named Bindu (Parineeti Chopra). As far back as childhood when the two were neighbors, Abhi and Bindu enjoy a beautiful friendship, virtually inseparable, often finding Abhi getting caught up in the carefree, spontaneous, sometimes totally off-kilter manner in which Bindu lives her life. But, as the pair’s story unfolds between the past and present, it becomes abundantly clear how Abhi’s feelings for Bindu begin to effect the relationship, even as life’s ever-changing circumstances take them down different, yet intertwining, paths.
Next, my Mind:
There is simply no getting past the fact that the Indian film industry is a masterful source for romantic comedy, and with director Akshay Roy’s newest film, this couldn’t be more evident. Delivering an engaging, decidedly entertaining mix of wonderfully playful humor and stirring drama combined with an overall music-driven narrative, the effort presents its themes about love, life, the twists and turns that bring us together, take us apart, and still find a way to come full circle with poise, affecting impact, and realistic execution. In telling the viewer about the romantically-charged undertones Abhi and Bindu experience throughout their respective lives only makes each time they find themselves back together that much more joyous yet equally heartbreaking, especially given Abhi’s absolute, stalwart commitment to be there for her any time, any place. Utilization of the pair’s “life soundtrack” is a stroke of creative genius, well-conceived, and smartly engineered to have maximum relevancy to the story, both audibly and visually, throughout.
Undeniably beautiful, delightfully charming, with just the right amount of perky sass, Chopra shines as Bindu, an exuberant, happy-go-lucky girl whose passion in life and the goals she has to become a successful singer are only ever slightly tempered by the moments of achingly poignant vulnerability she demonstrates when events throw her an unforeseen curve. Her “best friend/go-to guy” mentality with Abhi is adorable and heartrending, as it’s never one hundred percent clear how she truly feels towards him when things get real. Chopra enacts this dichotomy between the two with excellent grace. Khurrana’s performance as Abhi is also spot on, providing us with a portrait of a man totally smitten by Bindu, the true love of his life, his stimulus since boyhood, and the one constant in his existence he simply cannot forget or avoid, even when being hurt by her at times. His unwillingness to give up on her, to be that rock she can turn to, is so overtly relatable and grounded, and it greatly assists in adding the highly emotional power to every interaction they have, to Khurrana’s credit.
A wonderful supporting cast of characters aid in pulling this story together for the two leads, a wide diversity of music/dance sequences is fun and totally apropos in drawing out the narrative’s messages, and the finale is one that’s willing to very convincingly showcase how life doesn’t always work out as we expect, yet still for the best, and never at the total cost of what we’ve held dear between the ones we cherish. “Meri Pyaari Bindu” is more than a worthy romcom effort that carries it’s heart on its sleeve and makes it known that love, while it may be a fickle, hurtful thing at times, still demonstrates that the beauty of what it ultimately creates between us will consistently allow us to fly.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
