Review : Mili : #JanhviKapoor’s best performance ever!
These days #Bollywood is leaning on South film remakes to garner audience support. Most of the times it doesn’t give desired result because either the original movie is available on internet (with subtitles) or the remake is not made up to the taste standard of viewers. Recently released movie #Mili is a remake of a Malayalam hit movie Helen for which the director bagged National award as a debut director. He has directed the remake, though Mili is a frame to frame copy of Helen, almost, and Helen is not available on net, as yet. Mili’s story is different than run of the mills stories offered to the viewers and it’s gripping too. Director Mathukutty Xavier has kept the narrative taut and the story build up is extremely realistic.
Mili Naudiyal (Janhvi Kapoor) stays in Dehradun with her father (Manoj Pahwa) and is planning to go to Canada for a Nursing job to bring financial stability to the family. She is in a relationship with Sameer (Sunny Kaushal) of which her father is unaware of. She is preparing for her Visa application and also works part time in Doon’s Kitchen in a mall. She, trying to help her colleagues, agrees to keep boxes in the restaurant freezer. The manager, after checking that the entire staff, including Mili, has logged out, lock the freezer and the office. Unfortunately Mili gets locked in the freezer, which temperature drops to -17 degrees, and the main plot takes place during that period. How Mili, getting frost bites etc, tries to survive and her father along with Sameer try to find out missing Mili forms the crux of the story.
The director has totally stuck to the original plot and that make Mili quite engaging watch. The tension build up is marvellous and as a viewer you too start feeling the ‘chill’. Again the writers and director have given authenticity to the trapping erasing all possible logical questions in audiences’ minds. Everything looks realistic including the social politics in the police station etc. The tautness of the script is utterly engaging and one feels for the trauma Mili is going through. The background score is very good which helps the narrative in a big way. Even the cinematography is excellent as well as the editing.
Mili scores high in acting department. Janhvi Kapoor plays Mili with confidence and brings across the simplicity of the character as well as the vulnerabilities across splendidly. Her sweet bond with her father too is very endearing. This must be Janhvi’s best performance till date. Manoj Pahwa has nailed the character with wide range of emotions and he is super fantastic. Sunny Kaushal, though having a limited screen time, does well.
Rating: ***1/2