Janhvi Kapoor who is set to make her foray into Tollywood came to entertain movie lovers with Mr. & Mrs. Mahi teaming with Rajkummar Rao. The film directed by Sharan Sharma hit the screens today and let us see what it offered to movie lovers.
Mr and Mrs Mahi story is all about young couple after marriage much to their surprise discover their passion for cricket and where this leads to and how they achieve their dreams form the interesting part. Mahendra (Rajkummar Rao) and Mahima (Janhvi Kapoor) discover one night that they share a common passion for cricket. As fate would have it, Mahendra is a failed cricketer, while Mahima, an avid cricketer, has become a doctor.
The story revolves around how the game of cricket reignites their passion for the sport, leading them to unite and pursue their forgotten dreams. Key roles in their journey are played by Mahendra's father, Hardayal (Kumud Mishra), and Mahima's parents, Trilok Gupta and Kalpana Gupta (Purnendu Bhattacharya and Yamini Das). Their involvement forms the crux of the narrative.
Rajkummar Rao showcased his acting skills by effortlessly slipping into his role. He effectively portrayed the nuances of a failed cricketer, a devoted son, a supportive husband, and a man grappling with jealousy over his wife's success. His performance was marked by a range of emotions that suited each situation.
Janhvi Kapoor, despite her beauty and glamour, struggled with basic expressions. Her inability to convincingly portray emotional scenes diminished the film's intensity. However, she did manage to make her presence felt in her role as a cricketer. Supporting actors like Kumud Mishra and Zarina Wahab delivered performances that were appropriate for their respective roles.
Mr. and Mrs. Mahi, directed by Sharan Sharma, is a romantic sports drama. Despite coming up with an interesting premise, Sharan, who previously directed Janhvi Kapoor in "Gunjan Saxena," failed to narrate the story in an engaging and exciting manner on screen. The screenplay turned out to be one-dimensional, and the direction lacked conviction. Many scenes felt clichéd, and the various plots and subplots ended up testing the patience of the viewers. The slow pace did not help the film progress effectively.
The songs, although situational, acted as speed breakers. John Edvard Eduri's background score was just adequate. Anay Goswamy's cinematography was decent, but his use of a dark theme felt forced, as if trying too hard to evoke an emotional connection. Nitin Baid's editing could have been more streamlined. The dialogues were preachy and overly dramatic. While the production values were acceptable, they did not elevate the overall experience of the film.
Altogether, Mr and Mrs Mahi turns out to be predictable sports drama. Despite Rajkummar Rao's impactful performance and Janhvi Kapoor's added glamour, director Sharan Sharma failed to create magic with the romantic cricket drama. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh gives Mr and Mrs Mahi a rating of 2.