In a scene from “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi,” directed by Sharan Sharma, a character describes Rao’s Mahendra as an “average cricketer, whose biggest flaw was his timing.” Unfortunately, this description proves to be all too fitting for the movie itself. “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi,” which stars Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor, is a film that struggles to rise above mediocrity, progressing too slowly to make an impact.
“Mr. & Mrs. Mahi” falls into that perplexing category of films that neither captivate nor repulse the viewer but simply leave them indifferent. The movie, initially promising with the acclaim attached to Sharma’s previous work on “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl” (2020), quickly fizzles out. The plot revolves around Mahendra (Rao) and Mahima (Kapoor), two individuals bound not only by their shared names but also by a mutual passion for cricket.
Mahima’s childhood dream was to become a cricketer, but she now finds herself as a doctor. Meanwhile, Mahendra’s life has stagnated; he assists in his father’s cricket gear shop after failing to achieve his own cricketing aspirations. Mahima’s entry into Mahendra’s life revives his lost enthusiasm and presents him with a new chance to engage with his beloved sport, albeit in a different role. Witnessing Mahima’s prowess on the cricket field, Mahendra is convinced she is destined to be a cricketer, with him as her coach. As their journey unfolds, life presents various challenges aimed at testing their resolve and dedication.
Despite its noble intentions, “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi” is hindered by a lackluster screenplay, co-written by Sharma and Nikhil Mehrotra, and uninspired direction. The film aspires to explore profound themes, such as the importance of inner happiness over external validation, but it ultimately feels joyless and oppressive from beginning to end. Its central theme of cricket is not enough to inject any vibrancy into its narrative or performances.
Rajkummar Rao delivers a predictably dependable performance, yet even he cannot escape the film’s overall dullness, resulting in an unremarkable portrayal of his character. Janhvi Kapoor, unfortunately, further diminishes the movie’s energy. Her portrayal of Mahima is defined by a passivity and lack of direction until enlightened by her husband.
. Kapoor’s performance here is a mere shadow of her more nuanced roles in previous films such as “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl,” “Good Luck Jerry” (2022), “Mili” (2022), and “Bawaal” (2023). In her past performances, Kapoor masterfully employed her physicality to communicate vulnerability and inner strength. In “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi,” however, these traits seem more like crutches compensating for an overall uninspiring performance.
The chemistry between Rao and Kapoor, while endearing, is insufficient to compel the audience to invest in their characters’ plight. The fault lies significantly in the writing. Kapoor’s Mahima is relegated to a cricket enthusiast, a mere prop to Mahendra’s story arc, where Rao’s character receives a more comprehensive backstory, conflict, and resolution.
Sharma, in his directorial debut with “Gunjan Saxena,” displayed an assured hand at the helm. Unfortunately, in “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi,” he fails to bring the same level of command to either the romance or the cricket elements of the film. The brief moments of romance are confined to a montage song, and the cricket sequences lack the dynamism and spirit that the sport inherently possesses. Each scene feels drawn out, devoid of energy or urgency, and even the emotional conflicts within the couple’s relationship seem underdeveloped and superficial.
At one critical juncture, Rao’s former coach comments on his timing in cricket – a statement that resonates deeply with the film itself. “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi” is, sadly, a case of missed opportunities, firing too slow and too late to leave any lasting impression on its audience. Despite occasionally attempting to delve deeper into the dynamics of its lead characters, the film ultimately scratches only the surface of their complexities.
Beyond the spectrum of films that invoke strong reactions of either love or hate, lies a category marked by indifference – and “Mr. & Mrs. Mahi” falls squarely within this realm. The biggest drawback is its failure to evoke any strong feeling, leaving viewers in a state of apathy rather than engaged discourse or contemplation. Thus, the film concludes on a note of seeming inevitability; an average tale that never quite finds its rhythm or emotional core.
