What is it all about
Apart from the legendary singer Asha Bhosle debut as actress.... The other important thing that makes Mai different from those conventional saas bahu dramas that we have seen in all size of screens is its subject which is a new adage in b-town parenthood. Producer Subhash Dawar after trying to tickle our funny bones with Hum Tum aur Shabana gets serious along with writer Mahesh Kodiyal who thinks a magnificent tapestry of parenthood with an affectionate wink to daughters and a pinch of concern to the sons and son in laws in this poignant attempt to tell a story of love, loss, priority, and responsibility.
The subject of Mai is powerful and dangerous as a sitting time bomb which needed proper execution screenplay and moments for it had all the potential to add layers after layers in this tale which can peep into the daily life's of any household. It also needed actors who can deliver to the hilt..
In short a subject like Mai needed an understanding and caring children in the form of director, actor and screenplay writer to fulfill its desire..
Let's find out how far they have succeeded
The Story.. of course
Though being conventional as a film Mai tackles the unconventional zone of mothers and their son and son in laws..
Mai's (Asha Bhosle) son has to go abroad with his family but cannot take his 80 year old mother who suffers from Alzeihmer's elder daughter Padmini Kolhapure takes her in her two bedroom home as her other two sisters are incapable or not interested and believe that it's the responsibility of the son to look after their mothers.
Mai's son-in-law (Ram Kapoor) and his daughter in teens are against this idea and completely non supportive and believe Mai to be a trespasser in their life's. the teenager has to share her room with her grandmother while the son - in -law who works as a journalist is insensitive towards his wife's mother and has his own practical reasons to blame his brother in law for the disturbance.
Grilled between her husband, ailing mother and waiting promotion Padmini Kolhapure fights a battle of survival for her and her family..
What to look out for
Padmini Kolhapure excels in her role as the daughter who turns mother for her mother.. she is so involved in her role that it appears that the actress is sharing her story with us.. splendid. Ram Kapoor has already made his mark as a finely gifted actor and here too he is just brilliant.. the teenage girl is upto mark..
Mahesh narration is simple, flowing and involving for audience making them experience the tears in their eyes in the end. Nitin Shankar's music provides the required emotional connect. Anupam Kher as the doctor provides able support.
The great bollywood singing legend Ashaji mesmerizes again this time more with her acting vibes as Mai..it must be said that she is successful in making the audience feel for her while by her smart display of emotions to her full capacity in this 80's years of acting debut. Art direction and cinematography by Sachin Kumar Krishnan is in sync sung by Ashaji, resonates across the plot.
What not
Mahesh in his simple fluency forgets to add layers to this touching tale and reduces its scale in his narration which sometimes gives us a small screen feel. The movie goes on a single track and the much needed contrast, shades are missing..
Conclusion: `Mai' is a sympathetic parenthood card signed by true emotions that peeps into the son, the daughter, the parent, and finally the human in you..
The movie gets three stars one for the subject, one for the performance and emotional connect and one for Ashaji.
Rating ***
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