Vijay Sethupati makes an impact in an underwhelming quirky film

Story: When the son of a mafia don is kidnapped, the lives of ordinary people unexpectedly intertwine. The clash between the kidnappers, those trying to help the kid, and the child’s father become a life lesson for many, revealing unexpected truths along the way.

Review: ‘Mumbaikar’ is a film that attempts to fire on all cylinders but falls slightly short of expectations. With a plethora of characters, each as diverse as chalk and cheese, representing a cross-section of Mumbai city, the potential for a scintillating ride is evident. Sadly, the film is hindered by an inconsistent script that barely scratches the surface and fails to take a deep dive into the narrative. The two most intriguing characters, portrayed by Vijay Sethupati and Ranvir Shorey, deserved more screen time and a well-developed background story. Unfortunately, the writers missed the opportunity to fully explore their potential. Ranvir’s background is merely mentioned in passing, leaving viewers gasping for more.

‘Mumbaikar’ is a film brimming with metaphors, evident in the appearance of RK Laxman’s common man doppelganger who silently traverses through various scenes. Another intriguing metaphor unfolds when a horse stands behind Sanjay Mishra’s character during his initiation as a driver, emphasizing the significance of mundane tasks like signing papers. The climax itself holds a hidden meaning as it is revealed that none of the characters are aware of each other’s names. With these elements, “Mumbaikar” checks all the boxes of a quirky film. Santosh Sivan showcases glimpses of brilliance in his direction, but the film as a whole lacks consistency and suffers from unevenness.

Multiple storylines run parallelley, gradually converging towards the climactic moment. Firstly, there’s Vikrant Massey’s character, who deliberately chooses to be unemployed and harbours a deep love for Ishita (Tanya Maniktala), a manager at a BPO firm. However, Vikrant’s character’s volatile temper becomes a point of contention for Ishita, hindering their relationship. Despite his constant attempts to win her over, Ishita remains resistant to his advances. Meanwhile, Munnu (Vijay Sethupati) arrives from Andaman to become a gangster in the city. With the assistance of his friend, he manages to enter the world of organized crime. Additionally, we encounter Aadil (Hridhu Haroon), hailing from Uttar Pradesh but sporting a southern accent, striving to earn an honest living. And finally, we are introduced to Prabal Kant Patil aka PKP (Ranvir Shorey), a gangster who has amassed wealth through the fishing industry and now controls illicit activities in South Mumbai. When Munnu’s gang mistakenly kidnaps PKP’s son, chaos ensues, leading to intense confrontations, gunshots, and brutal beatings. The collision of these diverse characters and their intertwined fates sets the stage for the narrative.

‘Mumbaikar’ marks a departure from director Santosh Sivan’s usual style as he ventures slightly off the beaten path. With a quirky tone, Sivan narrates a story that unfolds within a single day. This experimental approach may not have hit the bullseye, but it certainly captures the attention of viewers. The scenes involving the gangsters carry a comical touch that manages to bring a smile to your face. On the other hand, the track featuring Vikrant Massey, Tanya Maniktala, and Sachin Khedekar lacks substantial material to delve into. The same can be said for the plotline involving Sanjay Mishra, which also falls short in terms of depth and significance. Despite these shortcomings, Sivan’s unique storytelling approach and the humour infused in the gangster sequences ensure that ‘Mumbaikar’ remains an intriguing and engaging watch.

Vijay Sethupathi’s Hindi film debut showcases once again his remarkable versatility as an actor. He effortlessly takes ownership of the character of Munnu and demonstrates superb comic timing. Ranvir Shorey, although deserving of more screen time, delivers a sincere performance. Vikrant Massey, Tanya Maniktala, and Sanjay Mishra deliver average performances and fail to stand out. However, it is worth mentioning Hridhu Haroon as Aadil, who makes a promising debut and delivers a natural and convincing performance, truly fitting the role.

‘Mumbaikar’ raises high expectations, but unfortunately, it only partially fulfills its promise. Ultimately, the film falls short, resulting in an underwhelming experience. However, Vijay Sethupathi’s performance manages to redeem the film to some extent, injecting moments of brilliance into the narrative.