Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
CBFC Rating: U/AIn Theaters: January 11th, 2013
Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes (160 minutes)
Rated U/A for moderate language and violence.
Ambitious
But
Inconsistent
Story.
Watch
It
For
Pankaj
Kapur.
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review
- What's Good:
- Pankaj Kapur's performance, rustic plot and comedy.
- What's Bad:
- Slow first half, some confusing haryanvi accents and lack of story.
- Verdict:
- Fails to deliver a substantial story.
- Watch or Not:
- Watch it only for Pankaj Kapur and some light hearted comedy.
Audience Ratings for Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
Plot Summary
Set in the rustic surroundings of a village in Haryana, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a comedy-drama about Harry Mandola (Pankaj Kapoor), a wealthy industrialist who loves his drink, his daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) and the unusual bond they both share with Harry's man Friday, Matru (Imran Khan). Much to her father's delight, Bijlee is all set to marry Baadal (Aarya Babbar), the son of a powerful politician Chaudhari Devi (Shabana Aami). This alliance which is far from just being a simple union of two young people becomes the seed for a story that brings twists and turns in the lives of Matru, Bijlee and Mandola.
Critics Reviews for Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
47 Critics like this movie.
Reviews Counted: 17 | Positive Review: 8 | Negative Review: 9 | Average Rating: 2.8/5It’s ambitious but also indulgent and inconsistent in tone, making the film a jerky ride. Some stretches are clunky, but just when you’re starting to get restless a terrific scene grabs you – like Chaudhari Devi's creepily mesmerising monologue on why corruption is essential. Azmi is wonderful, as is Kapoor, who manages to be, in equal parts, childlike, endearing and nasty. But the big surprise is Imran Khan, who sheds his urban, chocolate boy baggage. It’s an exciting transformation. Despite this, Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola feels like a puzzle in which all the pieces don’t fit. Its idiosyncrasies are both its strength and its undoing.
Critic Score: 2.5/5
This outrageous comedy after shows little concern for our health as it delivers laugh after side-splitting laugh. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola might well be described as Bhardwaj's holiday movie - a mad story with crazy characters - but fortunately for us, even in a light mood, the director can be counted on to say interesting things. The year's first gem has arrived - don't miss it!
Critic Score: 4/5
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola starts off on a promising note but falters towards the end. At times, the film is hilarious, and reminds you how much fun Bollywood cinema can be, and at other times, it is dull, disappointing, and quite annoying. Bhardwaj brings high energy to some parts of the film. As always his musical compositions and background score are delightful. But his storytelling skills are not well-honed here. So, unfortunately, MKBKM does not deliver all that it promises.
Critic Score: 2.5/5
With its Trilbys and tractors, malls and Maoism, its stretch limo and smart-boy! lines, MKBKM could have been such a fun ride. But sadly, director ka bhi man dola, rather too often. Like champagne gone flat, the film's left lying about for too late, its plot meandering everywhere.
Critic Score: 3/5
Laced with both acid and arsenic, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola isn't everyone's cup of tea. It takes a while to get into its groove, but changes gears with spectacular finesse after that. And no matter the slight niggles: this is a film that goes far out on a limb, and gives us both bedlam and nuances, enough to warrant repeated viewings. And more than enough to love. Oh boy oh boy indeed.
Critic Score: 4/5
The film passed me by in the first hour. It enticed me back again in the second half. But not enough to make me forget the inert prologue, which is minus drama, which is Bhardawaj’s true forte. Iss Matru aur uski Bijlee se mann kam dola.
Critic Score: 2/5
Empty political posturing, contrived humour, little depth or honesty, and a few masterful scenes. Its ambition to reach out to the big picture derails Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola. In overreaching, Bhardwaj ends up underplaying his characters. You feel little for them. When a story tries too hard, you can’t laugh or marvel at it; you forget it.
With the quirky title that it is bestowed with, ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’ befits the category of a rustic comic caper. Sure, it does that but only in bits and pieces. There is nothing out-of-the-box in ‘Matru Ki Bijee Ka Mandola’ except the Gulabi Bhains and honestly you won’t miss out on anything even if you give this film a miss!
Critic Score: 2/5
A mix of gently outraged populism and low-powered romantic comedy, Vishal Bhardwaj's "Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola" might have been better with a chunk lopped off its two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
Critic Score: 2.5/5
Judicious editing could have helped consolidate the joyfulness at the expense of occasionally repetitive narrative flab, but for the most part "Matru" is neatly energetic, a mix of screwball whimsy and softball seriousness.
Critic Score: 3/5
Save for a couple of visually engaging dance numbers, mostly shot with hand-held digital cameras, MKBKM is dishearteningly banal.
It isn’t a big, bloated blockbuster wannabe. It has its daring share of moments that defy popular expectations. It is a spirited comedy that has its heart in the right place. It has something to say about what is going on in this country in the guise of a skewed development model in which farmers thirst for electricity to irrigate their land while humongous shopping malls a few kilometers away glitter all day long. Few filmmakers in Mumbai engage with ideas and issues of contemporary relevance as felicitously as Bhardwaj. He might have fallen short this time around, but even when he is not at his best, he is infinitely better than most in the business. A director who does not fear failure merits our support.
Critic Score: 3/5
The star of the film is undoubtedly Pankaj Kapur. As Mandola, he is quirky, feisty and energetic and overshadows both young actors with the sheer energy he brings to the screen. "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" is a disappointing film, one that could have been so much more.
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola comes across as a wannabe attempt by Vishal Bharadwaj. His most disappointing and uninspiring work!
Critic Score: Poor
MATRU KI BIJLEE KA MANDOLA holds your attention in parts, but that's not enough. The first half is lackluster, while the post-interval part catches some steam. However, the excessive length plays a spoilsport. Below expectations!
Critic Score: 2/5
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is wild, wacky, wicked and would leave you with mixed feelings. On the whole, MKBKM isn't Bharadwaj's the best of works, yet the movie is worth a watch.
Critic Score: 2.5/5
If you’re a Vishal Bhardwaj fan, be prepared for a fare that’s different from his dark, moody style. The fun and songs should keep you going though.
Critic Score: 3/5
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