MiMi Review : An emotive take on mothership

Napeer Laya
Sep 18, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Sep 21, 2021

Critics Rating:

4.0/5

Story :

Mimi (Kriti Sanon), a Bollywood aspirant and Ranveer Singh fanboy from Rajasthan, sign up to be a surrogate for an American couple without considering the social, emotional, and legal ramifications of her decision.

Review :

The 25-year-old girl aspires to fulfil her desire to become an actor in Mumbai by making use of the huge money she has had (Rs 20 Lakhs). Things are progressing, albeit at some point, according to our rebellious protagonist's ambitious plan. Life, after all, is not all sunshine and rainbows. Everyone is shaken by a potential health concern to the unborn child. Until they are not, dreams are destroyed.

Surrogacy, for a reason, was limited in India when a woman (the surrogate) undertakes to bear a kid on behalf of the couple during pregnancy and return the baby to the intended parent after the child was delivered. Infertile couples from foreign nations that visit India to select a surrogate fit for their children are a practise that, given its ethical and social ramifications, is largely forbidden.

Mimi is skillfully adapted by Laxman Utekar, based on the classic Marathi movie 'Mala Aai Vhaychy!' by Samruoddhi Porey. He and screenwriter Rohan Shankar ensure that the Hindi picture has its own personality and character while preserving the essence of the original. The insertion of situational comedy can make surrogacy in the initial chapters much easier, extending its accessibility to the public. But nowhere does it trivialise the problem or make it look lighthearted, which is typically a major challenge for reworking. Utekar entertains, but not at the expense of sacrificing substance. In his storytelling, trappings of unforeseen mothership and existence gain an emotional heft. Fascinating arcs and performances raise the seemingly predictable storey. The picture oscillates fluidly between drama and comedy, without losing control.

Kriti Sanon had already given a number of compelling characters, marking her emergence as a solid actor who can carry a picture by herself. Her eyes talk with calm anger and anguish—a mark of a mature artist. The amazing Pankaj Tripathi is another actor who co-shoulders the film together with Kriti. He's the film hero as much as Kriti. From referring to potential surrogates as "maal" to a tireless struggle for the well-being of Mimi, Tripathi offers another excellent performance. His comics and the evident gulf between privilege and poverty are convincing. The important functions of Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak and Sai Tamhankar are effective. Actors playing the American couple — also decent are Evelyn Edwards and Aidan Whytock. Their characters are not a refreshing one-dimensional one.

Mimi selects a relevant subject and transforms it into an interesting, caring and sensitive narrative about humanity and parenting.