MeeraBai Not Out

STARRING

Anupam Kher, Mandira Bedi, Vandana Gupta, Mahesh Manjrekar,Prateeksha Lonkar, Anil Kumble, Eijaz Khan and others.



DIRECTION

Chandrakant Kulkarni


STORY

The plot of the film revolves around a mathematics teacher Meera Achrekar (Mandira Bedi) who loves cricket and idolizes Indian cricket team spinner Anil Kumble. She teaches at Vishwaprem Vidyalaya and is very popular with the students and teachers due to her love for the cricket.

Meera lives in a Mumbai chawl and was initiated in cricket at Wankhede stadium by her brother Mahesh, who had played cricket at Ranji level. But the responsibilities of family has changed the brother so much that he does not have time to even listen to commentaries and prefers to avoid them.

However, Meera’s family is worried about her single status and wants her to get married. Meera suddenly finds love in the company of a heart specialist Dr Arjun Sachdeva (Eijaz Khan) and at this point for the first time she realizes that life is something more than cricket, team India and Kumble. What happens after that forms the rest of the story.

PERFORMANCE

Mandira Bedi, who plays the character of Meera Achrekar, is natural to the core. Mandira looks more in command towards the end than at the initial stages of the film. The lady, who has anchored cricket matches, looks at ease in the cricket centric film. Eijaz Khan, who essays the character of Dr Arjun, plays his part convincingly. This television guy seems to have a future in bollywood.

Mahesh Manjrekar, who plays Mandira Bedi’s brother gets chance to show his acting prowess only towards the end. Otherwise, he did not have much scope to showcase his ability. Anupam Kher, as always, is efficient in his character. Pratiksha Lonkar is simply wasted, while the leggie Anil Kumble passes the muster.

The direction of Chandrakant Kulkarni is above average. He has handled final sequences with competence and confidence. The sequences depicting cricket match between Eijaz and Mahesh and the quiz interaction between Mandira Bedi and Anupam Kher are especially good. Music is functional.

STARDUST VERDICT

The film is essentially a love story and not a film on cricket. It will find the going tough at the box office. An average fare.

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