Produced by YRF, Meri Pyaari Bindu is a big gamble for its lead actress Parineeti Chopra, whose last film was way back on 2014. Although she has Golmaal 4 in the offing, all eyes are on her in this film.

Ayushmann Khurrana plays a writer named Abhimanyu in the film. And the first few glimpses we get of his character are pretty comical and real. He’s a “fluff” writer whose stories are all about thrills, horror and objectifying women. He says he doesn’t want to write real stuff or love stories because everyone is writing them.

He seems to have a great career, with many best-selling books. For some reason, however, he’s stuck on his latest, which has been three years in the making. Something seems to be bothering him, as evinced by the fact that he drinks whiskey while writing. He eats bread with ketchup as he works on a love story…

What’s also charming so far is the way the old world charm of Kolkata has been captured in the movie. It’s complemented admirably by an Amelie-esque background score and sharp dialogues. We’re off to a good start!

Coming back to the story, through Abhimanyu’s (adorably quirky) parents, we find out he’s still not able to forget a girl. As he writes, we find out more about her — we see Bindu, as Abhimanyu does, a voice, singing ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar’. We leap to another stage in their relationship, when they make mix-tapes of their favourite songs, that also reveal a lot about their lives.

We gradually find out a lot more about Bindu. Abhimanyu and she are childhood friends. She’s fairly fickle, always wanting to do a million things, although her ultimate dream is to be a singer.

We see Parineeti (Bindu) through the lens of nostalgia. Parineeti hates the word “bubble” but that’s just how her character is, a manic pixie dream girl and a fab singer. Parineeti should really consider singing for herself in all her movies.

The narrative is peppered with flashbacks about Abhi and Bindu, and then we cut to the present day when Abhimanyu is writing about her, while listening to old songs…

The very first time they meet as kids, she gives him a Walkman with an old song and says, “Listen to this, it will change your life”. It lays the foundation of their crazy, music-filled relationship. There are lots of old songs: ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’, ‘Abhi Na Jao…’ . The music ties everything together, and their love for music pulls their relationship forward.

Parineeti and Ayushmann play their characters very convincingly and the situations are pretty comical. owever, the chemistry between them is a little thanda. Maybe it’ll grow eventually?

As they grow older, and different types of relationships emerge in their lives (girlfriends, boyfriends, ‘it’s complicated(s)’) their relationship stays strong. They’re not lovers but there’s something special between them.

They share a dog. She passes tough exams. He saves her from being caught in a car while making out. It’s all pretty organic. It’s great to see a film where we don’t see two people falling in love just for merely existing. There’s a whole arc.

The background score is brilliant. It adds that flavour of a quirky romcom and keeps you glued.

What also keeps us glued is Parineeti! Bindu may be a caricature of a bubbly girl, ‘full of life’, but Parineeti can act! Her face is so expressive and it’s a joy to watch her emote. We’ve missed her. This role finally gives her enough to show her potential. There’s a bit when she sings ‘Do Naina Ek Kahaani’ in a college competition and you can’t keep your eyes off her face — or get enough of her voice.

Even when they move to different places, they write to each other and keep in touch. Over time, however, it does wither away.

They meet after many years and their friendship is rekindled. By this time, Bindu is engaged to be married and that’s when Abhi realises there’s something between them. This is where we are at interval point, and how it progresses further should be really interesting.

So far, what really works for the film is how they have set up the whole universe of Abhi and Bindu. The background music is spot on. The nostalgia factor spot on. The emotions are realistic and not overdone. The chemistry between Parineeti and Ayushmann, though, could be better.

What really works is how their characters are so believeable. Parineeti gives Bindu a sense of authenticity. And whenever Ayushmann goes into voiceover mode explaining what is going on in the scene (he’s the narrator), he speaks like a writer. The situations are amplified and given a sense of drama — something all writers do.

Finally, a romcom that has all the elements of a great romance: quirky characters, great music. Using nostalgia as a narrative tool works superbly.

Meri Pyaari Bindu doesn’t insult you intelligence and yet gives you a dreamy story.

There’s a funny scene in MPB where Bindu loses her flat in Mumbai because she’s single, and she tells her broker, “Find me a boy first, the flat will come on its own!” The dialogue is spot-on, just like her styling in this film is. Very everyday, but chic and trendy. The depiction of modern day relationships is also very real. There’s no unnecessary drama.

There’s another really nice dialogue in the film that describes Bindu and Abhi’s relationship: They’re sitting on Marine Drive and she asks him if he remembers her old terrace room in Kolkata. He says he does. She tells him she used to go to that room whenever she was sad or happy. Then she says, “You are my terrace room, Abhi.” Their chemistry grows on you, as you see Bindu and Abhi turn from friends into lovers.

However, now the songs seem overproduced as they are sung by playback singers. The song ‘Afeemi’ plays out as they fall in love but I wish Ayushmann and Parineeti had sung it themselves. There is some inconsistency in the bits after they fall in love, but the emotions are there.

This is also the point where the plot takes a crucial turn, so we’re not going to give away nay more of the story. Suffice it to say, there is a fracture in the Abhi-Bindu story. Unfortunately, this crisis point is also the least believable part about the film. It’s like a forced conflict, that was bound to happen because happily ever after can’t come too early or too easily. Even as the protagonists fade away, the music is one of the most powerful things pulling this narrative together.

By the time Meri Pyaari Bindu moves towards its climax — which, incidentally, is as quirky as the film — we find that this is a narrative that ages well. Quirky is a oft exploited word. But it really suits this film. The ending is a bit unconvincing and will leave you with many questions — in that sense, this is a true millennial film.

Parineeti is back. The talent we saw in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl shines even brighter in Meri Pyaari Bindu. The same goes for Ayushmann, who had the most emotive eyes. This is the same guy who regaled us in Vicky Donor and Dum Laga Ke Haisha.These are two actors who do full justice to their characters and the story of their lives.

Last word? This is YRF’s take on 500 Days of Summer-type modern love. There are some flaws in Meri Pyaari Bindu, but this musical has a smart and endearing story that will stay with you. You’ll be humming its tunes even as you walk out of the theatre.

Source : firstpost.com