Main Actor Nahin Hoon Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Chitrangada Satarupa
Director: Aditya Kripalani
Main Actor Nahin Hoon Movie Review Synopsis:
MAIN ACTOR NAHIN HOON is the story of an unexpected bond. Adnan Baig (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) retired as the Managing Director of ACBC Bank after working with the organization for more than 30 years. Ever since his retirement, he's been feeling low and fears he might need medication to control his anxiety and depression. His daughter, Nazia (Meenakshi Arundhati), comes down from London to spend time with him. One day, she discovers that Adnan did theatre in his college days. Hence, she compels him to try acting again. As luck would have it, a production house in Frankfurt was looking for an Indian actor matching his description. Adnan tries out and is asked to audition via video call with Mouni (Chitrangada Satarupa), who is based in Mumbai. Adnan struggles at first but manages to give a decent audition. He's floored by Mouni's acting talent and asks her to teach him acting. Mouni rudely rejects him at first, but later agrees. However, it won't be a cakewalk for Adnan. As Mouni says, 'acting is psychology' and hence, Adnan will have to revisit his past memories, pleasant and dark, to get better at the craft. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Main Actor Nahin Hoon Movie Story Review:
Aditya Kripalani's story is very promising and out-of-the-box. Aditya Kripalani's screenplay is captivating but loses steam in the third act. Aditya Kripalani's dialogues form a crucial part of the enterprise as the film is very talk-heavy. The dialogues are sharp, realistic and drive the story forward.
Aditya Kripalani's direction has its strengths. Throughout the film, the protagonists don’t meet and communicate only over video calls. Yet, one gets sucked into their worlds completely. Both are complete opposites – while he’s humble and soft-spoken, Mouni is rude and arrogant. Also, their journeys have been very different. Yet, the way they manage to form a bond is heartening. Through their acting classes, we also learn about their past, which adds an interesting touch.
On the flipside, after a point, it gets repetitive to see the protagonists indulging in various exercises and opening up about their traumas. While certain aspects of their past are spelled out repeatedly, it's bewildering that the director never touches upon Adnan’s wife. Viewers don’t come to know why she doesn’t live with him – is she no more, or did they divorce? Mouni digs deep into his past but never asks him about his marriage. Secondly, the climax is bizarre and the action of one of the protagonists seems completely unjustified and silly. Lastly, the film is meant for a very niche audience.
Main Actor Nahin Hoon Movie Review Performances:
Nawazuddin Siddiqui keeps his act subtle. He gets totally into the skin of the character of a man who has been away from the creative field and the way he incorporates this aspect is praiseworthy. Chitrangada Satarupa is a total surprise. She dominates several key scenes and despite being in the same film as Nawazuddin, she makes her presence felt strongly. An actor to watch out for. Meenakshi Arundhati is decent in a supporting role. Naveen Kasturia (K P Nishan), Ayushi Gupta (Tanaya) and Yasir Iftikhar Khan (Jaya Jose CL) appear in cameos and perform ably.
Main Actor Nahin Hoon movie music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one song in the film, ‘Talash,’ and it's catchy. Aditi Ramesh and Amlan Ray's background score is minimal. The use of the opera-style theme is well-woven into the narrative.
Rishika Baruah's cinematography for Frankfurt scenes is breathtaking while Sumit Singh and Ajinkya Pandit's cinematography for Mumbai scenes adds beauty to the city's chaos. All three DOPs have shot the film seamlessly. Every scene gives viewers a fly-on-the-wall experience, as if they are present in the setting. The production design and costumes are straight out of life. Hrishikesh Petwe's editing is functional.
Main Actor Nahin Hoon Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MAIN ACTOR NAHIN HOON rests on a novel idea and fine performances by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa. However, the film loses its grip in the final act and the disappointing ending dilutes the impact considerably. Moreover, its niche appeal and limited release mean that it stands little chance of making a mark at the box office.