Meerabai not out was supposed to release a long time back but it didn’t have takers. Now we know why!
MBNO revolves around Meera (Mandira) who is a single girl heading the cricket team in her colony. She is also a math teacher and the favourite of her students. The other teachers envy her and make fun of her simple, behenji looks. Mahesh Manjrekar plays her brother and her family wants her to get married but cricket is her only passion and she is madly in love with Anil Kumble. A series of events lead to her falling in love with Arjun (Eijaz). She gets a makeover, ditching the specs for lenses and her oiled braid for a layered cut. Anupam Kher is Arjun’s father. The two are all set to get married but then Meera’s passion lands her in big trouble.
Meerabai starts off fairly well and the first half has some funny moments, especially the scene where Meera is compared to Mandira Bedi. Anil Kumble getting hiccups every time Meera remembers him is cute too. Barring the opening track, the music is not happening. The choreography of the song reminded me of a beginners’ dance class, the steps are that lame! The scene where Meera questions a prospective suitor about cricket is great. So in the interval I thought the movie was pretty ok, not as bad as expected.
But the second half proved me wrong. It veered nowhere as it was overstretched and we have seen all the break up and reconciliation stuff many times before. Where did the KBC like quiz show pop up from?
Mandira Bedi is very expressive and has done a good job. Eijaz Khan is not hero material; he is ok in such roles where the focus is not on him. So he would make a good supporting actor. Mahesh Manjrekar and Anupam Kher are good too.
There were barely 5 people present at the 3 pm show at a popular multiplex and two of them were a couple more interested in each other than in the movie! MBNO does not deserve a trek to the theatre; watch it at home if you have nothing better to do. And pick a cricket match over the movie any day.