Meerabai Not Out Review – Reviews on Meerabai Not Out Hindi Film, Meerabai Not Out Movie Review

Movie Name: Meerabai Not Out

Production Banner: Pritish Nandy Communications

Director: Chandrakant Kulkarni

Music Director: Sandesh Shandilya

Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Mahesh Manjrekar, Eijaz Khan, Mandira Bedi, Anil Kumble
Release Date: 5 December 2008

'Meerabai Not Out' managed to save itself from being given the 'out-finger', but then it didn't manage to score much running runs either, forget about the fours and sixes. In fact, rather than being a movie based on cricket and its fans, it came across as a script that explores the obsession that a person has about any particular element in his life (here, it is cricket). The problem in 'Meerabai Not Out' is that it fails to bring out Meera’s passion for cricket adequately.

You are not able to relate with or feel Meera’s craze towards cricket, in general, and Anil Kumble, in particular. In this particular context, all you have are a few jargons about cricket that crop up in her dialogues. But, even they are quite scattered. The romance track, between Mandira and Eijaz, does not seem to be too convincing. The screenplay, which otherwise looks extremely stretched, wasn't provided with enough space for the love story.

The film starts with a background voiceover, which takes an exceptionally long time to get to the point. The narration is retained throughout the film, in an irregular fashion. While some tracks were completely left explored, the others were clichéd. 'Meerabai Not Out' could have done with some more editing. While the camerawork looked outdated, the humor was mostly falling flat. Thankfully, the middle-class ambience was convincing.

Performance wise, there was nothing to applaud, but nothing to disappoint either. Anupam Kher, in his oft-repeated widowed father role, played his part well. Mandira 'noodle-strap' Bedi was comfortable in front of the camera and did her role with conviction. Eijaz Khan was good enough, while Mahesh Manjrekar was more noticeable in the second half. Even Vandana Gupte gave a decent performance, of a mother worried about her daughter's marriage.

Meerabai Pre-release Review
For all the cricket fans in the country, here is another Bollywood flicker to bowl you over. Meerabai Not Out is the upcoming film, produced under the banner of Pritish Nandy Communications and directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni. Though the name of the movie is a little unconventional, it truly deals with the spirit of cricket in India. In a country where cricketers are treated as demi-gods, Meerabai Not Out attempts to show the stature and the fanaticism of the game amongst Indians. With Mandira Bedi, playing the lead role as Meera Achrekar, it has performances by actors like Anupam Kher, Mahesh Manjrekar and Eijaz Khan.

The fun filled love story revolves around Meera Achrekar (Mandira Bedi), who is a mathematics teacher, enjoying the spring of her life, singly. Living in a Mumbai chawl, the young mathematician was introduced to the enigmatic game by her brother Mahesh (Mahesh Manjrekar). He played cricket at the Ranji Trophy level, but was sadly disillusioned, due to his responsibilities and efforts in meeting the middle class crunching needs. However, Meera remains undeterred and manages to steal tickets to all the matches held at Wankhede stadium.

Though her family is troubled by her single status, the love of her life remains cricket, with Anil Kumble, her heart throb, spinning right into her heart. Yet, love finally strikes with heart specialist Dr Arjun (Eijaz Khan). Realization dawns upon her, drawing her attention away from cricket and Kumble. However, the story takes a twist, when her to be father-in-law, Dr Awasthi, is flabbergasted at her ardor for cricket. After all, from Dr Awasthi’s point of view, who would want a daughter-in-law, with her face painted in tricolor, yelling frantically on the streets, in support of the Indian Cricket Army.

Apart from being a sports entertainer, the main attraction of the film is a cameo by the cricketer Anil Kumble. Fondly called ‘Jumbo’, the spinner is all set for his first heart warming innings in Bollywood. Moreover, a lot is expected from the movie, as it is directed by award winning Marathi Director, Chandrakant Kulkarni. The music of the film is composed by Sandesh Shandilya, the phenomenally talented music composer. So, for all those who are having butterflies in the stomach to know what choice Meera actually makes, only the movie Meerabai Not Out has the answer. We can just hope it is not between love and Anil Kumble.