Occasionally, a first-time director reveals a spark that fails to ignite the screen fully. This week marks the eighth anniversary of Meri Pyaari Bindu, which showcases a unique perspective on Kolkata's quirks: from the iconic trams to bustling fast-food streets, and the striking Durga idol framing the protagonist's suicide attempt. The film's theme song, 'Abhi na jao chhod kar ke dil abhi bhara nahin,' cleverly ties into the narrative of Bengali hero Abhi.
Meri Pyaari Bindu is rich with references to films centered on unreciprocated love, such as Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Nikhil Advani's Katti Batti. The title itself draws inspiration from the classic Padosan. One of the film's more cringeworthy moments features Abhi's parents performing a Kishore Kumar song in a parking lot.
Parineeti Chopra portrays the unreliable runaway bride opposite the steadfast hero, revealing that her character was named after Saira Banu's role in the beloved comedy Padosan. As they navigate Kolkata in an old Ambassador car, she quips, 'Why couldn’t he name me Saira? So much sexier,' while they weave through the vibrant city of the 1980s.
However, the cultural blend becomes less entertaining over time. Director Akshay Roy cleverly incorporates nostalgic elements from our musical heritage, such as the song Aaiye Meherbaan Dekhiye Jaan-E-Jaan playing on a vintage television while a man struggles with the antenna. While historically and culturally accurate, these scenes lack vitality. The film, meticulously crafted within a retro framework, suffers from dullness, with repetitive scenes that fail to allow character development beyond clichés.
Abhi's Bengali parents are portrayed in an exaggerated manner, bustling about as if Kolkata were ablaze. This depiction does not reflect an authentic Bengali household; rather, it seems like an outsider's view, detached from the cultural nuances.
The songs, which are meant to define the central relationship, come off as forced and artificial. Both Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra are musicians, making it surprising that their passion for past melodies does not translate into a more meaningful exploration of the quirky girl-next-door dynamic.
Parineeti excelled in a similar role in Hasee Toh Phasee. Khurrana's portrayal of the lovesick protagonist is somewhat engaging, but the film itself is a tedious exploration of a self-absorbed woman who needs to find discipline in her life, alongside a man who must seek his own path. The narrative drags through various trends and culminates in a finale that feels as aimless as the preceding two hours.
At times, I wished director Akshay Roy had injected some genuine spontaneity into the film instead of the unintentional cheesiness that permeates it. One scene features Abhi's roommate engrossed in the Grand Finale of Bigg Boss while Abhi grapples with his life's chaos.
In the lead-up to Meri Pyaari Bindu's release, Parineeti Chopra expressed her enthusiasm for pursuing a singing career. 'Honestly, that’s the main reason I did this film. The nostalgia factor hit me hard when I was reading the script. It was a film I had to do. All of us have stories of how particular songs affected our lives. We relate to certain people and relationships through certain songs. The retro songs attracted me to the film. When audiences see Meri Pyaari Bindu, I hope they connect with the songs and the theme of the reclamation of a precious past that’s slipping out of our hands. When we were growing up, music was the only window we had to the world outside our homes. I am passionate about music myself. I am a trained singer, so I can enter the world of a song with more understanding than the untrained singer or listener. When I listen to a song, I try to understand it emotionally and technically. I go into its melody, tempo, percussion, etc. I go into a song with some authority in my humble way. I play an aspiring singer. So all the portions of the film where I have to sing/hum are done by me. That adds to the credibility. But of course, I’ve sung my song in Meri Pyaari Bindu. My journey as a singer has started. I feel I can contribute to the world of music, though it is too early to say how much that contribution would be. Now that my song Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin is being liked so much, I want to sing more songs. I am yet to hear anyone say that they didn’t like it. I mean, it’s such a breezy melody and so easy on the ears. Everybody connects to it. The success of Maana Ke Hum has given me the confidence to work more closely on my music. I am now going to work on my next song. Ayushmann Khurrana has been one of the most beautiful aspects of my musical journey. I’ve learnt a lot from him. I am emotionally connected to him. He is the one who encouraged my musical inclinations. He kept saying that out of all the actors, I am the one who needs to pursue my musical ambitions. He is such an emotional part of my journey. When the song Maana Ke Hum was released, he was right there next to me, sharing the moment. I can say he is one of the three boys in the film industry I am close to.'
