The Mehta Boys - Of Fathers and Sons

The Mehta Boys

Hindi / Drama

116 mins
Prime Video

The Mehta Boys is the directorial debut of celebrated actor Boman Irani. Boman also shares writing credits with Academy award winner writer Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman).

Amay Mehta (Avinash Tiwary) is an architect living in Mumbai, still trying to find his footing in life. At work, his aging but sharp boss (quizmaster and media legend Siddharth Basu) and his supportive girlfriend Zara (Shreya Chaudhry) constantly push him to overcome his insecurities.

Back home, Amay receives the news of his mother’s passing and visits his father, Shiv Mehta (Boman Irani), along with his US-based sister, Anu (Puja Sarup). Keeping a promise he made to his late wife, Shiv reluctantly agrees to leave for the US with Anu—for good. However, due to an unexpected situation, Shiv is unable to board the flight with Anu and is rebooked on another one a few days later, leaving him in Amay’s care for 48 hours.

By now, we know that Shiv and Amay share a strained relationship. Can they survive each other for two days? Will Shiv ultimately leave for the US, or will he stay back?

Avinash Tiwary has consistently been one of the most promising actors around, and once again, he delivers a superb performance as the capable yet uncertain young man. Boman Irani, having played similar roles before, easily aces the part of the strong willed and correct father.

Shreya Chaudhry’s character is well-defined, and she shines as a confident career woman with some solid scenes. Puja Sarup is terrific, though her screen time is unfortunately limited.

And then there’s Siddharth Basu, who absolutely commands the screen in the four scenes he appears in. One particular standout moment is when he sympathizes with Amay, only to deliver a sharp cautionary “do your job” remark—a brilliantly written and executed moment.

The film is full of well-crafted father-son sequences—from their quiet bonding over drinks on the balcony, to Shiv offering to make lunch for Amay, to a beautifully nuanced restaurant dinner scene.

As a director, Boman Irani makes excellent use of close-ups, immersing the audience in key moments. The cinematography, lighting and background score are soft and moody, maintaining the film’s pleasant and heartfelt tone.

While The Mehta Boys follows a predictable father-son drama formula, it works beautifully thanks to strong performances, well-written scenes, and makes for a solid directorial debut.