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Mitr - My Friend
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What's life without a mitr/friend? A rather sorry state of affairs, discover the protagonists of Revathy's directorial venture Mitr - My Friend.
Lakshmi (national award winner Shobana) and husband Prithvi (model-turned actor Nasir Abdullah) have been in the US for 18 years. While Prithvi gets rapidly sucked into his career, 17-year-old daughter Divya's (debutant Preeti Vissa) situation is that of most young Indians in the US - she is caught between her mother's strong Indian roots and the American way of life. One argument leads to another, and all too soon, Divya decides to walk out. An unsympathetic Prithvi adds to Lakshmi's angst. Frustrated and alone, Lakshmi realises that she has been taken for granted all along. The one bright spot is a friend she meets in the internet chatroom. Lakshmi starts unburdening herself. The help is mutual - the mitr too, has problems to deal with. Annonymity is maintained, though Lakshmi guesses her mitr is a man. Each gives the other a fresh perspective on things. While the mitr acts on her advice, Lakshmi, in turn, sets out to rediscover herself and put some spice back into life. Fresh complications ensue, leading up to the final denouement.
While the story by itself is simple, what's appealing is the sincerity in the treatment. Some of the situations and also the dialogues have a familiar feel to them. And yet they manage to hold your attention. There are some nice humorous touches too. Incidentally, the film has an all-woman crew, right form dialogues to screenplay, costumes, cinematography and music.
There are some good scenes - for example, the one where a hurt Shobana is seen retreating to the world of housekeeping, seeking solace in mundane jobs. A chief strength of Mitr. is the acting. To begin with, Shobana - this is not the first time she plays a mature woman, she has some fine performances in Malayalam films to her credit - and she does it with panache. From a patient and ever-sacrificing mother and wife to an adult who makes herself her heard, the transformation is convincing. US-based Preeti Vissa makes an excellent debut. She has an interesting and expressive face and makes good use of body language. Nasir Abdullah looks the part and does what's required of him.
There are no song and dance routines, but the background score (Bhavatharini, music maestro Iliayaraja's daughter) is pleasant and dramatic where necessary. On the downside, the climax, though it has a good pace, is rather predictable. Another negative is the flashback. Shobana, for all her beauty and grace, cannot pass off as 18. Neither can Nasir Abdullah play like a young groom!
The film incorporates American figures into its social milieu well, like the neighbours Stevie and Paul, Prithvi's secretary Pam and best friend Bryan. Revathy also entrusts them with the humour. For instance, Prithvi's American friend Bryan takes a dig at Indian culture when he says, "My girlfriend would kill me if I didn't help her in the kitchen. Prithvi, you are a spoilt brat!"
While Mitr. is not path breaking cinema, it is an honest film and an absorbing one. So go ahead and catch it.
