PremiumFriday Night Plan review: Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan bring a refreshing slice and deliver it well
Friday Night Plan is a light film that can be enjoyed when you have some downtime or are seeking a break from more serious fare.
Last Updated: 12.42 PM, Sep 01, 2023
As their mother (Juhi Chawla) returns from a business trip the following morning, two squabbling high school students (Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan), an older, bookish senior and a younger, more outgoing junior, must slip out of the house to attend the year's hippest, most happening party, find dates for prom, and get it back in time. Meanwhile, Siddharth (Babil) scores an unassisted goal and goes from zero to hero overnight. Will his newfound fame attract the attention of the girl he has a crush on?
Amrith Jayan portrays Aditya Menon, the younger brother, who believes life is a party and frequently uses the sarcastic phrase "Aadmi marne se pehle yeh hi yaad karta hai ke physics mein uske kitne marks aaye the" when speaking to others, particularly his brother Siddharth Menon (Babil Khan). (Before a person dies, they remember how many marks they scored in physics.) On the other hand, his brother lives in a shell and is scared to get out of his cocoon like a "typical nerd", and that's how people address him too.
They constantly argue, and Siddharth is responsible for raising his younger brother alongside Juhi Chawla, who plays their mother in a supporting role. The film wastes no time establishing that it's a day's story when all hell breaks loose. Juhi leaves for a day's work in Pune while leaving her sons alone. She takes assurance from them that they won't kill each other in her absence.
However, things take a big turn when they reach school and Siddharth, who is the benchwarmer, scores the winning goal unexpectedly and becomes the talk of his school, from his enemies to his crush. This leads to the final Friday night plan (FNP), a tradition among the senior students at the school.
Friday Night Plan is a familiar story, yet it's a delight in the chaotic outburst of content that's coming our way. The film is a breezy story of two brothers who can't live without each other. It's a typical relationship between two brothers who disagree on everything but will shield each other in every possible way.
The film mainly works because of the young adult drama that unfolds without surprises and without trying to keep you on the edge of your seat. There's a breath of fresh air watching two newcomers shine on the screen in the most organic way. Babil takes up the sweet spot with his presence, and the actor definitely shifted gears within a year from Qala to Friday Night Plan. The actor brings up the charm the moment he enters the screen and brings that urbane vibe more likely to his real-life personality.
On the other hand, Amrith Jayan has the assignment right of being a younger brother who can annoy the hell out of his elder brother only to get a rare hug from him in the end. The actor is new to the screen but knows how to embrace the camera well.
Meanwhile, the other two main characters include Medha Rana and Aadhya Anand, who are a bit of catalysts in shaping the school aspect of Siddharth. On the other hand, Ninad Kamat, as the sub-inspector on whom an egg is thrown during a prank, will remind you more of Paresh Rawal's role as Inspector Waghmare from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na.
Friday Night Plan took me back to the 2011 release Luv Ka The End, which was also more of a night that changes many things when parents are out. That film, by Y Films and directed by Bumpy, featured Shraddha Kapoor seeking revenge on her boyfriend along with her friends, but a lot of things unfolded while cracking the plan.
The Netflix film doesn't have many complications but gets deeper into emotions, be they of brotherhood or how raising two sons for a single mother can be challenging. Juhi Chawla, in a limited role, shows the aspect of balancing her professional and personal life, and there's one sweet moment when Aditya asks her if she is doing fine generally, and that brings a freshness to acknowledging her mere presence, and not just that she is a mom who left home for work.
After Eternally Confused and Eager for Love was released on Netflix last year, Excel Entertainment has brought another slice-of-life film, Friday Night Plan, by debutant Vatsal Neelakanthan. The film is definitely a filler in terms of the heavy content that we have been consuming, and the new director did a pretty decent job bringing it to the screen.
Another addition to the film is the soothing music, which goes with the vibe of the storyline that has been created.
Friday Night Plan can be an easy watch that you can opt for while just sitting idly or in between taking too much heavy content.