PremiumThe Mehta Boys Review: War for love, tender hearts, and the pulse of relatable rage ft. Boman Irani-Avinash Tiwary
The Mehta Boys Review: Very few films succeed in living a relatable life instead of mimicking one and Boman Irani in his directorial debut passes with flying colors.
Last Updated: 12.32 AM, Feb 07, 2025
The Mehta Boys Story: Amay Mehta (Avinash Tiwary) is an architect working in Mumbai, living far from his home in Navsari, where his father, Mr. Mehta (Boman Irani), resides with Amay’s mother. One day, amid an already rough time, Amay learns about his mother’s passing. Not wanting to leave their father alone, his sister (Puja Sarup) decides to take him to America with her. However, a problem delays the father’s travel by a few days, forcing the father and son to spend time together despite their differences. Will they mend their bond, or will the void between them widen?
The Mehta Boys Review:
Cinema, when used to tell personal stories, often becomes more than just a two-hour visual experience. Instead, it allows us to witness lives unfold, unravel, and evolve—for better or worse. The distance or conflict between two family members serves as a powerful narrative device, opening doors to deep emotions and life-changing realizations. Some stories take a tragic turn, while others choose hope, and it’s the hopeful ones that stay with us the longest. The Mehta Boys is about two men confronting their egos, acknowledging past mistakes, and realizing that both were wrong at different points in their lives.
Think of it as Piku, but with an entirely different dynamic. Not to compare the two, but here, both protagonists are men—at different stages of life and evolution. The father is a stubborn soul, believing that his way is the only right way, dismissing everything else as wrong. The son, cut from the same cloth, holds a similar belief in his own correctness, leading to years of estrangement. So much so that, at his mother’s funeral, the father thanks his son for showing up—a moment so piercing yet tender, instantly revealing the vast, fragile gap between them.
Written by Alexander Dinelaris and Boman Irani and marking Irani’s directorial debut, The Mehta Boys remains deeply invested in this emotional trajectory. The story is crafted in a way that doesn't waste time on world-building; instead, it throws its characters into situations many of us can relate to—a bad day at work that only worsens, a long-standing resentment simmering under the surface. These are real people, living in homes like ours, dealing with mundane yet profound struggles.
There’s a fine line between capturing relatability and merely mimicking it. Few filmmakers succeed in striking that balance, but Boman Irani impressively does so in his directorial debut. The Mehta Boys feel visually and emotionally real, which does half the job in making the film connect with audiences. Amay’s world is one where Mumbai’s old charm is being overshadowed by identical glass-and-steel skyscrapers, stripping the city of its identity. However, while the film teases Mumbai as a character, it only fully explores the city’s significance late in the narrative, missing a chance to amplify the suffocating reality of living with someone you’ve resented for years.
What makes The Mehta Boys truly resonate is how Amay carries the trauma inflicted by his family. His father’s dismissal of his abilities stifles his confidence, preventing him from finding his voice at work. It takes him an entire film to gather the courage to assert himself, both at home and in the boardroom.
Boman Irani delivers a masterful performance, embodying a grieving father who suppresses his emotions under the weight of masculinity and societal expectations. He teaches boys to "be a man," criticizes his son for not meeting those standards, only to face the very anger he has cultivated. It's a well-written role, and wisely, the film resists giving him a preachy redemption arc. Avinash Tiwary as Amay holds his own opposite Irani, portraying frustration, rage, and vulnerability without ever overplaying the emotions.
Shreya Chaudhary, unfortunately, is more of an observer in the narrative and doesn't get much to do. Her character could have been developed further. Some parts of the film move faster than they should, especially toward the end, but when the climax unfolds, everything comes to a meaningful halt, and life simply moves on.
The Mehta Boys Final Verdict:
Boman Irani crafts a father-son drama that is universal yet deeply personal, avoiding the temptation to be preachy. The beauty of The Mehta Boys lies in its authenticity—life happens, relationships evolve, and problems are faced as the story unfolds.
The Mehta Boys premieres on Amazon Prime Video on February 7, 2025. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on the world of streaming and films.