There have been many a movie on sports in Bollywood in the near past, and 'Meerabai Not Out' falls in this category. The movie's USP is that a cricket lover and a successful and charming actor-cum-commentator like Mandira Bedi is playing the lead role in it. Among the other cast are Eijaz Khan, Anupam Kher and Mahesh Manjrekar. Chandrakant Kulkarni has directed it. Since the cricket is a sort of mania among Indians, irrespective of cast, creed or status, the movie is catching a good number of viewers. However, there are five movies releasing this Friday, so the scope at the box office is indeed limited.
According to the movie's story, Meera Achrekar played by Mandira Bedi is a great fan of cricketer Anil Kumble and is a mathematics teacher in a school. Interestingly, she teaches the subject to students through cricket calculations! She resides in a Shivaji Park chawl, but she is quite popular among society boys for gully cricket. Since she is single, her mother played by Vandana Gupte and brother played by Mahesh Manjrekar are keenly looking for a match for her (groom). Incidentally, she comes across Dr Arjun Awasthi played by Eijaz Khan as the latter not only treats her injured boy-team for free but also takes the captain on coffee dates!
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Thus, she falls in love with him. The rest of the story follows on usual lines. Anupam Kher as in his 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' and 'Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein' acts as a widowed father who, though reluctantly, allows his son to marry with his love interest Meera. However, the destiny has it otherwise: Meera turns towards the stadium on her 'match-making' day! This disturbs both the families (those of the bride and the bridegroom) they look for a way out of the impasse.
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Let's critically analyse the movie. Though it centers around Meera's passion for cricket, the same isn't too evident in it though it's witnessed here and there. Why then do we then title it 'Meerabai Not Out' is a moot point? So, the storyline is quite weak, both in sport as well as in romance. Secondly, there is a love angle in the movie between Meera, the teacher-cum-cricketer and the doctor who treats her teammates. But, it fails to provide enough romance to entertain its audience.
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Similarly, the humor part is weak despite ever smiling Mandira Bedi and Anupam Kher in the movie. Dialogues, especially relating to the cricket sport, are worthy of mention and derive some interest among the viewers. Acting wise, Mandira doesn't look as charming in the movie as in real life, maybe because of her spects. However, her acting is superb. The director has succeeded in his job of truly depicting his characters. Anupam Kher plays his cards too well. Eijaz Khan is nice too. Mahesh Manjrekar as usual plays his character very well. Vandana Gupte has completely justified her mother's role though she is comparatively new in the role.
Overall, the movie is worth a watch, especially for sports lovers and the fans of Mandira Bedi.
