Movie Review: Mirzya
Movie Review: ‘Mirzya’
Rating: 3/5
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Cast: Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher, Anuj Choudhary, Om Puri, Art Malik
The is a film for a niche audience. People who enjoy poetry in motion, this film is exactly that. For those who prefer frothy love stories, this intense affair may bore you out. The stunning visuals and horse riding long shots are excellent. Editing too is top notch. As a piece of content, Mirzya has little to offer. It is poetic but fails to connect with the viewers at many levels.
Harshvardhan Kapoor comes from a filmy background and his acting skills are average and he remains calm and poised in whatever scenes given to him. However, the lack of transparency fails him as an actor and that will make you wonder what exactly is his role in the movie. One scene you see him as Mirzya, another scene as Adil and another scene there’s a little boy. It doesn’t cut the cake and his acting skills are diluted between all these three stories!
Saiyami Kher stole the show in portraying her role as a modern woman. She has carried the look, attitude and style with ease. But the same indifference in the transition process has casted a bad shadow on her acting skills as she’s seen playing different roles in different scenes and might make you say ‘Please stop, your role is going above our head’!
The direction and cinematography department is where the film truly excels. Mehra proves to be a true story-teller and his inspiration from Greek tragedy, (a peculiar form of theatre) is quite evident. With Gulzar’s magnificent words at his hands, Mehra’s Mirzya falls short of becoming a masterpiece thanks to its non-commercial music and a strong plot.
The cinematography comprising of Ladakh’s beautiful landscapes to the colorful Rajasthani folk flavor and also, Udaipur’s plush palaces is absolutely stunning.
VFX is another department where this film is pulled down. In the scenes comprising of fireballs being hit by arrows and also a leopard attack, the visual effects of poor quality lose the impact.
Also, the languid pace of the film is surely going to be a test of everyone’s patience.
Shankar Ehsaan Loy and Daler Mehendi’s music does not always hit the right notes. Chakora is weirdly trippy and the video is too confusing. On the other hand, Daler Mehendi’s screeching vocals in a rather sad scene are a complete mood-killer.
All in all, Mehra’s Mirzya goes overboard with its experimental nature and cannot appeal to all.
