Bollywood has rarely been lucky when it comes to sequels. Whether it’s the audience expectation or the ability of the filmmaker to carry on the theme and elements with the same intrigue, we have seen very few successful sequels. So when I sat to watch Angrezi Medium, a spiritual sequel to Hindi Medium, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Angrezi Medium is an Indian comedy-drama that revolves around the life of a single parent Champak Bansal (Irrfan Khan) whose daughter Tarika Bansal (Radhika Madan) has one dream – to go abroad. This chance is presented to her in the form of a scholarship at Truford University in the UK. Everything was going well until Champak’s actions put Tarika’s scholarship in jeopardy. From there begins a comedic yet emotional ride in which we witness yet another heart-warming performance by Irrfan Khan.
I don’t remember the last time I was disappointed with Irrfan Khan’s acting. Be it Qarib Qarib Singlle, The Lunchbox, or even his latest Hollywood flick ‘Puzzle’. Irrfan Khan wins you over with his lovable and quirky portrayal of a father who is ready for any sacrifice for his daughter. Madan, who plays the role of the daughter, has started 2020 with a strong performance. Another notable performance is by Deepak Dobriyal (Pappi from Tanu Weds Manu) who plays the role of Gopi (Khan’s cousin) and adds to the comic element of the movie.
Barring the acting of Irrfan Khan, Angrezi Medium has a questionable screenplay. It has four screenplay writers and somewhere it is evident that the movie is oversaturated with subplots and characters. The movie also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Ranvir Shorey – all of whom were not integral to the storyline. If it had not been for Irrfan Khan, this movie would have fallen flat on its face. The writers have not been able to weave a story that looks organic and that’s my beef with this sequel.
This was the first film that Irrfan Khan had shot after being diagnosed and undergoing treatment for a Neuroendocrine tumor. Such is the art of this fine performer who makes it hard to believe that a man who makes you laugh on screen is suffering from a life-threatening ailment. If this doesn’t make us appreciate his craft, I don’t know what will.
At this moment, let us all take a minute and pray for Irrfan Khan’s health. At AVS, we pray for his early recovery and hope to see him back on the large screen very soon. ‘Angrezi Medium’ is now streaming on Hotstar.
Review by
Puneet Ruparel
